Gender Roles and Stereotypes
GENDER AND HUMAN SEXUALITY
EXPLICATION OF VARIOUS CONCEPTS
Sex: refers to a person‘s biological/physiological characteristics
Gender: refers to the social, cultural and economic attributes and opportunities associated with being male or female. In almost all societies, men and women differ in the activities they undertake, in their access and control over resources, and in their participation in decision-making. The nature of gender definitions (what it means to be male or female) vary among cultures and change over time. The use of the word gender highlights the insight that these differences are not innate or predetermined, and are not the same as the biological differences between men and women. Sex roles: refer to biological functions that are limited to one particular sex. For example, pregnancy is a female sex role because only women can bear children. Gender roles: are roles classified by sex, in which the classification is social and not biological. Child-rearing may be classified as a female role, but it is a female gender role rather than a female sex role, as child-rearing can be done by men or women.
Productive activities: refer to the productions of goods and services for consumption or trade; for example, farming or fishing. When people are asked what they do, the response is usually related to productive work, especially work which generates income. Both women and men can be involved in productive activities but, for the most part, their functions and responsibilities will differ according to gender divisions of labor. Women‘s productive work is often less visible and less valued than that of the men‘s.
Reproductive work: refers to the care and maintenance of the household and its members—including bearing and caring for children, preparing food, collecting water and fuel, shopping, housekeeping and family healthcare. Although reproductive work is crucial to human survival, it is seldom considered ‗real work‘. In poor
EXPLICATION OF VARIOUS CONCEPTS
Sex: refers to a person‘s biological/physiological characteristics
Gender: refers to the social, cultural and economic attributes and opportunities associated with being male or female. In almost all societies, men and women differ in the activities they undertake, in their access and control over resources, and in their participation in decision-making. The nature of gender definitions (what it means to be male or female) vary among cultures and change over time. The use of the word gender highlights the insight that these differences are not innate or predetermined, and are not the same as the biological differences between men and women. Sex roles: refer to biological functions that are limited to one particular sex. For example, pregnancy is a female sex role because only women can bear children. Gender roles: are roles classified by sex, in which the classification is social and not biological. Child-rearing may be classified as a female role, but it is a female gender role rather than a female sex role, as child-rearing can be done by men or women.
Productive activities: refer to the productions of goods and services for consumption or trade; for example, farming or fishing. When people are asked what they do, the response is usually related to productive work, especially work which generates income. Both women and men can be involved in productive activities but, for the most part, their functions and responsibilities will differ according to gender divisions of labor. Women‘s productive work is often less visible and less valued than that of the men‘s.
Reproductive work: refers to the care and maintenance of the household and its members—including bearing and caring for children, preparing food, collecting water and fuel, shopping, housekeeping and family healthcare. Although reproductive work is crucial to human survival, it is seldom considered ‗real work‘. In poor