GENDER AND SEXUALITY

 GENDER AND SEXUALITY

We are surrounded by gender lore since we are children. Sex and gender are frequently used interchangeably, though they have different meanings. In this context, sex refers to the biological category of male or female, as defined by physical differences in genetic composition and in reproductive anatomy and function. Gender refers to the social attributes and opportunities associated with being male and female, the relationships between women and men and girls and boys, and the relations between women and between men. In most societies there are differences and inequalities between women and men in decision-making opportunities, responsibilities assigned, activities undertaken, and access to and control over resources. Sexuality covers almost every aspect of our existence, from attitudes and values to feelings and experiences. It affects the individual, the family, the culture, the religion, spirituality, the laws, the professions, the institutions, science, and politics. 

GENDER

Gender refers to the roles and responsibilities of men and women that are created in our families, our societies, and our cultures. It is a description of roles, activities, and responsibilities assigned to men and women in a given society, culture, community, or time. And It also refers to the expectations of people from someone, because either they are female or male, Men and women are expected to perform the fixed roles assigned to them by society, Is socially prescribed roles, and behaviors expected from men and women and in this prescription women assume lower status and It is a learned process and can be changed.

Gender Role

Gender roles are the behaviors men and women exhibit in the private and public realm. They are the sociocultural expectations that apply to individuals. The first of these theories is gender schema theory. Gender schema theory argues that children are active learners who essentially socialize themselves. The second theory that attempts to explain the formation of gender roles in children is social learning theory. Social learning theory argues that gender roles are learned through reinforcement, punishment, and modeling. It is in society mean how we're expected to act, speak, dress, groom, and conduct ourselves based upon our assigned sex. For example, girls and women are generally expected to dress in typically feminine ways and be polite, accommodating, and nurturing.

Gender Justice

Gender justice brings that there are more equitable and equal relationships between men and women with the implication of women are also treated as equal citizens with equal autonomy and rights in the social order, therefore it helps us to ponder whether there is gender justice. Gender justice needs because, in the context of population and development programs, gender equality is important because women and men are able to make decisions that have a more positive impact on their sexual and reproductive health as well as the decisions of their spouses and families.

Gender Equality

Gender equality refers to equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of women, men, girls, and boys. Gender equality is achieved when the different behaviors, aspirations, and needs of women and men are equally valued and favored and don't give rise to different consequences that reinforce inequalities.

How is Gender Conceptualized?

Conceptualization Of Gender, Gender Roles And Stereotypes, Interaction Between Gender And Power, Interaction Between Gender And Other Social Categories. Gender is a dichotomous social category that prescribes behaviors, attitudes, feelings, and other characteristics as being appropriate for a male or a female.

Gender Issues

Gender issues include all aspects and concerns related to women’s and men’s lives and situation in society, to the way they interrelate, their differences in access to and use of resources, their activities, and how they react to changes, interventions and policies.

SEXISM

Sexuality encompasses nearly every aspect of our being, from attitudes and values, to feelings and experiences. It is about your sexual feelings, thoughts, attractions, and behaviors towards other people. You can find other people physically, sexually, or emotionally attractive, and all those things are a part of your sexuality. Sexism can affect anyone, but it primarily affects women and girls. It has been linked to stereotypes and gender roles and may include the belief that one sex or gender is intrinsically superior to another.

Sexual Orientation

Sexual orientation is a term used to describe your pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction. Sexual orientation may include attraction to the same gender (homosexuality), a gender different than your own (heterosexuality), both men and women (bisexuality), all genders (pansexual), or neither (asexuality).Types of sexual orientation are there, Heterosexual: Attracted to people of the opposite sex. Bisexual: Attracted to people of either sex. Homosexual: Attracted to people of one's own sex, Pansexual: Attracted to people of any gender identity.

What are the different types of sexism?

Hostile sexism

• This involves any overtly hostile attitudes about women, such as the belief that women are manipulative, sinful, weak, or resentful, or that they owe men sex. Hostile sexism is dangerous and fuels gender-based violence.

Benevolent sexism

• This is based on the idea that women are naturally kind, pure, and innocent. These may not seem like negative qualities, but they stem from the opinion that women are weaker than men. This is what makes benevolent sexism harmful.

Ambivalent sexism

• Ambivalent sexism is a combination of benevolent and hostile sexism, which often work together as part of a system. For example, a person might have benevolent sexist views about mothers, such as that they always put their children first. If a mother enters the workforce, though, the person might display hostile sexism by openly judging or punishing that person for having a job.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is conduct that is sexual in nature. It can be conducted that is overt or covert. It is conduct that is offensive, unwelcome, uninvited, unreasonable, and unacceptable. Faced with an act or acts of sexual harassment, employees will find the overall work environment intimidating, demeaning or hostile.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GENDER AND SEXUALITY

Sex and gender aren't the same. In general terms, sex refers to a person's physical characteristics at birth, and gender encompasses a person's identities, expressions, and societal roles. A person may identify with a gender that is different from their natal sex or with no gender at all.

There are also psychological theories that partially explain how children form their own gender roles after they learn to differentiate based on gender. In addition, social learning theory argues that children learn many of their gender roles by modeling the behavior of adults and older children and, in doing so develop ideas about what behaviors are appropriate for each gender.

Thank You!

S.D.S.Medhangani

shamax199@gmail.com