SOC265H1 Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Masculinity, Social Inequality, Hegemonic Masculinity
Document Summary
Why it is problematic to attribute gender differences to biological characteristics. Gender difference is the basic idea that people can be divided into two types of categories: men and women. The basic foundation of the gender differences found in societies is the different biological characteristics between males and females. These biological characteristics include genetical, anatomical and physical differences between males and females. However, these characteristics are unreliable and can cause problems when gender differences are based on these characteristics. Sociologists think that biological differences are questionable and a clear example to prove this is hermaphrodites. Relating this to our readings, we can say that this attribution of gender differences to biological characteristics can be falsified in several ways. An example of this can be found in the article by sharon perves where several intersexual individuals narrate their experiences. In this article, an interviewee narrates her experience about having her gonads surgically removed without her knowing that she had gonads.
