Tuesday, September 30, 2014
I believe that Gender Identity is both a cultural and a physical/genetic thing. What I mean is that for example football being a mans sport. This is a stereotype that has been created by society all the way from birth and a sons playing with his dad with a football as a child. But also it may have something to do with the way that men love being rough with each other. The testosterone in men can create more aggressive actions and definitely is a genetic source of why a lot of men may see football, or many contact sports, as a mans sport.
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But isn't the aggression a cultural thing too? I mean from the get-go kids are encouraged (sometimes forced) to play sports and be rough, whether or not they want to. I mean for example my brother looks like he's built for basketball: he's 6'3" and fast, when he wants to be. So when he was a kid, everyone told him "hey, you should play basketball" and sure, he liked shooting hoops with friends but the moment it got competitive and roughhousing started, he was right out, didn't want anything to do with it. You have a point with the whole testosterone thing, but there really is a cultural element. If you go just the genetic route with your argument, you're excluding and ignoring all the guys who don't desire conflict or violence or sports.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. I am the exact same way as your brother. I loved basketball and played it from the time I was in 3rd grade all the way until I was a freshman. And when I stopped playing everyone wondered why and every time I meet someone new the first thing they say is do you play basketball or football and I answer neither! I stopped playing because I didn't enjoy it as much as I had before. I am 6'3" and big and that doesn't mean that I automatically play football, that is just what people expect because of the cultural aspect... So I completely get what you are saying.
ReplyDeleteI agree that gender identity is both cultural and genetics. Although you bring up a good point about testosterone, I think that the cultural aspect plays a larger role. When kids are little, boys are typically handed action figures while girls are handed Barbies, boys rooms are typically painted blue while girls rooms are painted pink. I think that these small things definitely affect a child in the long run.
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