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Is gender a social construct? Is gender a social construct?
Gender is a social construct Gender is a social construct
Gender is not a social construct Gender is not a social construct
Gender is an amalgamation of nature and nurture Gender is an amalgamation of nature and nurture
Gender norms are embodied through society Gender norms are embodied through society
Different cultures embody different gender norms Different cultures embody different gender norms
Gender is biological, the level of testosterone in an individual determines this Gender is biological, the level of testosterone in an individual determines this
There are biochemical differences in the brains of men and women determining their behaviour There are biochemical differences in the brains of men and women determining their behaviour
Gender roles are biologically evolutionary, capable of being socially constructed Gender roles are biologically evolutionary, capable of being socially constructed
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Is gender a social construct?
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Gender is an amalgamation of nature and nurture

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Gender roles are biologically evolutionary, capable of being socially constructed

Gender roles evolve with time. This is impacted biologically through evolution, as well as in tandem with society's structure.
Beatrice Alba
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The Argument

Biological evolution dictates that males and females have psychological differences due to the survival techniques that our ancestors had to use. Men are more aggressive and competitive as they have had to hunt and fight over females, and females are less promiscuous and more selective over males. These psychological differences explain the power imbalance of men and women where men are more dominant and females submissive. Even if there were biological and evolutionary predispositions of male and female characteristics, this does not mean that these must be followed as the natural course of things. Evolution is about survival, and not about what is right or wrong. As societal needs progress, the evolutionary needs of the past do not need to be the case. It can be altered through challenging the norms according to the needs of society and survival. [1]

Counter arguments

The allotment of gender into just two categories of male of female is not accurate. There are many variations in gender which can be biological or behavioural. For example, those born with difference in genitalia, or with hormonal imbalances, such as of testosterone. Gender is therefore not binary as the biological evolution of gender theory suggests.[2] Evidence of transgender individuals has existed in archaeological finds dating back to ancient civilisations.[3] This suggests that gender is not binary, and that the approach that biological and psychological male and female characteristics developed as a result of their evolutionary survival needs does not reflect on the diversity within each of the male and female identities, and neither of those individuals that would have identified as transgender.

Proponents

Premises

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://theconversation.com/the-evolutionary-history-of-men-and-women-should-not-prevent-us-from-seeking-gender-equality-88703
  2. https://massivesci.com/articles/sex-gender-intersex-transgender-identity-discrimination-title-ix/
  3. https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-ancient-civilization-in-iran-recognized-transgender-people-study-suggests-1.6790205
This page was last edited on Sunday, 25 Oct 2020 at 19:57 UTC