Introduction:
Gender is a spectrum, and it can be fluid. There are many ways to explain a person is in this world: cisgender, transgender or nonbinary, masculine, feminine, or somewhere in between. Gender identity is how an individual feels and identifies that is not malleable to a social construct, but gender roles are socially constructed. Gender identity does not always match physical appearance or genetics at birth. This mismatch between physical presentation and self-perception can be distressing for some people who experience it as discomfort with one’s body- these feelings are known collectively under transgenderism.
What Is Gender Role in Psychology?
Gender roles in psychology refer to societal expectations and norms regarding the behaviors, attitudes, and characteristics deemed appropriate for individuals based on their gender. These roles are culturally constructed and can vary significantly across different societies and time periods. They often dictate how men and women should behave, think, and interact within a particular culture. For example, traditional gender roles might suggest that men should be strong, assertive, and the primary breadwinners, while women should be nurturing, caring, and focused on homemaking and child-rearing.
What Creates Gender Roles?
Gender roles are like a script society hands out to people based on their gender. From childhood, individuals are taught what is considered "normal" for boys or girls like the toys we play with, the clothes one wears, or the activities they engage in. These norms come from families, schools, media, and cultural traditions. They shape how one sees themselves and how others see them, influencing our behavior, choices, and opportunities. Gender roles are not just about individual actions; they are woven into the fabric of society through things like media portrayals, job expectations, and even economic structures.
What Does the Field of Psychology Define as “Gender Roles”?
Psychologically, gender roles are understood as a result of socialization processes that begin early in life. They influence an individual's self-concept, identity, and behavior by shaping their understanding of what is considered acceptable and typical for their gender. Psychologists study how these roles are internalized by individuals, impacting their thoughts, feelings, and actions. They also explore the effects of societal expectations related to gender on mental health, self-esteem, and interpersonal relationships.
Are Gender and Sex the Same?
Traditionally, the terms "sex" and "gender" were often used interchangeably, with "sex" referring to biological characteristics (such as reproductive organs and chromosomes) and "gender" used as a synonym for this biological categorization. However, as social scientists, activists, and researchers started to delve deeper into the complexities of identity, behavior, and societal constructs, a distinction between these terms emerged:
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Sex: Biological characteristics such as anatomy, chromosomes, and hormones that classify individuals as male, female, or intersex.
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Gender: The social and cultural roles, behaviors, expectations, and identities that societies ascribe to individuals based on their perceived or assigned sex.
It encompasses a spectrum of identities beyond just "male" and "female," including transgender, non-binary, genderqueer, and other identities. If people are familiar with the term ‘ gender and know it is often used as a synonym for sex. But sex and gender are different things.
Gender is a social construct, while sex is a biological one. Sex refers to chromosomes (XX or XY), gonads (ovaries or testis), and hormones (estrogen or progesterone). In contrast to sex being determined by physical attributes, gender is largely an internal state of mind based on how we perceive ourselves. Gender is not the same as sex because it includes biological, cultural, or social aspects.
What Are Gender Stereotypes?
Gender stereotypes are widely accepted beliefs or assumptions about the behaviors, characteristics, roles, and attributes deemed typical or appropriate for individuals based on their gender. These stereotypes oversimplify and generalize expectations, often portraying men and women in rigid, predefined roles—like associating strength and assertiveness with men and nurturing and emotional traits with women. These notions, perpetuated by society, media, and cultural norms, impact how individuals perceive themselves and others, influencing choices, behaviors, and opportunities
Why Is It So Important to Know Gender Identity?
For some people, gender identity does not fit into those two choices. Gender identity is how we relate to our gender, biological sex, and role in society as men or women.
It is the part of our identity that we express through our behaviors and interests.
A person with firm gender identity will have a strong sense of what their gender is. They will also rarely pay attention to how others perceive their gender. For example, transgender people may want to change their physical attributes to align with their gender identity, but they usually have that firm sense of their gender.
Knowing the gender is important. It can help to understand the place in society, and it helps to relate to other people who value their feelings.
Why Is It So Important to Know Gender Roles?
People with strong gender roles will heavily emphasize their gender and the gender of others. They may also stick to the ideals of their gender, even if they do not fully identify with that gender. If someone or society has strong gender roles, they will likely expect to follow the rules of the gender as well. This can lead to frustration if individuals do not adhere to those roles. It can also lead to discrimination if people do not stick to the same gender role as society pressures people.
How Is Gender Identity Different From Gender Roles?
Gender identity is a person's internal sense of being male or female or something else. Gender identity is not determined by sexual orientation. Sexual orientation refers to whom they are sexually attracted to, while gender identity is about how they perceive themselves. Gender identity can be the same as or different from someone’s sex assigned at birth.
Gender roles are expressions of gender identity. Gender roles refer specifically to behaviors within society’s definition based upon our outward presentation according to their assigned sex at birth. In other terms, gender roles refer to the social expectations, norms, and stereotypes that society associates with being male or female. For example, women and men who do not stick to the ideals of their gender roles are often criticized for not living up to them. Women are expected to be soft-spoken, have a certain aesthetic, and have a specific set of interests. Men, on the other hand, are typically expected to be firm, assertive, and competitive.
Gender identity is determined by self, while gender roles are determined by society.
Gender expression relates to how one expresses their gender through clothing choices, hairstyle, mannerisms, and so on. There are many ways to express gender, and these expressions may or may not align with a person’s sex assigned at birth.
Both gender identity and gender roles are related to the concepts of gender, but they can be separated. A person can have a firm sense of their gender identity while also playing certain gender roles. In some cases, one of these two aspects will be more pronounced than the other. For example, a woman may subscribe to feminine gender roles but have a masculine gender identity. She may also identify as a lesbian, as she prefers women to men. Or a person may subscribe to a mix of masculine and feminine gender roles but have a gender identity somewhere in the middle. Some persons who identify as neither male nor female may reject both gender roles and gender identity because they are neutral on both fronts.
Why Does It Matter to Know the Difference?
Knowledge of the difference between gender identity and gender roles can be useful when understanding what is going on with someone else’s feelings, particularly if they do not identify with the same sex as their biological traits dictate. This knowledge can also help to avoid accidentally offending someone whose gender identity is not aligned with their biological sex.
Conclusion:
It is often difficult to simplify gender to only two options: being male or female. Our gender identity and its role is a complex thing, and it changes over time as we develop as an individual and as society changes. However, gender stereotypes are false expectations about how men and women should look, act and think. It is important to understand that gender stereotypes are not true for everyone. Breaking down gender stereotypes is a process that takes time, patience, and effort. People who can break down gender stereotypes are more accepting and comfortable with their own identities.
