Theorizing Sex & Gender

Due to Canvas 3/18 by 11:59 pm (30 points)

This week, were exploring how social, cultural, and scientific assumptions shape how we understand sex and gender. Use the readings and videos to reflect on your own experiences and observations. Your posts should demonstrate engagement with the materials and your classmates ideas.

Write a 250-300 word post responding to ALL 4 of the prompts below:

1. How do gender roles influence childrens play? Think back to your childhood. How gendered were the toys and activities available to you?
2. How does Emily Martins essay demonstrate that science is not neutral, but influenced by cultural and gender assumptions?
3. How does Anne Fausto-Sterling challenge the idea that there are only two sexes? Are there parts of the readings you find surprising, challenging, or even uncomfortable? Why?
4. Can you think of a time when someone in your family/community pushed back against gender expectations, or when you noticed those expectations shaping your own life?

You must reference each assigned reading/media at least once using either a direct quotation or a specific example. For readings, include page numbers; for the TED Talk, include a timestamp if possible.

After posting your reflection, reply to at least twoclassmates. Superficial responses will not receive full credit. Your replies should demonstrate engagement by doing one or more of the following:

• Asking a follow-up question
• Noting a connection or similarity with your own experience
• Offering a different perspective and explaining why
• Reflecting on something they said that stood out to you

Each reply should be 4-6 sentences and contribute to building a thoughtful and supportive classroom community.

Example 1 Armenta

Gender roles definitely did influence how kids play from a young age. Thinking back when I was younger, most of the toys and activities around me were pretty gendered I was expected to play fight, play video games and with action figures while girls were usually given dolls or play kitchen sets. Even commercials were heavy on certain toys focusing on certain genders boy or girl. According to the Social Constructionism, ideas like gender are formed by everyone in society. Which explains why kids learn these roles so early (UMass Amherst Libraries). This shows how what was being shown to us as kids also help us form how we feel about gender roles growing up.

Emily Martins reading shows us that science isnt always neutral because cultural beliefs can play a role into different understandings of gender. She explains how the sperm is often described as competitive and strong while the egg is passive and waits for the sperm. This promotes stereotypes about men being dominant and women being passive even though thats not exactly how biology works. It even shows that science can be influenced by gender assumptions as well.

Anne Fausto-Sterling challenges the idea that there are only two sexes by explaining that biology is more complex. She talks about intersex people and argues that sex exists on a spectrum its not just male and female. I found this surprising because I always thought there were only two sexes. It was not catching on at first, but it made me realize that what were taught growing up isnt always the only answer.

In Emily Quinns TED Talk she shares her experience being intersex and says, I am not a mistake (Quinn). That really stood out to me because it shows how harmful strict gender expectations can be to people. Even in my life Ive felt pressure to act tough and not show emotions. But Ive also seen people challenge those expectations as well which shows that gender roles can change over time.

Example 2 juniper

1. Gender roles influence children’s play in many different ways. I am the youngest of six and the first few years of my life where on a farm in Michigan. I don’t recall much that early on but definitely remember being given toys that influenced me. I was given toy shovels, trucks, even small playhouse farm toys where one character was meant to be the “daddy” and he was larger and wore work clothes, and the “mommy” toy had an apron and was even placed in the kitchen on the box art. I will never forget that because I was much closer with my sisters than my dad and brother and even that early, enjoyed playing with the “mommy” toy because it was representing the side of my family that was nicer to me earlier on. Something that really stood out to me in Emily Quinns Ted Talk was that Intersex people represent over 2% of the population, 150 million worldwide. (11:07). This was a metric I really enjoyed hearing and has caused me to do some research of my own.

2. One of the lines that really stood out to me from Emily Martins book was “The egg is said to have a ‘corona’ a crown, and to be accompanied by ‘attendant cells.’ It is the holy, set apart and above, the queen to the sperms king.” EGG AND THE SPERM, Page 490. This stood out to me because I could see this being something easily passed down to society because we all fundamentally understand the very simple concepts of “Kind and Queen” It feels like a gender role that has been used for such a long portion of human history and is useful for the sabotage of constructing gender roles in society.

3. Anne Fausto-Sterling challenges the idea of binary sex by proposing that sexuality is on a spectrum rather that the preset limitations society has created, and suggest upwards of five-sex systems. The Five Sexes, Page 19. I actually found this helpful to better understand, as with most things in life, it is a spectrum. Things from autism to even colors. When I learn something knew and think of it as a spectrum, it helps me see everyone and everything outside of the bold lines. This has helped me specifically with my own friends who are non-binary and enjoy being seen as more masculine but enjoy wearing dresses. I have been lucky to have great friends who enjoy very much blending the lines of gender norms. On this most recent daylight savings we actually all chose to wear dresses (regardless of the individual genders) and bike through Balboa Park. It was wonderful and I can not imagine that happening when I was a child without the news getting involved. (I am now 34)

4. Absolutely. I just had this breakthrough in therapy last year. When I was young I was very entrepreneurial. I had a trash collecting business, sold snacks and baked goods, and puppet shows for the younger kids. This was all before I entered high school. I was excited and believed in myself. I had already known then I liked multiple genders as a kid. I saw no difference in liking my friends regardless of their gender. I knew after kissing a boy and girl, even back then that something was “wrong” and I had to hide it. But up until that point my father was extremely supportive. I will never forget the red light in Santee, CA we sat at when I told him I think I am gay. He already was upset I would play “female” characters in video games. Now I know I am pansexual, but at the time the only “naughty” word I knew was “gay”. From that day on he treated me very differently and chose to never step into my light again. I even tried going to church more to win his affection back. I lost a lot of confidence and motivation and took me 20 years to claw it back. Gender & sexual orientation will forever play a center role in my mental health journey.

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