Gender

 Introduction

 Gender identity is a developmental process that is influenced by biological and   environmental factors.  When people develop gender identity, they adhere to   gender-typical behaviors which are established by the society.  Biological factors influences gender identity due to genetic difference that is; X and Y chromosome.  On the other hand, people form gender identity due to environmental factors that pushes male and female toward developing masculine gender-identity and feminine gender-identity.  The socialization gives reinforcement and punishments and sets cultural norms that guide behaviors.  Gender identity is socially constructed and it helps people understand who they are and where they belong.

 Genetic influences gender identity

 Genetic factors play a role in influencing sexual orientation.  Historically, scientists believed that the sex differences between male and female occur due to gonadal hormone secretion but the emerging research has confirmed that genetic component influence gender identity. Genetic differences arise when females gain a genetic make-up of XX whereas male gains a genetic make-up of XY (Wienclaw, 2013).  During prenatal development,   the genetic differences form an identical foetus. According to Ngun et al (2011), evidence from family and twin studies show that genetic component influences sexual identity.  Male and female are different in both biological phenotypes and psychological traits.  Apart from the environmental, mental factors that influence these differences, other fundamental factors like genetics do.   For example, the brain of men and women are different, and the differences affect the biochemical processes which influence specific behaviors (Ngun et al, 2011). Genetics influence gender identity in that the genes in the sex chromosomes influence neural developmental and sex behaviors.  In other words, X and Y genes produce direct genetic effects which result in sex differences.

Biological factor in gender

 Biological factors play a role in gender development.  This occurs when the genes in the XY or XX chromosomes are formed to give physical sex.  Gender identity is also formed during gender development or when a child is named as a boy or a girl based on genitals.   In other words, boys and girls have distinctive sexual organs which are further differentiated during puberty.  Hormones which influence sex determination influences the different sexual characteristic.  Hormone play a role in that some children both boys and girls have more androgens than other peers and the difference affects the behaviors and play a role in shaping gender identity (Crooks & Baur, 2011).  For example, girls with high androgens tend to behave like male, and apart from having male genitalia, they like socializing with male, playing with masculine toys and they are physically active.

 

 Environmental factor influencing Gender identity 

 Genetic and hormonal factors play a role in gender identity in the development of the embryonic brain, but environmental factors occur after birth.  In other words, as children interact with other people in the social environment, they learn and observe different behaviors and differentiate between the appropriate and inappropriate behaviors.  Children normally imitate and internalize behaviors and tend to repeat the patterns in their daily lives.  Since gender identity is based on the internal sense of being a male or a female, there are social constructs that shape the gender identity (Lee & Houk, 2005).  In other words, the environment allows male to develop masculine-gender role behaviors and female to develop feminine gender-role behaviors.

Culture and customs environment impact gender

 In addition to environmental, biological and genetic factors, cultural and customs influences gender identity by shaping attitudes and behaviors that one should exhibit in the society.  In the society, people adheres to cultural standards which define sexual roles or gender schemas that are linked to either gender. Culture differ in different societies and both men and women are expected to behave in a certain way to be regarded as masculine of feminine (Alters & Schiff, 2013). For example, women have less autonomy whereas men are expected to make decisions.  Thus, cultural perceptions and male and female gender are strongly connected and people are expected to socialize and learn about their culture in order to be perceived as masculine of feminine.

Conclusion 

            Gender identity is a sense of being male or a female, and the internal sense creates a social identity which allows one to fit in social category.  Gender identity is influenced by various factors such as genes and hormones where scientist affirm that during the foetal development, there are sex-determining hormones which affects males and females differently. Other factors include environmental and cultural factor which conclude that people form gender identity through socialization and the formation of well-defined gender roles and norms.  Gender identity is important as it allows children to gain gender constancy.  Both genetic and environmental factors play a significant role in shaping gender since children gains physical development and develop positive behaviors by adhering to the cultural standards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

 Wienclaw, R. A. (2013). Gender Differences: Biology and Culture. Research Starters: Sociology (Online Edition),

 

Gender biology. [electronic resource] : men and women really are different. (2008). New York, N.Y. :

Films Media Group, [2008], c1998

 

Alters, S., & Schiff, W. (2013). Essential concepts for healthy living. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett

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Crooks, R., & Baur, K. (2011). Our sexuality. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.

 

Lee, P. A., & Houk, C. P. (2005). Impact of environment upon gender identity and sexual orientation: a

lesson for parents of children with intersex or gender confusion. Journal of Pediatric

Endocrinology and Metabolism, 18(7), 625-630.

 

Ngun, T. C., Ghahramani, N., Sánchez, F. J., Bocklandt, S., & Vilain, E. (2011). The genetics of sex

differences in brain and behavior. Frontiers in neuroendocrinology, 32(2), 227-246.