Heteronormative Binary Explanations of Gender - Assignment Example

Essay, Gender & Sexual Studies

Question 3.Heteronormative Binary Explanations of Gender

Heteronormative is conceptualized as the interdependence of sexuality and gender. Heteronormativity describes gender as being binary and generalizes that sexual attraction as an aspect directed to opposite gender. However, the non-heterosexual individuals such as lesbians, gays, asexual and bisexual are seen as deviants who deviate from the norm of heterosexuality (Worthen and Dirks, p. 277). They are a product as heterosexuality. A society that is defined by Heteronormative values assumes that all people in that community are heterosexual. Similarly, such as society also hold a binary perception of gender which views people as either male or female. The existence of people as male or female also means that there are specific roles designed for each gender. Heteronormativity also contributes to gender identity. Along with class, ethnicity and race, gender continues to a primary criterion along which societies in the world are structured. Inequality based on gender is a standard feature in all communities in the world. The inequalities are a product of socially constructed power relations, norms, and practices. According to the biological composition, a person is born either a male of a female. However, the aspect of femininity or masculinity is a combination of both the natural making and the interpretation of biology by culture.

Society is the tool by which Heteronormativity and binary definition of gender are transmitted and clearly defined by gender roles. Every society has its unique ways by which its members follow as they learn to carry out their feminine or masculine roles. All the way from childhood to adulthood, people learn and practice various ways in which they are male or female. Gender roles, however, change from time to time and vary from one culture to the other. Ethnic background influences gender roles, age, class, and race. Different societies have different views about how both men and women should behave. Thus, gender roles cannot be universal in all the societies. The definition of gender roles is thus determined by the societal perception and prescription of functions. While most communities use biological sex as their starting point for describing gender, no two cultures or societies agree on what distinguishes one gender from another (Carroll, p. 11-12). For instance, an African woman who is a farmer has fewer choices than a middle-class American woman who joins the armed forces or has some professional training. Thus, gender is not a permanent feature because it keeps on changing within generations and societies. Gender, however, determines the different life experiences people are exposed. Men and women in various communities play different roles according to the societal stipulation. The various tasks they perform are different, and their status empowerment within the society is also different. The manner in which gender roles evolve in different societies is attributed to various factors ranging from the natural environment to the various ways in which gender differences are resolved. Studies have shown that there are very few similar roles performed by both men and women (Chevrette, p. 181). In some societies, for instance, women do the land preparation and men do the cooking and vice versa.

The explanation of gender in regard to Heteronormative binary is seen as the foundation for gender inequality. Gender inequality is viewed as the different treatment of persons depending on their gender. Gender inequality can be traced back to the socially constructed gender roles. Gender inequality can be analyzed from two distinct perspectives. These aspects include the biological explanation of sex differences and socio-cultural approach. According to the biological school of thought, men and women are entirely different and thus behave differently, and this aspect accounts for the physical differences between the two. Similarly, biological psychology regards to gender identity and roles as arising from natural processes (Chevrette, p. 182). The aspect of gender differentiation emanates from sex differences. That is, men and women think, feel and act differently because their brains work differently. The difference in the working of the brain can be explained by both hormonal and chromosomal differences between male and female. Biologically, Males have XY chromosomes while females have XX chromosomes. In the period following conception, it is hard to distinguish between a male and a female embryo. The sex of a fetus is only determined by carrying out a test on its chromosomes. The Y male chromosome stimulates the production of male sex hormones. The androgens thus cause a man to develop a penis and testicles instead of ovaries and uterus. The androgens are also believed to cause the male brain develop differently from that of a female. Researchers agree that the release of androgens hormones is responsible for the difference in the formation of the brain and the activities that cause men behave differently from women. According to this theorizing, the sex hormones explain the differences in physical characteristics that define femininity and masculinity as well as the different roles played by both genders (Downing, p. 1141).

The socio-cultural theory, on the other hand, connotes that gender roles are culturally or socially constructed rather than biological. Human beings learn from the behavior expected of males and females within the society. Inborn characteristics do not produce female or male behavior but as a result of interrelations and interactions within the society (Gardiner, p.21-22). As earlier connoted, studies have shown that gender roles vary from society to society, organization to organization and from group to group. Despite the natural characteristics (masculinity and femininity) existing between men and women, the perception of these differences is further influenced by the culture. Ann Oakley, a renowned feminist, outlines how socialization in society shapes the behavior of children from an early stage. According to Ann, socialization into gender role takes place in some ways. The first method according to Ann is the formation of child's concept through manipulation. Mothers play a primary role in socializing children and create the distinction between maleness and femaleness. Secondly, differences between them are further perpetuated through the provision of rewards. Girls are given presents such as dolls, domestic objects and appliances to play with while boys are given such objects such as car toys and guns which encourage more practical, logical and aggressive behavior. Thirdly, it is the language used to address both girls and boys. In most cases, mothers use soft language towards girl child while a boy child may be addressed with more strict words. The language used thus plays a significant role in shaping the identity of the respective genders. The fourth method involves exposure of children to different activities. For instance, girls are encouraged to become involved in domestic tasks. Studies have shown how stereotypes of masculinity and femininity are further reinforced through childhood, youth and even adult life.

The construction of gender identity is also influenced by institutions such as media, family, school and religion. A family is one of the principal agents of socialization in all societies. It is in the family where individual personalities are shaped, and it is hard to erase these characters afterward in life. It includes attitudes and behavioral patterns that define the specific groups in societies. For example, a girl and a boy child are received differently at birth. The material culture introduced to them such as toys differ according to the gender (Sunderland, and McGlashan, p. 21-22). Additionally, lineage system is mostly carried out on the male side. The aspect gives prominence and a sense of importance at birth and also in upbringing which in many cases reproduces patriarchal societies. Inheritance and ownership system perpetuated by the family and those that seem to have no right are trained to accept that it is acceptable and fair the way a society allocates property. The family teaches its members to inculcate certain code of behavior that is expected of men and women (McGuire, Kuvalanka, Catalpa, and Toomey, p.67-68). Similarly, school plays a primary role in socializing and instilling values and skills in children. Teachers, peers, and books are useful in performing these functions. Teachers, for instance, are members of the societies and do pass over the societal expectations to the children. In most cases, teachers act as custodians for societal values which may not be gender sensitive. The subjects taught in school determine what children will become later in future (Hickman, p. 75). For example, in a longer period, girls have been discouraged from pursuing subjects such as science as they are regarded as hard for them to understand. Boys, on the other hand, are encouraged to study such subjects as mathematics and science (Toomey, McGuire, and Russell, p.191).

Media has had a fundamental task in gender differentiation. Media can be used and has been used as a tool of introducing new concepts as well as teaching values. Media can be very useful if it gender sensitive or very distractive if it is not. However, in the present day, media has been accused as the primary source of violence in the society (Robinett, p. 367). Gender is therefore about perceptions and understandings concerning the relationship between men and women in the society as depicted by the media. When it comes to religion, it has been argued that there is a notable distinction between gender or male and female. From the beginning in the Bible, God Himself is referred to as a "He". Also, a majority of churches are headed by men while others deny women leadership (Alexander, and Anderlini-D'Onofrio, p. 13). In fact, women have been denied leadership in churches citing their pregnancy and menstruation which is considered unclean.

Westernization and secularism have led to the emergence of sex differentiation whereby some people have resulted to bisexuality, asexuality, and homosexuality (Averett, p. 113). The three aspects, as well as transgender, have raised concern about the normalizing of sexuality. The big question is how Heteronormativity addresses such issues. Heteronormativity has always treated different forms of sexuality as marginalized. Non-heterosexuals such as lesbians, gays, asexual and bisexuals find it difficult to live in a Heteronormative society. Such individuals are also victims of prejudice. Heteronormativity also assumes that transgender persons and an intersex person can identify with either gender (Habarth, p. 15-16). Despite these variations in sexuality and gender, it is evident that human beings cannot defy the natural making in which one is born either a male or a female (Nagoshi, Terrell, Nagoshi, and Brzuzy, p.4). Even for persons who under transgender transformation can only alter their physical characteristics but not the natural phenomena of a human body such as change of chromosomes.

In conclusion, heteronormativity is one of the challenging topics in the field of gender and sexual studies. Heterosexuality system is founded on the belief that there are only two distinct sexes as established by biology and culture. Thus, the construction of gender as a binary system has its roots in the culture and biological studies. Biological researchers on genitalia and chromosomes confirm that one fit in either under the normal circumstances. Consequently, it's cultural and natural to expect an individual to conform to this set standard. People who do not fit in this specification are referred to as abnormal and contrary to nature (Grant, Naish and Zeeman, p. 27-28). The scope of heteronormativity is not limited to sexuality but extends to other aspects life such as; cultural and social roles as well as the choice of career. Based on the research it is evident that heteronormativity is at the core of gender inequality. Binary gender system is structured in a hierarchical order, with masculinity taking priority over femininity. The same system also rewards heterosexuality as the biological and culturally acceptable. Thus, homosexuality is labeled as naturally and biologically unacceptable. How people react to this established concept of sexuality and gender reveals the future of heteronormativity and the binary gender system.

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