Reaction Paper About Gender Identity

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Gender Identity
One of the most basic and crucial elements that we identify ourselves with is the classification of whether we are male or female. The terms ‘sex’ and ‘gender’ are commonly used interchangeably. However, they have distinct differences between them and they differ in usage. Sex refers to an individual’s biological status and the physical attributes include external genitalia, chromosomes and hormonal profile. At birth, it is used to classify whether the individual is a male or female.
Some characteristics related to sex:
• Females’ reproductive system includes the vagina, ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes and breasts. Males’ reproductive system includes the penis, testicles, scrotum and sperm ducts.
• Females can get pregnant …show more content…

Their male spouses, on the other hand, are expected to go out and earn money for his family.

• In some cultures, women are not allowed to travel within or out of the country alone as they are afraid that they’d fall prey to sexual predators or abductors. Men, on the other hand, can do so, as they are seen to be more masculine and are able to take care of themselves better than the females.
Gender identity, therefore, is defined as “one’s innermost concept of self as male or female or both or neither—how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves.” (Gender Spectrum) It is usually shaped by the combination of both inherent and environmental factors. One’s gender identity may either align with their biological sex – cis-gender – or in some cases where it is not congruent with one’s biological sex, an individual may identify themselves as a transgender or transsexual.

Gender Identity Development in Children
When a child is born, parents of the child will raise them according to their biological sex. Girls are also dressed differently than the boys by the parents – the former puts on dresses and pink clothing while boys are dressed in t-shirt and pants, that are easy to move around in, as boys are usually more active than the

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