1
BASIC CONCEPTS : SEX AND GENDER,
MASCULINITY AND FEMININITY,
PATRIARCHY
Unit Structure :
1.0 Objectives
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Sex and Gender
1.2.1 Sex
1.2.2 Gender
1.2.3 Deconstructing Sex and Gender
1.3 Masculinity and Femininity
1.4 Patriarchy
1.5 Summary
1.6 Check your progress
1.7 References
1.8 Questions
1.0 OBJECTIVES :
To study the concepts of sex and gender as used in feminist
works.
To understand the concepts of masculinity and femininity as
analytical categories.
To study the concept of patriarchy and male dominance in
society.
1.1 INTRODUCTION :
Concepts are terms used by social scientist as analytical
categories to study society and social behaviour. Through the use
of concepts social scientists develop categories that act as aids in
the scientific investigation of behaviour in the society. In gender
studies there are several such concepts that provide the framework
in the study of behaviour. For example, the concept of gender was
first developed by Iill Matthews in 1984 in her study of the
construction of femininity. According to Mathews, the concept of
gender gives recognition to the fact that every known society
, 2
distinguishes between women and men. Therefore the term /
concept of gender is a systematic way of understanding men and
women socially and the patterning of relationships between them.
The concept of patriarchy help in the study of the male dominance
in the society. The concept of gender helps to study the differences
in behaviour between men and women and to analyse the basis of
these differences as basically biological or as social constructions
by the society. The concepts masculinity and femininity define
certain trout‟s as typically male as so masculine in nature or as
typically female and so feminine in nature. In this unit some basic
concepts will be studied. These concepts are sex and gender,
patriarchy and masculinity and femininity.
In feminist writings and in discourses on Gender Studies,
these concepts are basic to our understanding of social differences
between men and women in the society. A study of these concepts
are useful as analytical categories.
1.2 SEX AND GENDER :
The term „sex‟ and „gender‟ are concepts used by
academicians, researchers and feminist writers to make a
distinction between the biologically different „male‟ and „female‟ and
between the socially different „man‟ and „woman‟. Feminist
sociologists suggest that there is a need to understand and
distinguish between the two terms „sex‟ and „gender‟ in academic
discourses and writings.
1.2.1 Sex :
In a very broad way, „sex‟ refers to the biological and
physiological differences between male and female sex. The term
sex is a physical differentiation between the biological male and the
biological female. Thus, when an infant is born, the infant comes to
be labeled “boy” or “girl” depending on their sex. The genital
differences between male and female is the basis of such
characterization. There is a biological difference between the
sexes and most people are born (expect for a few ambiguous
cases) as one sex or another. However, it has been argued that
having been born into one sex or another, individuals are then
socialized according to specific gender expectations and roles.
Biological males learn to take on masculine roles. They are
socialized to think and act in masculine ways. Biological females
learn to take on feminine roles. They are socialized to think and
behave in feminine ways. As the feminist writer Simone de
Behaviour puts it „one is not born a man but becomes one‟, „one is
not born a woman but becomes one‟.
, 3
At birth, besides the basic biological differences in the
genitals and reproductive organs, there is not much difference
between the male child and the female child. Society makes the
differences between boy and girl through gender constructions.
The biological differences between the sexes does to some extent
explain certain psychological and socially constructed differences.
This view is criticized by some feminist writers like Judith Butler.
Judith Butler argues that sex is natural and comes first.
Gender is perceived as a secondary construct which is imposed
over the top of this natural distinction. Viewed thus, Butler argues
„sex‟ itself becomes a social category. This means that the
distinction between „male‟ and „female‟ is a social distinction made
by the society, that is, it is a social construction. It is a particular
way of perceiving and dividing the differences between „male‟,
„female‟. Butler explains that „sex‟ though seen as biological, is as
much a product of society as it gender. So the term sex is also
socially constructed.
The scientific, biological meaning and definition of sex is an
important source of explanation to point out the basic differences in
sex. Butler‟s concern is that „biology‟ itself, as a scientific discipline,
is a social system of representation and more important there are a
number of differences between human beings, but only some
become a basis for dividing human beings into distinct types. In
other words, even if we accept that there are basic differences
between the „sexes‟ there is no logical or rational reason for use.
This is the basis for dividing human beings into two groups or
sexes.
Judith Butler further explains „sex‟ is not just an analytical
category. It is a normative category as well. It stipulates what men
and women are. It also stipulates what men and women ought to
be. It formulates rules to regulate the behaviour of men and
women. Butler concludes that sex is also a social category. There
are some feminist writers who do not agree with Butler and regard
„sex‟ as basically biological in nature.
Much research in sociology assumes that each person has
one sex, one sexuality and one gender. Sometimes sex and
gender are used interchangeably. Sometimes sex means
sexuality, it may refer to biology or physiology. A woman is
assumed to be feminine female, a man a masculine male.
Research variables polarize sex as males and females; sexuality is
polarized as homosexual and heterosexuals; gender is homosexual
as and women these reflect conventionalise bodies that do not take
into account transvestites, transsexuals, bisexuals and so on. In
gender studies or women studies the four of concern is on the
biological sex – man, woman, male female and the way in which
, 4
biological differences have been socially gendered in different ways
by the patriarchal society. When infants are categorized as a
particular sex, they are subject to a range of gendered behaviour
through gendered socialization. This brings us to the question what
is gender?
1.2.2 Gender :
The concept of gender in feminist writings and other
sociological discourses became popular in the early 1970. In
simple terms, gender explain the differences between men and
women in social terms as men, and as what a man can do; as
„woman‟, and as what a woman can or cannot do. Therefore,
gender is a analytical category that is socially constructed to
differentiate the biological difference between men and women.
The term gender is also used to describe the differences in
behaviour between men and women which are described as
„masculine‟ and „feminine‟. Feminist writings focus on this aspect
and claim that these differences are not biological but are social
constructions of patriarchal society.
Some theorists suggest that the biological differences
between men and women also result in their mental and physical
differences. They argue that biologically, men are physically and
mentally superior to women. Other theorists suggest that the
biological difference between men and women are exaggerated.
The differences are socially constructed by the patriarchal system
of society by which men are described as superior to women.
Therefore women become subordinate to men in the society.
Ann Oakley in her book, sex, gender and Society written in
1972 explores the term gender. Oakley says that in the Western
culture women play the roles of the „housewife‟ and „mother‟. This
is because women are made to play these roles because of their
biology. The western culture also believes that any effort to change
the traditional roles of men and women in the society can cause
damage to the social fabric of the society. Oakley concludes that
this view regarding the roles of men and women helps to support
and maintain the patriarchal society.
Simone de Beauvior in her book „The Second Sex‟ says that
“one is not born, but rather becomes a woman”. She explains that
gender differences in the society make the man superior through
his role as the bread winner. It gives him a position of power in the
society and family. Gender differences are set in hierarchal
opposition such that men are superior and women are subordinate.
Women‟s position is that of the „other‟ and women are the continual
outsiders. Civilization was masculine to its very depth.
BASIC CONCEPTS : SEX AND GENDER,
MASCULINITY AND FEMININITY,
PATRIARCHY
Unit Structure :
1.0 Objectives
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Sex and Gender
1.2.1 Sex
1.2.2 Gender
1.2.3 Deconstructing Sex and Gender
1.3 Masculinity and Femininity
1.4 Patriarchy
1.5 Summary
1.6 Check your progress
1.7 References
1.8 Questions
1.0 OBJECTIVES :
To study the concepts of sex and gender as used in feminist
works.
To understand the concepts of masculinity and femininity as
analytical categories.
To study the concept of patriarchy and male dominance in
society.
1.1 INTRODUCTION :
Concepts are terms used by social scientist as analytical
categories to study society and social behaviour. Through the use
of concepts social scientists develop categories that act as aids in
the scientific investigation of behaviour in the society. In gender
studies there are several such concepts that provide the framework
in the study of behaviour. For example, the concept of gender was
first developed by Iill Matthews in 1984 in her study of the
construction of femininity. According to Mathews, the concept of
gender gives recognition to the fact that every known society
, 2
distinguishes between women and men. Therefore the term /
concept of gender is a systematic way of understanding men and
women socially and the patterning of relationships between them.
The concept of patriarchy help in the study of the male dominance
in the society. The concept of gender helps to study the differences
in behaviour between men and women and to analyse the basis of
these differences as basically biological or as social constructions
by the society. The concepts masculinity and femininity define
certain trout‟s as typically male as so masculine in nature or as
typically female and so feminine in nature. In this unit some basic
concepts will be studied. These concepts are sex and gender,
patriarchy and masculinity and femininity.
In feminist writings and in discourses on Gender Studies,
these concepts are basic to our understanding of social differences
between men and women in the society. A study of these concepts
are useful as analytical categories.
1.2 SEX AND GENDER :
The term „sex‟ and „gender‟ are concepts used by
academicians, researchers and feminist writers to make a
distinction between the biologically different „male‟ and „female‟ and
between the socially different „man‟ and „woman‟. Feminist
sociologists suggest that there is a need to understand and
distinguish between the two terms „sex‟ and „gender‟ in academic
discourses and writings.
1.2.1 Sex :
In a very broad way, „sex‟ refers to the biological and
physiological differences between male and female sex. The term
sex is a physical differentiation between the biological male and the
biological female. Thus, when an infant is born, the infant comes to
be labeled “boy” or “girl” depending on their sex. The genital
differences between male and female is the basis of such
characterization. There is a biological difference between the
sexes and most people are born (expect for a few ambiguous
cases) as one sex or another. However, it has been argued that
having been born into one sex or another, individuals are then
socialized according to specific gender expectations and roles.
Biological males learn to take on masculine roles. They are
socialized to think and act in masculine ways. Biological females
learn to take on feminine roles. They are socialized to think and
behave in feminine ways. As the feminist writer Simone de
Behaviour puts it „one is not born a man but becomes one‟, „one is
not born a woman but becomes one‟.
, 3
At birth, besides the basic biological differences in the
genitals and reproductive organs, there is not much difference
between the male child and the female child. Society makes the
differences between boy and girl through gender constructions.
The biological differences between the sexes does to some extent
explain certain psychological and socially constructed differences.
This view is criticized by some feminist writers like Judith Butler.
Judith Butler argues that sex is natural and comes first.
Gender is perceived as a secondary construct which is imposed
over the top of this natural distinction. Viewed thus, Butler argues
„sex‟ itself becomes a social category. This means that the
distinction between „male‟ and „female‟ is a social distinction made
by the society, that is, it is a social construction. It is a particular
way of perceiving and dividing the differences between „male‟,
„female‟. Butler explains that „sex‟ though seen as biological, is as
much a product of society as it gender. So the term sex is also
socially constructed.
The scientific, biological meaning and definition of sex is an
important source of explanation to point out the basic differences in
sex. Butler‟s concern is that „biology‟ itself, as a scientific discipline,
is a social system of representation and more important there are a
number of differences between human beings, but only some
become a basis for dividing human beings into distinct types. In
other words, even if we accept that there are basic differences
between the „sexes‟ there is no logical or rational reason for use.
This is the basis for dividing human beings into two groups or
sexes.
Judith Butler further explains „sex‟ is not just an analytical
category. It is a normative category as well. It stipulates what men
and women are. It also stipulates what men and women ought to
be. It formulates rules to regulate the behaviour of men and
women. Butler concludes that sex is also a social category. There
are some feminist writers who do not agree with Butler and regard
„sex‟ as basically biological in nature.
Much research in sociology assumes that each person has
one sex, one sexuality and one gender. Sometimes sex and
gender are used interchangeably. Sometimes sex means
sexuality, it may refer to biology or physiology. A woman is
assumed to be feminine female, a man a masculine male.
Research variables polarize sex as males and females; sexuality is
polarized as homosexual and heterosexuals; gender is homosexual
as and women these reflect conventionalise bodies that do not take
into account transvestites, transsexuals, bisexuals and so on. In
gender studies or women studies the four of concern is on the
biological sex – man, woman, male female and the way in which
, 4
biological differences have been socially gendered in different ways
by the patriarchal society. When infants are categorized as a
particular sex, they are subject to a range of gendered behaviour
through gendered socialization. This brings us to the question what
is gender?
1.2.2 Gender :
The concept of gender in feminist writings and other
sociological discourses became popular in the early 1970. In
simple terms, gender explain the differences between men and
women in social terms as men, and as what a man can do; as
„woman‟, and as what a woman can or cannot do. Therefore,
gender is a analytical category that is socially constructed to
differentiate the biological difference between men and women.
The term gender is also used to describe the differences in
behaviour between men and women which are described as
„masculine‟ and „feminine‟. Feminist writings focus on this aspect
and claim that these differences are not biological but are social
constructions of patriarchal society.
Some theorists suggest that the biological differences
between men and women also result in their mental and physical
differences. They argue that biologically, men are physically and
mentally superior to women. Other theorists suggest that the
biological difference between men and women are exaggerated.
The differences are socially constructed by the patriarchal system
of society by which men are described as superior to women.
Therefore women become subordinate to men in the society.
Ann Oakley in her book, sex, gender and Society written in
1972 explores the term gender. Oakley says that in the Western
culture women play the roles of the „housewife‟ and „mother‟. This
is because women are made to play these roles because of their
biology. The western culture also believes that any effort to change
the traditional roles of men and women in the society can cause
damage to the social fabric of the society. Oakley concludes that
this view regarding the roles of men and women helps to support
and maintain the patriarchal society.
Simone de Beauvior in her book „The Second Sex‟ says that
“one is not born, but rather becomes a woman”. She explains that
gender differences in the society make the man superior through
his role as the bread winner. It gives him a position of power in the
society and family. Gender differences are set in hierarchal
opposition such that men are superior and women are subordinate.
Women‟s position is that of the „other‟ and women are the continual
outsiders. Civilization was masculine to its very depth.
