Gender, which is a preconceived social or personal notion of what it means to be female or male, seems to shape how individuals live. In the same manner, gender identity, the personal perception of oneself as either female or male, correlates with gender roles, which are affirmed by one's personality. It is important to note that gender and gender identity paves the way for associated rights that distinguish males from females. In most societies, males seem to have more social, political, and economic rights as opposed to females, something that has necessitated feminist movements. The society has continually made calls for gender equality to eliminate the chances of people being denied rights and privileges owing to their gender identity. An analysis of gender rights and identity is aimed at establishing the causes and the resultant effects and which shape interactions and relationships as well as millennial take on the issue.
Causes of Gender Identity/ Right
Gender identity is associated with genetic make-up, which determines if an individual will be male or female. Biological factors shape children’s physical development since girls and boys have distinctive sexual organs, which are differentiated on reaching puberty. It is important to note that while boys tend to have higher levels of androgens, it is possible that some girls, too, could have higher levels of androgen. In such a case, these girls may defy socially constructed gender identities associated with being female and, in turn, display gender-stereotypic male behaviors and traits (Kagensten et al., 2016). One’s physical characteristics and features tend to set one apart as either a male or female, although this formation of gender identity is inflexible. Social factors such as mass media, roles assigned by family or society and authority figures seem to be the most important in forming gender identity. For a long time, there has been a general agreement that gender identity is a personal construction, but this assumption has been challenged. There is an argument that gender identity is the creation of societal structures, interactions, and cultural expectations. Society has laid out roles and expected behaviors for each gender with members being expected to adhere to the expectations without fail.
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Effects of Gender Identity/Right
Gender identity plays a central role in establishing relationships and interactions, which are mostly governed by social and cultural expectations. Society determines what it means to be male or female and expects its members to align with correct gender behaviors. For instance, females are expected to be submissive and domesticated, while males are expected to be masculine and outgoing. According to Hellum (2015), individuals who challenge the social order are considered as defiant who are prone to receive backlash. Gender identity is an aspect that is used to define the rights of each gender, with females having fewer rights as compared to their male counterparts. This limitation of rights is what has pushed females and males alike to challenge this inequality. Gillard (2019) establishes that gender equality is not only advanced by women but men, too, are in the frontline to demand fair treatment of females. Gillard cites the likes of Fredrick Douglas and John Stuart Miller and other modern men who support the struggle for gender equality.
Millennials and post-Millennials are challenging the status quo on gender inequality by wanting to have it all having explored new meanings of gender. Millennials and post Millenials believe that gender should not define behavior or destiny as it did once with more women showing interest in being bosses (Porter et al., 2019). Gender equality movements are a result of the continued suppression of women by men who hold positions of power, resulting in gender domination. These movements have given rise to other gender-identity related movements with others calling for recognition of individuals with a sexual orientation that defy socially accepted sexual identities. More people are championing the change of social constructions of gender identities as individuals demand more recognition and rights.
Conclusion
Gender identity continues to define expectations and roles even as individuals seek autonomy and freedom from rigid social constructions. Gender has been the basis for defining roles and, in turn, assign rights and responsibilities to people based on their physical characteristics. Most society thrives in male domination while females have been subjected to male authority, something that has led to resistance. Females and males alike feel that gender identity should not be used as a basis for discrimination, thus the need for gender equality. Individuals should be allowed the autonomy to decide their fate without necessarily adhering to social expectations related to gender.
References
Gillard, J. (2019, May 8). Gender equality is not a ‘women’s issue’ – it’s good for men too. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/08/gender-equality-not-womens-issue-good-men-too
Hellum, A. (2015) Special issue: Human rights, sexual orientation, and gender identity, Nordic Journal of Human Rights , 33(4), 277-279. doi: 10.1080/18918131.2015.1126446
Kågesten, A., Gibbs, S., Blum, R. W., Moreau, C., Chandra-Mouli, V., Herbert, A., & Amin, A. (2016). Understanding factors that shape gender attitudes in early adolescence globally: a mixed-methods systematic review. PloS One , 11(6), e0157805. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0157805
Porter, T. H., Gerhardt. M W., Fields, D., & Bugenhagen, M. (2019). An exploratory study of gender and motivation to lead in millennials. The Journal of Social Psychology, 159(2), 138-152. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2019.1570902
