Gender is simply a set of characteristics that are associated with biological sex that is either female or male while gender identity is personal identification with a certain gender role in society. There are many controversies when it comes to gender in many scientific fields. Researchers have different opinions on how much gender is due to biological, psychological, environmental or cultural influences, these results in different characteristics of each gender ( Oakley, 2015). The paper explains the gender differences between males and females due to biological, psychological, cultural and environmental influences.
Biological influences
Biological perspective states that gender is based on the two biological factors; that is the chromosomes and hormones which explains why boys and girls are born with distinctive sexual organs ( Erickson-Schroth, 2015). Hormones are the chemical substances produced by the gland in one's body and carried through the bloodstream. The Sex hormones occur in the bodies of both males and females but they differ in the amount and how they affect different parts of the body. Testosterone sex hormone is more present in males and when it is released in the womb it leads to the development of male sex organs and acts on the hypothalamus which results in the masculinization of one's brain. Testosterone hormone causes the male behaviors ( Erickson-Schroth, 2015)
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Chromosome, on the other hand, are the long thin structure that contains many genes and is biochemical units of hereditary which are responsible for the development of humans. According to Erickson-Schroth, (2015) a normal human body has 23 pairs of chromosomes and each pair control different part of development. The biological sex of an individual is shown by the 23 rd chromosome pair. Females are known to have two X chromosomes while males have X and Y chromosomes. Y chromosome is responsible for determining sexual differentiation. If Y is present it leads to the release of testes which in turn leads to the development of testosterone ( Erickson-Schroth, 2015).
Psychological influences
Sex always associated with gender that is the behavior and personality styles of a person. Freud's psychoanalytical theory involves several hypotheses regarding the human functions, processes, and personality ( Fiorini, & Rose, 2010). The theory claims that children normally go through the psychosexual development stages. The theory suggests that gender identity occurs during the third stage of psychosexual development, it occurs when a child is between three to six years this is the phallic stage according to Freud's theory. At this stage, the child is thought to be focused on his or her genitals. Boys start to experience the Oedipus complex and become attracted to their mothers while girls experience Electra complex and start to identify with their fathers and do female gender roles Child becomes attracted to the opposite sex. As the child grows the guilt of attraction to opposite-sex makes them to reconnect with the same-sex parent. They start to imitate the same-sex parent. The children shape their identity based on their interactions with their parents ( Fiorini, & Rose, 2010).
Cultural influences
According to Magnusson, & Marecek, (2012) gender identity was determined by whether a child was raised as male or female from childhood. Culture has an influence on the language, behavior, and thinking of a person. In different cultures, people are subjected to gender socialization from childhood. Gender socialization is a way in which children learn the social behaviors and expectations which are associated with boys and girls. As children grow they start to attain their own sense of gender identity and learn the cultural gender stereotypes such as boy and girl roles. The gender awareness is related to the exposure of different sources of socialization such as peers, siblings, and parents.
The gendered cultural ideals which determine the preference of a person are instilled. Research has shown that a child is more likely to interact with another child of the same sex than they are to the opposite sex. As one becomes older these gender stereotypes become more applicable. The social role theory explains why there are such stereotypes. According to this theory, in most cultures, the woman is to stay at home and attend to house chores while the man works and is seen as the provider. The norms and values of the society expect one to act according to the gender if not one is seen as a deviant (Magnusson, & Marecek, 2012).
Environmental influences
Environmental perspective argues that the child learns based on the environment one is in and learning experiences. The social environment in which a person lives affects the emotional and behavioral perceptions about what is going on around and the first exposure to gender role comes from the parent. According to this view, children recognize the differential behavior ( Burri, Cherkas, Spector, & Rahman, 2011)
According to Burri, Cherkas, Spector, & Rahman, (2011 ) social environment impacts the development of gender identity. A child's interests and behavior is influenced by the parent or the authority figure teaching in regards to gender stereotypes such as boys playing with the trucks and girls with the toys. The teachings on whether certain activities are appropriate or inappropriate to engage in because they are either a girl or a boy would internalize and be influenced by these teachings in later life. Children are normally dressed in gender-specific clothing from childhood ( Bussey, 2011).
Children learn faster through observation and they start to imitate what their parents or caregivers are doing. They always imitate and internalize what is happening around them and would end up repeating those behaviors throughout their lives as if they are the ones who came up with them. Research has shown that when children are raised up watching their parents following the strict gender-stereotyped roles they will eventually take those roles themselves as they grow than the children whose parents are not strict to the stereotyped roles. ( Burri, Cherkas, Spector, & Rahman, 2011)
In conclusion, gender influences a person’s identity, appearance, interests, and relationships. There are different opinions when it comes to gender identity whether it is something that is instinctive or that is learned by a person's development from childhood. From an early age, a person explores what actually means to be a boy or a girl. The meaning of gender is explored in different ways. There are influences that push one to do the roles based on gender; this includes biological, environmental, cultural and psychological influences. These influences will finally contribute to males acting as masculine and females as feminine.
References
Burri, A., Cherkas, L., Spector, T., & Rahman, Q. (2011). Genetic and Environmental Influences on Female Sexual Orientation, Childhood Gender Typicality and Adult Gender Identity. PLoS ONE , 6 (7), e21982. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0021982
Bussey, K. (2011). Gender Identity Development. Handbook of Identity Theory and Research , 603-628. doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-7988-9_25
Erickson-Schroth, L. (2015). Psychological and Biological Influences on Gender Roles. Neuroscience in the 21st Century , 1-22. doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-6434-1_159-1
Fiorini, L. G., & Rose, G. A. (2010). On Freud's "femininity" . Karnac Books.
Magnusson, E., & Marecek, J. (2012). Gender and Culture in Psychology: Theories and Practices . Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.
McLean, K. C., & Syed, M. U. (2014). The Oxford Handbook of Identity Development . New York, NY: Oxford University Press, USA.
Oakley, P. A. (2015). Sex, Gender, and Society . Surrey, England: Ashgate Publishing.
