Zamora 1

Yesenia Zamora
Professor Beadle
English 115
October 4, 2016
Progression 1 Essay
Learning is defined as a long lasting change in behavior throughout ones experience in
life. In society things are often learned, taught to obtain control and order, but also showing
interest in a form of hierarchy ranked through gender. Society early on learns to begin
associating sex: being the body and genitalia one is born with, and gender: what one identifies
and expresses themselves. That being either masculine or feminine. one long taught ideal in
society would be that at the very top of this social hierarchy is the most masculine figure, being
your average hard working man. What society fails to recognize is that sex and gender are not
one and are not equal. which for many that is not the case and is a difficult concept to grasp
questioning what really is sex and what is gender?. the difference between sex and gender can be
shown through observational learning through ones parents, stereotypes passed down through
society, and through societies very own social construct.
Way before birth occurs parents begin to decide and enforce sex and gender towards
children without even noticing. This is done unconsciously by parents, it is not a forced act they
are traditions and thinking handed down through generations. Baby showers, gender reveals, and
preparing ones home for the arrival of a new born baby. Parents from the moment a baby is born
separate a child through their articles of clothing. Depending on what sex a baby is born in to
their articles of clothing's range from different colors, and designs. Boys are given t-shirts and
pants, and colors of clothing ranging in cool tones. While girls are set more to dresses and skirts
all in bright lively colors. Small children are shown that through these articles of clothing and

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colors what it is that belongs to each one, and to learn that this is what they should use to
differentiate one another. From infancy and all throughout childhood children learn what toys
they should be playing with. Each toy is usually based off through gender and ideal
characteristics they want these children to obtain. Parents teach their children they are not
allowed to be fond of the toys chosen for the other sex. With the help of toys and how children
interact and play it teaches them what characteristics to carry and how sex can completely divide
both apart. " Studies have shown boys are encouraged to more actively explore their
environment, while girls are encouraged to engage in quieter play" (Goodwin 88). Stating into
the fact that children are enforced gender with parents being rougher on their boys and also
devaluing femininity. On both genders femininity is treated less equal then one would with
masculinity. Boys cant be seen as soft, and cant show any trace of femininity in their personality
and characteristic.s They are shown to act stronger, to not show weakness, and girls are looked at
as less superior going back to the though of having a social hierarchy between sexes.
Stereotyping is another form in which interpretations of sex and gender are learned.
Certain stereotypes set up expectations on each gender. Each with a cause and an effect. Those
who are masculine are stereotyped to be the typical "Manly Man". To be strong, tough, and to
show no type of weakness. These expectations from this given stereotype can cause men to
stress and panic to keep up this role, and be seen the way society wants one to be depicted. The
effects of this can cause a fear of being associated to homosexuality, due to homosexuality being
seen as weak and too feminine. Women are perceived as weak and not as important as men.
More so seen as lower than them. m. Women are expected to bear children, tend to household
duties, and appeal to men. "A heterosexual orientation requires women to dress, move, speak,
and act in ways that men will find attractive" (Devor 40). Devors quote explains what is expected

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from women, and how women are taught that they are simply around for men. The main
negative female stereotype is that women have to depend on men, and appeal to his every need.
This causing women to not want to think for themselves and give in to these ideals.
The biggest culprit of trying to blur out the difference between sex and gender is its main
influence, Social Construction. Social construction has molded specific roles for each gender.
Men have to be strong leaders and the bread winner. Women have to tend to the home, the
children, and keep their husbands happy. Each gender has to look a certain way, carry certain
physical appearances, and characteristics to fall into their molds. But where this seems to cut off
is that now societies members are finding flexibility in their binaries. Those who do not follow
societies expectations are the answer to why sex does not and is not equal to gender. The
Transgendered, Gender fluid, and Non gendered communities offer enough reasoning as to why
sex and gender are not equal. These communities dont meet or practice what society says each
sex should follow. Sex does not determine your gender because mentally gender is not expressed
according to the bodies assigned at birth. Many have been born feeling as if they were not born
in the right body, and do not express what their supposed assigned gender is expected to be
doing. Other individuals do not see them selves in one set gender mold. They flex between both
and some dont feel that they belong to any gender at all. If society states that sex and gender are
one and the same, then why is it that there are large amounts of people who do not base their
lives after these molds and expectations?. That regardless of all the learning, and teachings they
cant be set in where they are assigned to be?. It is because although one is set to look masculine
or feminine, dress in certain clothing, and carry a specific attitude to force their gender to be able
to express what body they were born into. Most people know from a very young age that they do
not feel right following ideals that they are not who they mentally know they are. Society is now

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beginning to change and see that by breaking observational learning, stereotypes, and social
construct, we can and begin to educate the rest of society. Every generation will begin to break
away from old ideals set because of the past and learn that sex and gender are two different
things

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Work Cited
Devor, Aaron. "Becoming Members of Society: The Social Meanings of Gender."
Composing Gender, edited by Rachel Grener and John F. O'Hara, Bedford St. Martin's, 2014, pp.
35 43
Goodwin, Jennifer. "Even Nine-Month-Olds Choose Gender-Specific Toys." Composing
Gender, edited by Rachel Grener and John F. O'Hara, Bedford St. Martin's, 2014, pp.88 - 90