In-class Movie Analysis Assignment. Literature & Language Essay

In-Class Movie Analysis
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Given all available information; should sex and gender be viewed dichotomously?
Before watching this film, like most people, I did not realize that sex and gender are not the same. It was after watching it that I discovered that sex and gender are conceptually distinct. Sex and gender should be viewed dichotomously. Sex refers to physiological or physical differences between females and males, including primary sex characteristics (the reproductive system) and secondary characteristics such as muscularity and height. Gender is an individual’s deep-rooted internal perception of their attitudes and behavior based on social expectations and accompanying physiological prospects of sex.
An individual’s sex, as determined in terms of biology, does not entirely correspond with their gender. Thus, the terms ‘gender’ and ‘sex’ are not identical. A baby girl who is born with female genitalia is identified as female. As she grows, she may identify with the male aspects of her culture. Because the term ‘sex’ refers to physical or biological distinctions, sexual characteristics will not vary radically between different human societies. Normally, individuals of the female sex, despite their culture, will eventually menstruate and have the capability to carry and birth a child. In contrast, characteristics of gender may significantly vary between various societies. For instance, in the United States’ culture, it is seen as feminine to wear a skirt or a dress. However, in many Asian, African, and Middle Eastern cultures, skirts or dresses are considered masculine.
The dichotomous view of sex and gender – the notion that an individual is either female or male – is specific to various cultures – and is not universal. Thus, sex and gender should be viewed dichotomously. Even though gender and sexuality are not related directly, both dichotomies share similar histories and uses in contemporary society. For instance, both dichotomies have a deviant/privileged model with regard to one group having more social power than the other. Because the privileged groups (heterosexuals and males) have more to lose by being viewed as members of the deviant groups (homosexuals and women), they are often defined in direct opposition to the deviant. Alternatively stated, one of heterosexuality’s main characteristics is not being homosexual (Seidman, 2015). The same applies to maleness; not being feminine or female. Thereby, deviant groups have more freedom of expression compared to their dominant counterparts; this is because they risk losing no social power if their identity is not validated. However, a straight man has much to lose if his identity is not validated compared to a lesbian being incorrectly viewed as straight or male, for instance (Epstein, 1994).
As observed in the film, as an identity, heterosexuality was non-existent until homosexuality was solidly defined as a socially-deviant identity. Generally, sex and gender are often conflated. Because of this conflation, declaring heterosexuality became an assertion of normal gender identity. Consequently, gender deviancy was seen as a sign of homosexuality despite sexual behavior. Even though the conflation of sex and gender is problematic, these two dichotomies are closely related – but not the same; hence, they should be viewed as such.
In sum, viewing sex and gender dichotomously can be beneficial to everyone. Gender and sex are not the same. An individual’s sex refers to whether they have female reproductive organs, male reproductive organs, or a combination of both. In contrast, an individual’s gender refers to whether they perceive themselves as female, male, or a combination of both. Gender denotes cultural and social attributes whereas sex denotes biological attributes.
In the debate between nature and nurture, explain the differentiation between biological factors and genital ambiguity as opposed to cultural factors as holding responsibility for specific gendered behaviors
Gender is a biological factor. It is a nature factor as opposed to cultural factors. There are several reasons that show that gender is biological rather than cultural. In a study by (Cherin & Holden, 1995) shows that, ‘the part of the brain that is associated with behavior and reproductive physiology known as the interstitial nuclei of the anterior hypothalamus is shown to be larger in heterosexual males compared to homosexual males.’ This shows that there are obvious physiological differences in the brain that show that homosexuality is biological and not subject to any learning theory. It is not a choice the individuals have but their very nature dictates their sexual orientation. The reason many people blame the media and culture is because if the culture provides for the individual to explore his/her sexuality, they will discover the very issue that is natural to them and encoded in biology. Cultura...