Choi, P. (2010). Genes and gender roles: Why is the nature argument so appealing? Psychology, Evolution & Gender.
The author of this article notes that sex differences results in variation in behaviors. He argues that most of the observed differences in behaviors are as a result of genetic and evolutionary factors. According to the author, women are claimed to be more skilled than men when evaluating their social interaction. The ability is attributed to the assumption that women have better social cognition skills when compared to men because of increased sensitivity and well developed verbal IQ. However, studies indicate that the observed social cognition in women is a product of genetic inheritance. According to the author, the gene responsible for social cognition is derived from one of the male’s chromosomes, the X chromosome. The author further notes that most of the differences observed between men and women are due to biological factors. The article by Choi is an important resource for conducting a research on the contributions of biological factors to the gender roles. The author provides detailed information in addition to examples that emphasizes the significance of biological factors in establishing the capabilities of different genders.
Kramarae, C. & Spender, D. (2004). History and philosophy of feminism. New York: Routledge.
The authors assert that women’s position in the society is as a result of biological factors. In support of this, they note that traits such as nurturance in addition to caring that are demonstrated by women are biologically determined. Equally, they assert that the increased aggressiveness in men when compared to women is innate and it influences them to work hard for advancement in not only bureaucratic hierarchies but also make more money. According to the authors, the attribution of the differences between men and women to social construction is often aimed at promoting gender equality. They argue that such views overlook the facts as they are concerned with enabling women to realize with men. According to the authors, innate feminine characteristics, which are biological, are superior to masculine-determined ones. These biological differences demonstrate how the roles of women together with women are fundamentally different. This chapter informs the reader on how the biological traits in different genders influence the performance of men and women in different tasks. The information provided in this chapter can help a researcher explain how gender roles are biologically determined.
Levit, N. (1998). Chapter 2: Gender separatism. New York: NYU Press
The author asserts that gender differences have biological basis. According to her, the experienced sex differences are innate and the possibilities of gender vary significantly. The variation is attributed to the physical characteristics of men and women. According to Levit, physical attributes like body fat in addition to strength varies between genders and they play a critical role in determination of gender roles. The author also notes that some social theorists acknowledge that women are biologically suited for roles such as nurturing and care-giving. She argues that the innate abilities of both genders vary dramatically and they affect the performance capabilities of both men and women. In support of this claim, Levit indicates that the demonstration of positive attitudes towards activities is demonstrated more in women than in men. Equally, she asserts that men and women present neurological differences that contribute sot variation of not only their linguistic abilities but also aggressive tendencies that affect the performance of individuals when handling specific roles. This chapter is informative as it expounds on the varied biological differences between man and woman and how these differences affect their performance in different roles. The study will help in supporting the assertion that gender roles are biologically constructed.
Loue, S. (2008). Topics in aging and public health. New York: Springer Science & Business Media.
The author one’s biological sex affects his or her gender role. According to the author, the terms masculinity and femininity define an individual’s gender and they also contribute significantly to the determination of gender roles. The authors assert that the dressing style as well as behavior of people in the society is based on the gender of an individual which is determined by the biological sex. They describe a boy as a person who is not only confident, responsible, and organized, but also resourceful. According to the authors, these traits are innate as they are common in all boys. In support of this assertion, the authors note that men have biological traits that make them better than women in carrying out leadership responsibilities at the family level. Similarly, they assert that femininity is biologically characterized by softness, smoothness, and spotless skin that determine their roles in the society. These traits allow women to associate themselves with light responsibilities such as nurturing and caring. The chapter provides detailed information about the biological differences between genders and they impact the role of women and men. The information provided can help a researcher explain why gender roles are affected by biological factors.
Ngun, T. et al. (2010). The genetics of sex differences in brain and behavior. Front Neuroendocrinol, 32(2): 227-246.
The authors of this article assert that the biological differences evident in men and women affect their performance. According to them, the sex differences identified in both genders’ brain is critical in determining the gender roles. They argue that the brain sex differences influences men and women to behave differently. According to the authors, the observed variation in men and women sex behaviors is as a result of the differences in the brain. Equally, they assert that males and females demonstrate different patterns of not only transmitting and regulating but also processing biomolecules. Such variations influence men and women to present different sexual behavior and stress responses. The authors also indicate that some behaviors presented by men and women are due to genetic inheritance. According to them, society alone cannot influence men and women to behave differently. They argue that inheritance of specific traits influence individuals of the same lineage to behave the same. For instance, they note that the rate of homosexuality is often high among siblings with gay maternal uncles. The findings in this study inform the researcher on how genetic factors in addition to biological differences in genders’ brain can affect the roles played by men and women in the society.
Sammons, A. (2010). Gender: biological theory. Developmental Psychology.
According to this article, gender differences crop from sex differences. The author asserts that women and men behave, think, and feel as well as act differently because of the varied ways their brains work. According to the author, the observed differences on how the brain works in different genders are as a result of chromosomal differences and hormonal differences. The article supports this assertion by indicating that men and women can be distinguished by the chromosomal difference as the Y chromosome in men influences the production of testosterone in addition to other androgens that influence the men’s brain to develop differently from that of females. The author cites aggressive behaviors in men such working extremely hard as one of the products of variation in brain development between men and women. Equally, the author notes that the variation in production of sex hormones by both genders influences the role of women and men in the society. For instance, Sammons notes that men with high levels of testosterone often engage financial risks. The richness of information in this article makes it a good resource for completing a research on the implications of biological factors on gender roles.
