One of the most important requirement of science is that it is unbiased. Our textbook has described the need to look objectively at society and at sociological phenomena rather than being biased. Unfortunately, the sociological study of gender (or at least the study of gender as described in our textbook) seems to be biased even in the basic definitions on which the study is built.
According to our book, sociologists define sex as the physical differences of the body and gender as the cultural, social and psychological differences between men and women. It states that these definitions of sex and gender as separate entities are "fundamental" because "many differences betwen men and women are not biological."
This separation of sex and gender is not justified for several reasons. First, sex and gender are interrelated, a fact which I find indisputable for anyone who has a basic understanding of the biology of hormones. Hormones are biochemicals that affect our behavior, and serve to link the biology of men and women with how men and women behave. It is fact that higher testorterone levels, which are vastly more common in men, lead to more aggressive and dominant behavior. It's also a fact that hormones effect emotional wellbeing, and women's hormone levels vary over the course of a month while men's remain much more stable. I do not offer the discussion of hormones as "proof" of gender roles, but only as concrete examples of the link between biology and behavior.
Secondly, I think the definitive separation of sex and gender is inconsistent with our understanding of other concepts that also have biological influences. The fact of being human, for instance, entails biological, social, cultural and psychological differences between human and animals, but we do not separate the life of a human into "biology" and "everything else." In fact, sociologists, psychologists and other social scientists acknowledge that biology, society, culture and psychology interact and together can describe what it really means to be human.
If "human" can in one word describe biological, sociological, cultural, and phsychological differences between humans and animals, why can't one word describe biological, sociological, cultural and psychological differnces between men and women? To me it seems that by the very act of adopting these definitieons of sex and gender as absolutely distinct, sociologists are biasing their field toward the theory of the social construction of gender. Only within the context of this theory are gender and sex completely separated and gender seen solely as a product of societal and cultural influences.
This chapter was very disconcerting to read. I think that sociologists needs to seriously consider whether they are adopting these definitions because they are necessary or simply in order to facilitate arguments that support one theory over another without scientific basis.
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I had never thought of it, but your right, the study of the gender roles does seem to be biased. I think that the person doing the testing, most likely finds it difficult to separate what they think a boy or girl will, or should, do during the research.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that our hormones affect how we act. I don't have testosterone, so I don't need to pound someone's face in when they offend me. However, I do have estrogen, so I cry easier than my Dad. I think hormones play a big role.
Your post was very well put, and very informing!