Glossary of Sociological Terms

Sex

The definition of sex as described by: Collins English dictionary and thesaurus (2013) ‘State of being male or female; male or female category; sexual intercourse; sexual feelings or behaviour…’ (pp 247).

The biological differences are determined by the different reproductive organs between a man and a woman. (Haralambos, M. Holborn, M. Chapman, S. Moore, S. 2013) (pp 96). . This distinction is defined as sexual diomorphism: ‘The existence of two different forms of a species in the same population’ (Merriam-Webster Dictionary [online] no date).

It is questionable as to whether there are only two sexes. If the determining factor is a result of different reproductive organs then hermaphrodites produce a separate sex as they have both male and female reproductive organs. (Haralambos, M. Holborn, M. Chapman, S. Moore, S. 2013) (pp 102).

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Gender

Is a description of the characteristics and behaviour that society has assigned to distinguish between male and female identities. This distinction is seen to reinforce the biological differences. (Punch. S. Marsh, I. Keating, M. Harden, J. 2013). Pp 215.

Abercrombie, N. Warde, A. Deem, R. Penna, S. Soothill, K. Urry, J. Sayer, A. Walby, S. (2000). Suggests this adheres to assumptions that there needs to be a dichotomy between lifestyles to determine specific gender characteristics a person displays (pp 209).

Gender descriptions according to Macionis, J. J. (2011) relates gender stereotyping as following the historical attributes that define the female as tender, caring and sensitive and the male as strong, dominant and selfish. (pp 295).

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The difficulty with these theories is the continual reference to characteristics in men and women being separate, when: according to Abercrombie, N. Warde, A. Deem, R. et al. (2000) it is clear they are multifaceted and contradictory. (pp 208-210).

Gender Roles

This term defines behavior through cultural and social norms which are deemed appropriate to interpret a person’s individual gender. (Oxford English dictionary. [Online]  (No date).

Gender roles appear to vary across different cultures. 

As discussed by Oakley according to: Haralambos, M. Holborn, M. Chapman, S. Moore, S. (2013) it is suggested that rather than being biologically created, gender roles are determined culturally and socially. (pp 101). This is demonstrated in Macionis, J. J. (2011), where there is a study that took place across three societies in New Guinea. The results showed that in one of the societies the attributes western cultures would define as feminine, were prevalent in both sexes. The second society highlighted both sexes displaying high levels of aggression and dominance, generally depicted as masculine behavior. The third society’s gender roles were very similar to western culture. (pp 295).
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Masculinity

‘Socially defined and prescribed characteristics and behaviors that are deemed appropriate to males’ (Stephens, P. Leach, A. Taggart, L. Jones, H. 1998)

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 It is suggested by Gilmore, cited in Haralambos, M. Holborn, M. Chapman, S. Moore, S.( 2013)  that masculinity can be defined by a measure of 3 stereotypical sets of characteristics. These are provider, protector, and impregnator, these descriptions imply power and dominance (pp 148) Punch, S. Harden, J. Marsh, I. Keating, M. (2013) look at masculinity and it is discussed that to assign these behaviors to men alone would involve a singular way of thinking which would suggest all men were homogeneous (pp 224).

Studies shown according to Macionis, J.J. (2011) show what is deemed as masculine in one culture can be seen as natural traits in women in other cultures. This suggests that masculine characteristics are not a direct definition of a man but rather a suggestion as to an individual’s personality whether that be a man or woman. (Pp295)

Femininity

‘Having qualities traditionally regarded as suitable for women…’ Cited in Collins English Dictionary & Thesaurus, (2005).

The language used to describe femininity reflects the historical roles women have encompassed. Here are some typical words used to illustrate the meaning of femininity, gentle, tidy, neat and obedient. (Abercrombie, N. Warde, A. Deem, R. Penna, S. Soothill, K. Urry, J. Sayer, A. Walby, S. (2000).(Pp 208).

It is questionable as to whether the terminology to describe the different characteristics of men and women are indeed necessary as stated in Haralambos, M. Holborn, M. Chapman, S. Moore, S. (2013) ‘…it does not necessarily follow that being a woman means being “feminine”, nor that being a man means behaving in a “masculine” way. (Pp 96).

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Gender Identity

This is the internalisation of a perspective regarding the gender an individual embraces as their own. It defines within society which role a person has chosen to live by. (Bonnett, K. Bilton, T. Jones, P. Lawson, T. Skinner, D. Stanworth, M. Webster, A. 2002).

Haralambos, M. Holborn, M. Chapman, S. Moore, S. (2013) Introduces the theory that society in general defines two genders and these reflect the characteristics of the male and female stereotypes. There are arguments against this theory suggesting there is a third gender adopting aspects of both. (pp 102).

There are conflicting theories surrounding the development of gender identity as discussed in: Punch, S. Marsh, I. Keating, M. Harden, J. (2013) these theories question whether gender is predetermined internally, regardless of biological sex, or whether gender is determined through a series of social influence and modelling through social discourse (pp 220).
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Sexuality

The term sexuality is defined as an individuals preferred sexual orientation. It also indicates reference to sexual desires, feelings and behaviour. For example it could be used in the context of ‘she radiated a sense of unbridled sexuality’ or ‘he confidently expressed his sexuality’.  (Oxford English Dictionary (2014) [online])

There are many variations here is a small sample of different sexualities:-

·         Heterosexual which defines people who are attracted to the opposite sex

·         Homosexual which is sexual attraction between two men.
·          Lesbian, the sexual feeling between two women.

·         Pansexual is someone who is sexually attracted to someone regardless of sex or gender orientation.

·         Transsexual is a person who believes they are not related sexually to the biological organs with which they were born.

 Killerman, K. (2015). [Online]. Accessed 20/11/15.

                                                     

Sexuality according to, Abercrombie, N. Warde, A. Deem, R. Penna, S. Soothill, K. Urry, J. Sayer, A. Waltby, S.(2006). Was initially derived from a Freudian concept which involved a biological drive (pp 115). This is argued by Foucault, M. in: Punch, S. Marsh, I. Keating, M. Harden, J. (2013) as he believes that it is a reductionist idea to assume sexuality is derived from only the necessities to procreate (pp 225).
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