Gender Reflections-Aaron Le by Aaron Le

aaronkvle — 2023-09-30 06:24:48 UTC

aaronkvle — 2023-12-09 06:41:42 UTC

In learning about the primary differences between men and women, I found that these differences involve both biology and society. Biologically, men and women have different chromosomes (XY for men, XX for women) that influence their physical traits and reproductive systems. Hormones, like testosterone in men and estrogen in women, also play a role in shaping their bodies. Societal expectations and gender roles further contribute to the differences, influencing behavior, clothing choices, and even the way people hold cigarettes. I learned that gender differences are defined and measured in various ways. One approach involves looking at societal expectations and roles assigned to men and women. Surveys, interviews, and studies help us understand how people perceive and express their gender. Cognitive and psychological assessments explore potential differences in thinking and emotions. It's not just about biological factors; it's about how society defines and measures what it means to be masculine or feminine.

aaronkvle — 2023-12-09 06:42:37 UTC

From this module, I learned about the idea of "doing gender." It's not just about being a boy or a girl; it's about actively performing or playing out our gender roles in everyday life. The way we hold a cigarette, the clothes we wear, and how we present ourselves are all part of this performance. We don't just naturally know these things; we learn them by watching and absorbing what's around us. So, "doing gender" means consciously or unconsciously acting out the expectations and rules that come with being seen as a man or a woman. It's like putting on a show, and we often do it without even thinking about it. Another thing I learned is that there are these unwritten rules about how we're supposed to act based on our gender. For example, the module talked about how even holding a cigarette can be gendered. But the interesting part is that these rules aren't set in stone. We can break them, and many of us do it regularly. The clothes we choose, the hobbies we enjoy, and the way we express ourselves—these can all go against what's expected for our gender. It's like we have this flexibility to decide when to follow the rules and when to break them. This shows that while there's a lot of consistency in how we "perform" gender, there's also room for diversity and individuality. It's not a rigid set of requirements; we have choices in how we express our gender, and that can be powerful.

aaronkvle — 2023-12-09 06:43:27 UTC

In this module, I learned about a concept called intersectionality. It's like looking at the crossroads of different parts of who we are, like gender, race, sexuality, social class, and ability. It's saying that we can't fully understand one part, like being a guy or a girl, without also looking at the other parts. So, if I want to know what it means for me to be a man, I also have to think about being white, my age, my social class, and more. These things all come together to shape who I am. Intersectionality helps us see that our identities are like a mix of different ingredients, and they all play a role in shaping our experiences and how we see the world. Another thing I learned is how stereotypes can impact the way we understand others. Stereotypes are like pre-made ideas or pictures we have in our minds about different groups of people. In this module, we explored how these stereotypes can influence the way we see and judge others. For example, if we have certain beliefs about how men, women, people of different races, or those with different abilities should behave, it might affect how we treat them. Understanding this helps us be more aware of the assumptions we might make based on stereotypes and encourages us to see people as individuals rather than fitting them into predetermined molds. It's like learning to look beyond the surface and see the unique stories and experiences that make up each person.

aaronkvle — 2023-12-09 06:45:17 UTC

In this module, I learned that when we talk about masculinity, it's not just one single thing. It's more like there are different types or forms of masculinity. It's not as simple as saying, "This is how all guys should act." There are hierarchies or levels of masculinity, and this matters because it's connected to who gets more privilege and power. Privilege and power mean some people get certain advantages just because they fit a particular idea of what it means to be a man. But here's the twist – not all guys get the same amount of privilege and power. Some men get more benefits than others based on these ideas about masculinity. So, it's not just about being a man; it's also about where you fit in the pecking order of how society sees masculinity.

aaronkvle — 2023-12-16 06:42:16 UTC

aaronkvle — 2023-12-16 07:08:18 UTC

aaronkvle — 2023-12-16 07:08:40 UTC

aaronkvle — 2023-12-16 07:32:11 UTC

aaronkvle — 2023-12-17 07:33:24 UTC