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Sex and Gender: Sociological Distinction

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What is the difference between sex and gender? Why do sociologists believe it's important to distinguish between these two?

How do most sociologists view gender as a product of the interaction between nature and nurture? Please give an example of social scientific research that supports the importance of each in explaining gender differences. Why do most sociologists view nurture as being more important?

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The solution is a 934-word APA format essay discussing and explaining the difference between sex and gender and the sociological reason behind the importance of knowing the distinction between these two concepts. Nature and nurture and its affect on gender development is also discussed. An important study lauding the relevance of gender studies is included in the discussion. References are listed for the purpose of expansion. A word version of the solution is attached for easy printing.

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Dear Student,
Hello, the solution below should get you started. To further examples of sociological and psychological research on the topic, you can use the references listed. Thank you for using Brainmass.

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OTA 105878/Xenia Jones
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Sex & Gender

Sociology is the study of society, of social dynamics and the mechanisms that make society work - social agencies, agents, groups, culture, institutions, organizations - they are just among the many elements that make up a functioning society. Sociologically speaking, to 'identify' attributes of social agents (human beings) and come to an understanding of the roles they play and the manner that they behave, social constructs are used to 'label' certain attributes that indicate a 'type'. Sex, gender, ethnicity, age, social class - they are among the most common. One then will come to question what the difference is between sex and gender. Sex is the biological natural attribute of a human being according to the sex organs and chromosomes he/she is endowed from birth. Girls are born with the female chromosomes and the female sex organ. Boys are born with the male chromosomes and the male sex organ. Sex is according to the biological attributes of a person and this is without the element of 'socialization' or influence of 'nurture' & 'culture' entering the equation. By nature human beings are either female or male (with the exception of the biological phenomenon of hermaphrodites - human beings born with both the male & female organs). Gender on the other hand is a socio-psychological term determined by socialization (nurture), ...

Solution provided by:
Xenia Rochelle Jones, MA, PhD (IP)
Education
  • MPhil/PhD (IP), Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • MA, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • Certificate, Geva Ulpan (via Universita Tel Aviv)
  • BA, University of the Philippines
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