What is gender in a nutshell. Gender

Personality can be considered as a set of all possible individual characteristics, socially significant features, identifying a person as a member of society and characterizing his personal qualities. At this point, the average person begins to get confused in terms, believing that gender identity is exclusively sexual orientation, and if it differs from the generally accepted one, it must certainly be corrected. In reality, everything is somewhat more complicated, and many people are surprised to discover traits of the opposite gender in themselves, recognizing this as completely normal.

Determining a person's gender identity

First of all, it is worth noting that gender is not sex, but a set of characteristics that complement sexual self-determination. That's why gender are called male and female, and gender, respectively, masculine and feminine. There is no doubt about gender: it is determined physiological signs, a set of chromosomes and a corresponding type of genitalia, while gender identity is characteristics that are not tied to biological characteristics.

To put it simply, it is gender that is responsible for the realization of “real women” and “real men.” According to standard stereotypical reasoning, a representative of each gender must meet certain ideal ideas of society about itself. A woman must be fragile, beautiful, sexually attractive, and be strictly interested in raising children and managing household, and a man is traditionally presented in the role of breadwinner, breadwinner, warrior and even master, the presence of the “correct” appearance is mandatory. Where in each individual does this perception of gender appear?

Congenital or acquired?

Proponents of the “biology as fate” theory insist that all necessary gender traits are innate in every child. Any deviations from the pattern are perceived as perversion or illness. However, the formation of gender identity largely depends on society, and even if a child is raised exclusively in the family, he sees the appropriate behavior of parents and other relatives.

If parents are disappointed that a child was born of the wrong gender that they dreamed of, a semi-conscious desire may appear to “remake” the offspring to fit the model established in their dreams. Similar cases are observed not only in fiction, but also in real life. The formation of gender identity occurs under pressure, and more often girls are raised as boys than vice versa. This is largely due to the prevailing attitude in our society that a real man must have a son. The absence of a child of the required gender encourages fathers and mothers to sublimate, adjusting the “failed offspring” to some speculative model.

Childhood through the prism of gender

In early childhood, children are not aware of either sex or gender, only by the age of two they absorb the differences between boys and girls. The sudden discovery is the presence or absence of a penis. What follows is a parental explanation of why skirts and bows can only be worn if there is no penis, but play with cars and pistols if there is one. Of course, a child’s gender identity is always based on signals of approval or censure received from the outside and is fixed on a subconscious level. It has been noticed that already in kindergarten kids transmit their internalized attitudes to their peers and sometimes even choose toys not according to their own preferences, but according to the principle of correctness for their gender.

Why then does the gender identity of adolescents begin to “fail”? Puberty is marked not only by obvious changes in physique. An active search for oneself begins, the formation of a personality, and this requires questioning authoritative opinions. The reproachful remark “you’re a girl” or “you’re a boy,” calling for a certain gender model, causes quite natural opposition. To be fair, it is worth noting that parents, in their desire to raise a “correct” child at any cost, go to ridiculous extremes. For example, they forbid their son to take up dancing or music, considering these to be exclusively unmanly activities.

Types of Gender Identity

According to biological norms, people are divided strictly into two sexes - male and female. Any deviations in this area are due to a genetic failure. To a certain extent, this can be corrected by modern medical methods. Then purely social and cultural characteristics begin, which may differ depending on the country and local traditions. The so-called “third sex” - hermaphrodites (with the biological presence of sexual characteristics of both sexes) and people with non-traditional gender identity, is legally recognized in only ten countries: Canada, Australia, Great Britain, with some reservations Germany, New Zealand, Pakistan, Thailand, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Several other countries recognize the existence of the third gender as a cultural tradition, but from the point of view of legislation, this is a kind of twilight side of life, which they prefer not to focus on.

Initially, two gender types were distinguished: masculine, characteristic of men, and feminine, corresponding to the female gender. The officially androgynous type, which appeared in the relatively recent past, represents a kind of “arithmetic mean” between the main two gender types. Anthropologists and sociologists also classify bigenders, transgender people, gender queers and agender people into separate categories. Perhaps this is a desire to push the generally accepted boundaries until they completely disappear and bring gender tolerance to an unattainable absolute. In ordinary life, a few terms are enough without going into details.

Masculinity

Masculine gender identity is a combination of a distinctly male physique and the fulfillment of a male social role, as well as corresponding character traits, habits, preferences and behavior. Except definitely positive characteristics, aggression is considered the norm for masculinity. In other words, when a crying boy is told to “be a man”, what is meant is the requirement to conform to the pattern according to which men do not cry, since this is an exclusively female privilege.

Femininity

Feminine gender identity is the opposite of masculine, a combination of a feminine physique and a traditional female social role, including some ideal “feminine” character traits, habits and inclinations. It’s interesting that in society, literally everything is perceived through a gender prism, starting with the color of a baby’s onesie.

If you put pink tights on a boy, a significant portion of adults will either confuse him with a girl or be outraged that his parents want to raise him to be a girl. A visual signal of feminine identity is clothing styles or colors that correspond to the female gender. A masculine man will have to prove his right to wear a bright flowered shirt with his fists. Fortunately, fashion from time to time insists on zero tolerance and breaking down gender barriers in clothing choices.

Androgyny

It is interesting that androgyny itself existed at all times, but was considered somewhat reprehensible, as if this feature of gender identity was a malicious desire of the androgyne to mislead others. Basically, androgyny relies on visual signals - if a person does not have a pronounced masculinity or femininity, it is difficult to determine at first glance whether the person in front of you is a girl or a boy. Disguise is exacerbated by unisex clothing and behavior.

A striking example can be considered Brune, the heroine from the Strugatsky brothers’ story “Hotel “At the Dead Mountaineer,” who was presented as “the child of the late brother du Barnstoker.” Brun's behavior and appearance did not make it possible to determine what gender this creature actually was, so they wrote about her in the neuter gender until it turned out that she was really a girl.

Gender and sexual orientation

Contrary to popular misconception, the concept of gender identity is completely unrelated to sexual orientation. In other words, a feminine man with a completely non-brutal appearance is not necessarily homosexual, and a short-haired bodybuilder in camouflage does not show lesbian tendencies.

The concept of gender is primarily related to behavior and social role and is only indirectly based on sexuality. Thus, attempts to suppress “wrong sexuality” by putting pressure on the visual component of gender identity do not bring any results. At the same time, one should not discount the possibility of a complex influence of external factors on the development of sexuality. Sexologists argue that orientation crystallizes gradually, each person goes through a unique path of personality development, including intimate preferences.

Who are bigenders and transgender people?

Bigender can be considered one of the variants of victorious tolerance based on gender in a single individual’s head. If a person takes upon himself certain social functions, without passing them through the analysis of stereotypes, we get a fairly harmonious and self-sufficient personality. In the confrontation, the gender of bigenders wins over expediency and skillful application of talents and inclinations. A man can take on a woman social role Without considering herself a victim of circumstances, a woman also copes well with the male role. In the modern world, gender boundaries have become somewhat erased; the textbook “mammoth hunt” is increasingly passing from physical work V mental work, and a skilled earner becomes not the owner of muscles and excess testosterone, but an individual with a high degree of intelligence. The gender of the breadwinner does not play a role in this matter.

Another issue, if transgenderism occurs, is the discrepancy between biological and gender self-perception. To put it simply, a transgender can be called a man who prefers a female social role, including some visual attributes. If he really feels like a woman “to the core”, and physical body does not correspond to self-determination, then we are talking about transsexuality. In a gender sense, this is not a man. A person thinks like a woman, feels and perceives the world and himself exclusively from a feminine position. In this case, it is recommended to correct the inconsistency of biological sex through a transgender transition. However, not all people who have changed their biological sex feel like transsexuals. This is a rather confusing situation with many individual solutions.

Sexism as a catalyst for gender dysphoria

If the formation of gender identity occurred with a discrepancy in biological parameters, this is called This concept includes all gender identity disorders that are in the project International classification diseases approximately since 2018 (ICD 11) have been moved from the section of psychiatric disorders to the category of sexology. This condition can be superficial or deep, depending on the degree of rejection of one’s own biological sex.

Sociologists and sexologists note that minor gender dysphoria can be aggravated by manifestations of sexism, especially if they attack a child or teenager. For example, machismo, as a radical and aggressive form of the masculine model, can demonstrate outright misogyny - the idea that everything inherent in women is defective is transmitted into the surrounding space. Being a woman is shameful, but being like a woman is even worse. Sexist remarks can lead a child to logical chain: “I don’t want to be a despised object, being a man is wonderful, being a woman is shameful.” The same principle also works in the opposite direction: if a boy’s environment is dominated by derogatory characteristics about men, he subconsciously begins to desire to belong to the “privileged” category of humanity. Biological sex interferes with this, and gender identity disorder develops.

Contrary to the worries of adherents of the traditional model of patriarchal society, gender tolerance does not at all lead to chaos and loss of social and cultural guidelines. On the contrary, the absence of radical sexism and aggression reduces tension in society, reduces the likelihood of developing dysphoria and promotes the growth of each individual person.

The concepts of sex and gender are often confused, and yet there is a very significant, albeit not obvious, difference between them. Let's try to define what gender is and how it differs from sex. We can say that biological sex - male and female - is an innate quality of an individual, revealed at the stage embryonic development; that gender is immutable and does not depend on the will of the individual. But is it really that simple? Indeed, recently, with the help modern medicine you can change the gender. And the presence of certain genital organs in a child at birth does not mean that he can be unambiguously placed in the category of boys or girls. Indeed, now, for example, in the examination of athletes participating in competitions between women, not only the obvious female characteristics of their body are taken into account, but also the chromosome set, since it is found that, along with the female genital organs, male hormones are adjacent, and this gives such athletes some advantages in competitions.

And yet, if the gender characteristic of most people is still biological and anatomical, the gender characteristic is clearly public, social and acquired as a result of upbringing. More in simple language this can be reformulated as follows: male and female babies are born, but they become men and women. And it’s not even a matter of how a child is raised from the cradle - a girl or a boy: we are all influenced by the cultural unconscious of our environment. And since gender is a cultural and social phenomenon, it can undergo changes along with the development of culture and society. For example, back in the 19th century it was believed that a woman wears a dress and long hair, and a man wears trousers and a short hairstyle, but now these things are not a sign of gender. Previously, “a female academician”, “a female politician” and “a businesswoman” were considered something incredible, but now this is being observed more and more often, and no longer surprises anyone.

But, nevertheless, the gender characteristic attributed to men and women is still tenacious in the mass consciousness, and the more undeveloped the society, the more it dominates individuals, imposing on them certain forms. Thus, it is believed that a man should be “a breadwinner for family” and be sure to earn more than your wife. It is also believed that a man should be courageous, assertive, aggressive, engage in “male” professions, enjoy sports and fishing, and make a career at work. A woman is expected to be feminine, soft, emotional, get married, have children, be flexible and compliant, engage in “female” professions, making a rather modest career in them, because she must devote most of her time to her family.

Which, alas, still dominate in some strata and even countries, give rise to gender problems for human individuals. A wife who feeds the whole family; husband going to maternity leave newborn care; a woman sacrificing marriage for a successful scientific career; a man who enjoys embroidery - all of them are, to one degree or another, subject to social ostracism for their gender-inappropriate behavior. Is it possible to say unequivocally that gender is a social stereotype? Yes, because different societies gender stereotypes - male and female - differ from each other. For example, in the Spanish paradigm, being able to cook is a sign of a real macho, while in the Slavic paradigm, standing at the stove is a purely feminine activity.

It is obvious that gender stereotypes lead not only to gender problems, but also to the fact that the leadership role in society is often assigned to men. Therefore, many developed countries are developing special gender policies at the highest level. This means that the state takes responsibility for eliminating inequality based on gender and creates a code of laws to form an egalitarian (equal for all people) society. It must also implement educational policies aimed at eliminating gender stereotypes.

In the modern world, which keeps pace with the times and is in the race for equal rights for people, expressions and grievances related to gender often pop up. Discontent is also associated with discrimination on this basis. Let's understand these concepts and find out where the roots come from.

Congenital and acquired qualities

Seems, that the concept of gender and sex- these are the same thing, there is no difference in them. However, this is not the case; the differences are still significant. Let's try to find out what gender is and the definition of “sex”.

Whether you were born a man or a woman is determined at birth. The differences and divisions are obvious. This factor is biological. In this case, this situation does not change and does not depend on the will of a person.

However, medicine has stepped forward a long time ago. Now developments, innovations, plastic surgery have advanced high level. Medicine can change gender.

In some cases, it is even impossible to accurately determine. There are incidents where there are signs of both male and female hormones and sexual characteristics, so this complicates judgment.

According to Wikipedia, gender is associated with biological and anatomical features body, but here is a gender characteristic with:

society
social life
education

Simply put, boys and girls are born, but men and women become in the process of life. This applies not only to upbringing, but also in general to how people are influenced by life in society, culture, and self-awareness.

Time does not stand still, so the concept of “gender” is changing. When it was the 19th century, men and women were distinguished as follows: ladies had long braids and wore dresses. And the men had short hair and wore trousers. However, this is not the definition of gender now.

In past centuries, women could not occupy high-ranking positions in politics or engage in business projects. This was considered something immoral and impossible, however, with the passage of time and progress it became business as usual. And now you won’t surprise anyone with this. However, gender is still used to judge and separate men and women.

Difference dictates mass consciousness

Many factors depend on the level of culture and development of society. Social behavior can only be imposed on those individuals who think incorrectly and are not sufficiently enlightened.

For example, a man owes something and a woman owes something. The difference and separation between men and women is related to their responsibilities. For example, a man should:

be the head of the family
get more money
have a whole set of characteristics - masculinity, firmness, aggressiveness
choose a masculine profession
love sports
be a fisherman
strive to climb the career ladder

There is exactly the same list for women. For example, a woman should be, as they say, “real,” get married, have children, be soft and compliant, and choose a female-oriented profession. And the rest of the time, which should be a lot, should be devoted to family.

Of course, these stereotypes cause a violent and emotional reaction among rebels. After all, now everything is mixed up: many couples do not want to burden themselves with relationships, marriage, and especially children. And all the energy is used to advance in one’s career, to work and live for one’s pleasure.

Gender problems arise from this kind of thinking. Often, breastfeeding women have to support the whole family, earn money for bread and food, while the man may not work, but, on the contrary, go on maternity leave. Either another option: sacrifices for the sake of a career, or men who feel like women at heart. They are fond of embroidery. It turns out that neither this nor the other case corresponds to their gender.

All people are equal

So it turns out that a gender characteristic is a stereotype? Different countries interpret this problem differently.

For example, in Spanish society, a representative of the stronger sex who cooks well is equated to a “real macho.” But the Slavs have it women's work and not a man's business at all. This is where problems develop, women feel such discrimination, try to prove their equality, defend their rights and declare themselves as individuals. And leadership positions are most often given to representatives of the stronger sex.

To solve this problem, some countries are pursuing gender policies. This means:

the state is responsible for establishing equality between the sexes and eliminating differences
legal norms are created
an equal society without prohibitions is created

All these actions are aimed at eliminating stereotypes associated with gender.

Gender: Definition

Concept "gender" means social gender. It determines how a person will behave in a certain role as a man or woman. This includes prohibitions on certain behavior.

Gender meaning in society speaks about what profession a person should choose based on his biological sex.

For example, differences between Orthodox and Muslim women are obvious. From an anatomical position they are equal, however, in terms of gender they will occupy different niches in society.

So, the concept of “gender” appeared for the following reasons:

as part of an exploration of new self-awareness
studied during the years of intensification of feminist sentiments

All these concepts, one way or another, divide people by gender.

Even 60 years ago famous doctor at that time he studied gender differences. He called this type of differentiation gender. Then the studies were provoked by the emergence of new types of people - transsexuals and intersex people. However, then this term remained simply a scientific concept.

But then, 10 years later, feminists appeared. They defended their equality and rights. They had their own charter and ideology. Supporters and participants actively maneuvered the concept of gender.

Medicine is based on the same principle

, differences by gender also exist in medical practice. There is even a whole type of science called “Gender Medicine”. This means that a certain disease will be treated differently in men and women. This applies even if the representatives are in the same age categories. This difference is due to the fact that organisms are structured differently.

The male and female halves have differences not only in gender, sex, but also in physiology:

In men, testosterone is pronounced - this is a hormone inherent in them
in women - estrogen and progesterone

Therefore on different situations various reactions occur, including emotional ones.

And some diseases are more common in men, others more common in women. The same difference exists in stressful situations and during the manifestation of pain. For example, if a woman complains about something, she must first be tested for hormones, because they affect the entire body as a whole.

This gender trait can also manifest itself in morale and emotional health. Let’s say that women feel great if they speak at least 20 thousand words a day, and only 8 thousand are enough for men.

It's no secret that the difference between both sexes and gender lies in the reaction to one or another circumstance. Women are mainly guided by feelings and emotionality, but men behave in a more restrained manner and are guided mainly by logic.

Therefore, even psychologists different approaches to people based on gender, because people are different inside.

Manifestation of gender in modern society

So, the concept of “gender” was discussed above, now let’s look at specific examples to better understand what we are talking about.

Why do they say that gender judgments are stereotypes? Probably because there are women who are such only in appearance. And there are no particular differences between the others. However, under all the external tinsel - makeup, wig, clothes and heels, there is a man. The only difference is that biological trait He is male, but morally he feels like a woman.

Another example -. This term was actively mentioned in the 2000s. Now this concept should surprise absolutely no one. This has become the norm. There are plenty of metrosexuals: in magazines, movies, music videos, in nightclubs. A concrete example of this description is a man who is very attentive to himself, takes care of his appearance, and follows fashion trends. Such a personality can be contrasted with the so-called “real man”, who does not particularly bother about his appearance and has more strong-willed and strong character qualities.

How to spot a metrosexual from a crowd:

he likes to go shopping
the whole closet is filled with fashionable things
wears many clothing accessories - scarf, glasses, watches, bracelets, rings, badges, jewelry
does not hesitate to paint nails, hair, remove hair from hairy areas of the skin

That’s why there is such a division; it all depends on preferences and self-perception. At the same time, a metrosexual can be both gay and a normal man. You can't guess here.

Be that as it may, even such a trait as metrosexuality leaves a man a man. After all, this trait does not affect gender. For example, in the 18th century this was the fashion. Men wore makeup, heels, wigs, and lavishly accessorized themselves.

Another example is the men of Scotland. According to their culture, they wear skirts, and Arabs even wear dresses. There were also references in history to the love of samurai for each other; the Greeks conveyed their unconventional sexual inclinations in works of art. At the same time, men fought, participated in wars, started families and left offspring.

For example, the difference in gender also lies in logic. Men make fun of women, and women make fun of men. All this also applies to gender stereotypes imposed by society and culture.

Is androgyny a progress in consciousness?

Society is increasingly interested in such a concept as "androgyny". Simply put, this is gender duality. It manifests itself both externally and internally. Not only spiritual practices, but also religions talk about 2-cavity or asexuality. For example, the Bible says that angels are asexual beings, just like our soul has no sexual characteristics.

Androgyny manifests itself in a person when there is:

feeling of two sexes inside
complement of one personality to another
existence of two personalities in one body

This was discussed back in antiquity. Even ancient Greek writings discussed this phenomenon.

Nowadays, androgyny is part of a person’s psychological state. It turns out that with androgyny a person has both masculine and feminine characteristics. And this applies to appearance, too. However, it all begins with the spiritual: how a person reasons, how he behaves, what habits and manners he has. Sometimes boys are very similar to girls, even their voice speaks of the female gender. Anrogyny does not mean that a person has problems with orientation.

It is difficult for a person to be androgynous in the modern world. Because you have to choose who you are. Therefore, you always need to maintain a balance in your states. As practice shows, gender does not play a role here at all. And the choice may not be made in his favor. All this can cause ridicule and reproaches from society. IN extreme cases– condemnation and violence against this person.

Androgynes, as a rule, choose a certain style in which they feel comfortable. It is not necessary to undergo surgery for this; you can choose clothes, hairstyle, behavior that is as close as possible to the personality.

For example, in America, freedom in this regard is obvious. There are more than 30 gender identities that a person can choose from. And all this is enshrined in law.

Is there equality?

In the world, in many countries, even among Muslims, where women are a niche lower than men, they also talk about gender equality. These disputes changed many laws and expanded human rights. What does equality mean?

The idea is that people have the same opportunities in various areas life activity. This applies to systems of education and science, medicine and health care, law and order. This means:

unhindered choice of one or another job, regardless of gender
access to government activities
starting a family
raising children

When it comes to inequality, then a lot of problems arise here, including violence. Because in the modern world they are already abandoning the stereotypes that existed in the past. For example, the fact that a man is an aggressive male, and a woman is an obedient and patient female. Such characteristics and “echoes of the past” allow men to have promiscuous sexual relations, and as for the female sex, on the contrary, there is complete subordination. This gives rise to a slavish attitude.

Nobody says that it is necessary to fight for equality and create conflicts, however, society has already changed radically. For example, more and more women are occupying positions that are typical for men - they are joining the ranks of police officers, rescuers, drivers, and officials. On the other hand, men can be dancers and cultural figures. And there is nothing shameful here.

In addition, situations are increasingly developing when a woman cannot afford to be a housewife and deal exclusively with everyday life and housework. She works just like a man, while raising children and taking care of the house. Although gender stereotypes contradict this lifestyle.

However, in Saudi Arabia, there is still a certain hierarchy in relations between men and women. This happens due to mentality, religion and age-old traditions. For example, there the man still stands head and shoulders above the woman and can control her. This is considered the norm; we have been accustomed to this situation since childhood.

If we talk about the differences between men and women, there is an opinion that women value family values more, and men value independence and success. Currently, everything is mixed up and we see that everyone has different values. And this does not depend on gender.

Another gender problem is the dual standards. It can manifest itself equally in any area or area of life, even in personal relationships. For example, sexual behavior.

Men are all about variety. sex life. And the more partners there were before the wedding, the better. Gaining experience is useful and necessary for future relationships.

As for the female sex, they must marry innocent, otherwise it is considered bad manners. Actually, earlier they paid more attention to this than now. Since more and more couples live in civil marriages, that is, according to the law, they are nobody to each other. It turns out that a man’s affairs are not condemned as vehemently as a woman’s infidelity.

According to the double standard, a man can dominate in sexual life, at his own discretion, while a woman can play the role of a slave.

Therefore, when it comes to education, it’s up to you to decide. If you strive for gender equality, your child needs to be shown an appropriate example of behavior and communication with each other. And do not discriminate against people based on their gender. When it comes to professions, it is not necessary to emphasize what is strictly for men and what is exclusively for women. You can show that dad can also do household chores, cook food, and mom can work and love football, and go fishing with dad. And don't encourage violence. Emphasize that it is bad when a boy offends a girl, but when a girl responds and offends the boy, this is also offensive and wrong.

Gender equality does not change history, gender or character traits, it just helps you find your life path, without relying on stereotypes - who can do what and who can’t do what.

Secrets of gender [Man and woman in the mirror of evolution] Butovskaya Marina Lvovna

Hormonal disorders and gender

A discrepancy between genetic and external morphological sex can occur for a number of other reasons. A typical case of this kind is known as androgen insensitivity syndrome. This anomaly is associated with insensitivity to testosterone at the cellular level. As a result, in an embryo with a normal male genotype XV and with developed testes, female external genitalia are formed. Such an individual not only looks like a woman outwardly, but also behaves like a woman. Available full-fledged testes do not have any impact on the life and activity of the child. Before the onset of puberty, both parents and the child himself do not experience the slightest discomfort. However, in puberty The girl's period does not come, her parents begin to sound the alarm and consult a doctor. If an experienced doctor determines the true cause of this anomaly, then a surgical operation is performed: the testes are removed, and in the future the girl continues to lead a normal lifestyle characteristic of her sex, without experiencing problems with gender identity. Unfortunately, such a woman turns out to be infertile. According to Money and Earhart, 80% of individuals with androgen insensitivity syndrome have an exclusively heterosexual orientation and none demonstrated lesbian predispositions in adulthood. Thus, despite the male XV genotype, males develop into females. They demonstrate sensitivity to the feminizing effects of estrogens secreted by the testes during puberty. Because of this, these men develop breasts and feminine body shapes.

Even more rare and extremely curious, in line with our discussions about the role of nature and nurture, genetic abnormality is called 5-alpha reductase deficiency. It is this case that we had in mind when we said that the external morphological sex of a person in rare cases can spontaneously change to the opposite under the influence of internal hormonal activity. The anomaly has been described for only a few families living in the Dominican Republic (18 cases) and Papua New Guinea (several cases). The mutation appears only in men and only if the individual inherits two copies of the recessive gene, which leads to a disorder normal processes testosterone metabolism. As a result, the fetus does not convert primary testosterone into d and hydrotestosterone. Although the development of the testes occurs, they do not descend into the scrotum, but remain inside the body. The external genitalia of such a newborn child are more reminiscent of women. It is not surprising, therefore, that his parents and those around him see him as a girl and raise him accordingly. True, such girls behave in an inappropriate manner, from the point of view of gender stereotypes. They almost always grow up as tomboys, strive for increased physical activity, power games and competition, are rarely interested in playing with dolls and mother-daughter games and prefer to play with boys, despite the persuasion and prohibitions of distressed parents.

During puberty, d and hydrotestosterone loses its leading importance as a sex hormone, and testosterone takes its place. And its effect on the cells of the body in persons with this syndrome occurs in a completely normal way. Therefore, “girls” begin to undergo rapid changes in their bodies: the penis grows, the testes mix down into the formed scrotum, growth occurs hairline By male type, the voice becomes lower, the shoulders widen, the nature of fat deposition changes. It is curious that in the future the young man does not experience any problems not only with sexuality, but also with gender identity. He starts a family and can have healthy children.

If we consider gender identity entirely as a product of socialization and upbringing, then it turns out to be completely incomprehensible why, in cases of this syndrome, an individual is able to easily and painlessly change his identity to the opposite one. If we turn to another version proposed by biologists, then similar phenomenon turns out to be more understandable. It is likely that sex hormones play a certain influence on the formation of gender identity: testosterone has a significant irreversible effect on the fetal brain in the womb and contributes to the final choice of gender identity during puberty.

Certain morphological disturbances in the expression of external sexual characteristics have been recorded when pregnant women take a number of medications. Laboratory experiments on rhesus monkeys showed that when high doses in the mother's body a substance called testosterone propionate, the female fetus experiences a pronounced masculinization in the body structure. Female cubs are born with developed penises (Fig. 5.2).

Rice. 5.2. A female Rhesus with a developed penis, which appeared under the influence of testosterone propionate, which was introduced into the body of the female mother during pregnancy. (Adapted from Dixon. 1998).

Thus, the considered examples clearly prove that appearance can be deceptive: a person may outwardly look like a man or a woman, but from the point of view of J. Money’s classification, he may not be either one or the other. Of course, his gender can be quite unambiguous: male or female. In addition, in modern society such an individual may consider himself to be a third gender.

From the book The Sex Question by Trout August

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Puberty of a bitch Same as for males, general rule the thing about bitches is that small breeds mature more quickly than large ones, although some bitches may begin to come into heat as early as 6 months. A bitch who is in heat so early is not yet mentally or physically

From the book Why Men Are Necessary author Malakhova Liliya Petrovna

Hormonal mechanisms sex determination The initial stages of development of the gonads are the same in males and females. In the early period of embryogenesis, shortly after implantation, germinal germ cells, the so-called gonocytes, arise from the ectoderm. Through amoeboid

From the book Theory adequate nutrition and trophology [tables in text] author

Reproductive system of a bitch The reproductive system of a bitch consists of paired ovaries, oviducts ( fallopian tubes), uterus, vagina and external genitalia. Rice. 6. Genital organs of a bitch: A - uterus of a sexually mature bitch; B - uterus of a pregnant bitch; B - uterus of an immature bitch; 1 -

From the book Stop, Who Leads? [Biology of behavior of humans and other animals] author Zhukov. Dmitry Anatolyevich

DISTURBANCES When a severe hurricane swept through England in 1987, uprooting 15 million trees, the disaster was declared a national disaster. But numerous new tree plantings have been largely unnecessary as forests recover

From the book Theory of Adequate Nutrition and Trophology [tables with pictures] author Ugolev Alexander Mikhailovich

Hormonal fun C Greek language the word “hormone” is translated as “transmitting”, “encouraging something”. Hormones were discovered in 1902 by English physiologists, professors at the University of London William Maddock Bayliss and Ernest Henry Starling. More

From the author's book

Regulation by a negative feedback mechanism and hormonal influences on behavior If a hormone inhibits the activity of centers that stimulate its synthesis and secretion, such feedback called negative. If increased hormone secretion leads to

From the author's book

7.4. Some hormonal effects in experimental and clinical disorders small intestine In the early 80s, many publications appeared in which it was reported that the transition from a hungry state to a fed state is accompanied by changes in the level of a number of intestinal and other

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The baby has not yet been born, but having found out his gender, we buy clothes, a stroller, furnish the nursery... For a boy we choose blue tones, for a girl - pink. This is how “gender education” begins. Then the boy receives cars as a gift, and the girl receives dolls. We want to see our son as courageous, brave and strong, and our daughter as affectionate, soft and compliant. Doctor and psychologist Igor Dobryakov talks about how our gender expectations affect children.

The word "gender" was coined to separate the social meanings of "masculinity" and "femininity" from biological sex differences. Gender is determined by anatomical and physiological characteristics that allow us to divide all people into men and women and classify ourselves as one of the groups. Sometimes, due to a chromosomal malfunction or as a result of abnormalities in the development of the embryo, a person is born who combines the sexual characteristics of both men and women (hermaphrodite). But this happens extremely rarely.

One psychologist jokingly said that sex is what is between the legs, and gender is what is between the ears. If a person’s sex is determined at birth, then gender identity is formed in the process of upbringing and socialization. To be a woman or a man in society does not just mean having a certain anatomical structure, but also have an appearance, manners, behavior, habits that meet expectations. These expectations set certain patterns of behavior (gender roles) for men and women depending on gender stereotypes - what is considered “typically masculine” or “typically feminine” in society.

The emergence of gender identity is closely related to both biological development and the development of self-awareness. At the age of two, they do not fully understand what this means, however, under the influence of the example and expectations of adults, they are already beginning to actively form their gender attitudes, learning to distinguish the gender of those around them by clothing, hairstyle, and facial features. By the age of seven, a child realizes the immutability of his biological sex. During adolescence, the formation of gender identity occurs: rapid puberty, manifested by body changes, romantic experiences, erotic desires, stimulates it. This has a strong impact on further formation gender identity. There is an active development of forms of behavior and the formation of character in accordance with the ideas of parents, the immediate environment, and society as a whole about femininity (from the Latin femininus - “female”) and masculinity (from the Latin masculinus - “male”).

Gender equality

Over the past 30 years, the idea of gender equality has gained momentum widespread in the world, formed the basis of many international documents, and is reflected in national laws. Gender equality implies equal opportunities, rights and responsibilities for women and men in all spheres of life, including equal access to education and healthcare, equal opportunities to work, participate in government, start a family and raise children. Gender inequality creates fertile ground for gender-based violence. Stereotypes preserved from archaic times attribute different scenarios of sexual behavior to women and men: men are allowed greater sexual activity and aggressiveness, women are expected to be passively obedient and submissive to a man, which easily turns her into an object of sexual exploitation.

Equal in difference

And women have always existed, but they differed in different eras and among different peoples. Moreover, in different families living in the same country and belonging to the same class, ideas about the “real” man and woman can vary significantly.

In modern countries of Western civilization, the ideas of gender equality between men and women have gradually prevailed, and this is gradually equalizing their roles in society and family. Voting rights for women were legislated quite recently (by historical standards): in the USA in 1920, in Greece in 1975, in Portugal and Spain in 1974 and 1976, and one of the cantons of Switzerland equalized voting rights for women and men only in 1991. Some countries, such as Denmark, have created a special ministry dedicated to gender equality.

At the same time, in countries where the influence of religion and traditions is strong, views are more common that recognize the right of men to dominate, manage, and rule over women (for example, in Saudi Arabia, women were promised to be given the right to vote only in 2015).

Masculine and feminine qualities are manifested in behavior patterns, in appearance, in preference for certain hobbies and activities. There are also differences in values. It is believed that women value human relationships, love, family more, and men value social success and independence. However, in real life, the people around us demonstrate a combination of both feminine and masculine personality traits, and the values that are significant to them can vary significantly. In addition, masculine or feminine traits that appear clearly in some situations may be invisible in others. Similar observations led the Austrian scientist Otto Weininger to the idea that every normal woman and every normal man has traits of both his own and the opposite sex; a person’s individuality is determined by the predominance of the male over the female or vice versa *. He used the term "androgyny" (Greek ανδρεία - man; Greek γυνής - woman) to refer to the combination of masculine and feminine traits. Russian philosopher Nikolai Berdyaev called Weininger’s ideas “brilliant intuitions”**. Shortly after the publication of Weininger's work "Sex and Character", male and female sex hormones were discovered. In the body, men are produced together with male sex hormones and female ones, and in female body along with women's - men's. Their combination and concentration influence a person’s appearance and sexual behavior and shape his hormonal sex.

That is why in life we encounter such a variety of manifestations of masculine and feminine. Some men and women have predominantly masculine and feminine qualities, while others have a balance of both. Psychologists believe that individuals of the androgynous type, who combine high performance both masculinity and femininity, have greater behavioral flexibility, and therefore are the most adaptive and psychologically prosperous. Therefore, raising children within the strict framework of traditional gender roles may do them a disservice.

Igor Dobryakov– Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Child Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Medical Psychology, Northwestern State University medical university them. I. I. Mechnikova. Member of the editorial boards of the journals “Perinatal Psychology”, “Voprosy” mental health children and adolescents", "Children's Medicine of the North-West". Author of dozens of scientific papers, as well as co-author of the books “Development of a Child’s Personality from Birth to One Year” (Rama Publishing, 2010), “Child Psychiatry” (Peter, 2005), “Health Psychology.”

Captured by stereotypes

Most people believe that a woman has such qualities as sensitivity, tenderness, caring, sensitivity, tolerance, modesty, pliability, gullibility, etc. Girls are taught to be obedient, careful, and responsive.

Hereby masculine qualities courage, perseverance, reliability, responsibility, etc. are considered. Boys are taught to rely on their own strengths, achieve their own goals, and be independent. Punishments for misbehavior are generally harsher for boys than for girls.

Many parents encourage their children to behave and play traditionally characteristic of their gender, and are very worried when they notice the opposite. By buying cars and pistols for boys, and dolls and strollers for girls, parents, often without realizing it, strive to raise strong men - breadwinners and protectors, and real women - keepers of the hearth. But there is nothing wrong with the fact that a boy cooks dinner on a toy stove and feeds a teddy bear, and a girl assembles a construction set and plays chess. Such activities contribute to the multilateral development of the child, form important traits in him (caring in a boy, logical thinking- for a girl), prepare for life in modern society, where women and men have long been equally successful in mastering the same professions and in many ways playing the same social roles.

By telling a boy: “Give back, you’re a boy” or “Don’t cry, you’re not a girl,” parents reproduce gender and unwittingly, or even consciously, lay the foundation for the boy’s future aggressive behavior and a sense of superiority over girls. When adults or friends condemn “calf tenderness,” they thereby forbid the boy, and then the man, to show attention, care, and affection. Phrases like “Don’t get dirty, you’re a girl”, “Don’t fight, only boys fight” create in a girl a sense of her own superiority over dirty guys and brawlers, and the call “Be quieter, be more modest, you’re a girl” encourages her to play second roles, giving in the palm for men.

Myths about boys and girls

Which widely held opinions are based on solid facts and which have no reliable experimental basis?

In 1974, Eleanor Maccoby and Carol Jacklin dispelled many myths by showing that people of different sexes have more similarities than differences. To find out how close to the truth your stereotypical beliefs are, consider which of the following statements are true.

1. Girls are more sociable than boys.

2. Boys have a stronger sense of self-esteem than girls.

3. Girls perform simple, routine tasks better than boys.

4. Boys have stronger mathematical abilities and spatial thinking than girls.

5. Boys have a more analytical mind than girls.

6. Girls have better speech development than boys.

7. Boys are more motivated to achieve success.

8. Girls are not as aggressive as boys.

9. Girls are easier to persuade than boys.

10. Girls are more sensitive to sound, and boys - to visual stimuli.

The answers emerging from Maccoby and Jacklin's research are surprising.

1. There is no reason to believe that girls are more sociable than boys. In early childhood, both groups equally often form groups to play together. Neither boys nor girls detect increased desire play alone. Boys do not give preference to playing with inanimate objects over playing with peers. At a certain age, boys spend even more time playing together than girls.

2. Results psychological tests indicate that boys and girls in childhood and adolescence do not differ significantly in the level of self-esteem, but indicate different areas life activities in which they feel more confident than in others. Girls consider themselves more competent in the field of mutual communication, and boys are proud of their strength.

3 and 4. Boys and girls cope equally effectively with simple, typical tasks. Boys develop mathematical abilities around the age of 12, when they quickly develop spatial thinking. In particular, it is easier for them to depict the invisible side of an object. Since the difference in spatial thinking abilities becomes noticeable only in adolescence, the reason for this should be sought either in the child’s environment (probably boys are more often given the opportunity to improve this skill) or in the characteristics of his hormonal status.

5. Boys and girls have the same analytical skills. Boys and girls discover the ability to separate the important from the unimportant, to recognize the most important in the flow of information.

6. Speech develops faster in girls than in boys. To adolescence Children of both sexes do not differ in this indicator, but in high school girls begin to outstrip boys. They perform better on tests of understanding the complexities of language, have more fluent figurative speech, and their writing is more literate and better in terms of style. As with boys' math abilities, girls' increased language abilities may be a consequence of socialization that motivates them to improve their language skills.

7. Girls are less aggressive than boys, and this difference is noticeable already at the age of two, when children begin to take part in group games. Increased aggressiveness in boys manifests itself as physical actions, and in demonstrating readiness to enter into a fight or in the form of verbal threats. Aggression is usually directed at other boys and less often at girls. There is no evidence that parents encourage boys to be more aggressive than girls; rather, they do not encourage expressions of aggressiveness in either one or the other.

8. Boys and girls are equally susceptible to persuasion and imitate the behavior of adults equally often. Both are under the influence social factors and understand the need to follow generally accepted standards of behavior. The only real difference is that girls adapt their judgments somewhat more easily to the judgments of others, and boys can accept the values of a given peer group without compromising their own views, even if there is not the slightest similarity between them.

9. In infancy, boys and girls react similarly to different objects. environment, which are perceived through hearing and vision. Both distinguish the speech characteristics of those around them, different sounds, the shape of objects and the distances between them. This similarity persists in adults of different sexes.

The most objective approach to identifying differences between the sexes is to study the brain. Electroencephalography can be used to evaluate brain responses to various kinds stimulation. Such studies avoid dependence of the results obtained on the personal opinions or biases of the experimenter, since the interpretation of the observed behavior in this case is based on objective indicators. It turned out that women have sharper senses of taste, touch and hearing. In particular, their hearing in the long-wave range is so sharper than that of men that a sound of 85 decibels seems twice as loud to them. Women have higher mobility of their hands and fingers and finer coordination of movements, they are more interested in the people around them, and in infancy they listen with great attention to various sounds. With the accumulation of data on the anatomical and physiological characteristics In the male and female brain, there is an increasing need for new neuropsychological research that could dispel existing myths or confirm their reality.”*

* Fragments from the book by W. Masters, V. Johnson, R. Kollodni “Fundamentals of Sexology” (World, 1998).

How social gender develops

The formation of gender identity begins in early age and is manifested by a subjective feeling of belonging to boys or girls. Already at the age of three, boys prefer to play with boys, and girls prefer to play with girls. Cooperative games are also present, and they are very important for acquiring communication skills with each other. Preschoolers try to conform to the ideas about “correct” behavior for boys and girls that are “transmitted” to them by educators and the children’s team. But the main authority on all issues, including gender, for young children is their parents. For girls, the image of not only a woman, whose main example is the mother, is very important, but also the image of a man, just as for boys, models of both masculine and feminine behavior. And of course, parents give their children the first example of the relationship between a man and a woman, which largely determines their behavior when communicating with people of the opposite sex, and their ideas about relationships in a couple.

Children up to 9–10 years of age are especially susceptible to external influences. Close communication with peers of the opposite sex at school and in other activities helps the child to internalize behavioral gender stereotypes accepted in society. Role-playing games, which began in kindergarten, become more and more difficult over time. Participation in them is very important for children: they have the opportunity to choose the gender of the character in accordance with their own, and learn to live up to their gender role. When portraying men or women, they primarily reflect stereotypes of gender behavior accepted in the family and at school, and demonstrate those qualities that are considered feminine or masculine in their environment.

It's interesting how differently parents and teachers react to the departure from stereotypes. A tomboy girl who likes to play “war” with boys is usually not blamed by both adults and peers. But a boy who plays with dolls is teased and called a “girl” or “mama’s boy.” There is an obvious difference in the scope of requirements for “appropriate” behavior for boys and girls. It is difficult to imagine that some activity uncharacteristic for a girl (laser fighting, auto racing, football) will cause as much condemnation as, for example, a boy’s love of toy dishes, sewing and clothes (this is well shown in the 2000 film directed by Stephen Daldry "Billy Elliot") Thus, in modern society there are practically no purely male activities and hobbies left, but typically female ones still exist.

In children's communities, feminine boys are ridiculed; they are called “weaklings” and “sluts.” Often ridicule is accompanied by physical violence. In such situations, timely intervention from teachers is necessary, and moral support for the child from parents is needed.

During the prepubertal period (approximately 7 to 12 years), children with a variety of personality traits tend to form social groups while avoiding members of the other sex. Research by the Belarusian psychologist Yakov Kolominsky*** showed that when it is necessary to give preference to three classmates, boys choose boys, and girls choose girls. However, the experiment we conducted convincingly proved that if children are sure that their choice will remain secret, then many of them choose people of the opposite sex****. This demonstrates the significance of the child’s internalized gender stereotypes: he fears that friendship or even communication with a representative of the other sex may make others doubt his correct understanding of his gender role.

During puberty, adolescents, as a rule, try to emphasize their gender qualities, the list of which begins to include communication with the opposite sex. A teenage boy, trying to show his masculinity, not only plays sports, shows determination and strength, but also actively demonstrates interest in girls and sex issues. If he avoids this and is noticed to have “girlish” qualities, then he inevitably becomes a target for ridicule. Girls during this period worry about how attractive they are to the opposite sex. At the same time, under the influence of traditional ones, they notice that their “weakness” and “helplessness” attracts boys who want to show their skills and strength, to act as a protector and patron.

During this period, the authority of adults is no longer as high as in childhood. Teenagers begin to focus on behavioral stereotypes accepted in their environment and actively promoted by popular culture. The ideal girl can be a strong, successful and independent woman. Men's dominance in love, in the family and in the team is less and less perceived as the norm. Heterosexual normativity is questioned, that is, the “correctness” and admissibility of attraction only to a member of the opposite sex. “Non-standard” gender self-identification is becoming increasingly understood. Today's teenagers and young adults are more liberal in their views on sexuality and sexual relationships.

The assimilation of gender roles and the formation of gender identification occurs as a result of the complex interaction of natural inclinations, individual characteristics of the child and his environment, micro- and macro-society. If parents, knowing the laws of this process, do not impose their stereotypes on the child, but help him discover his individuality, then in adolescence and beyond he will have less problems related to puberty, awareness and acceptance of one’s sex and gender.

No double standards

Double standards manifest themselves in the most different areas life. When we're talking about about men and women, they primarily concern sexual behavior. Traditionally, a man is recognized as having the right to sexual experience before marriage, while a woman is required to do so before marriage. With the formal requirement of mutual fidelity of both spouses, a man's extramarital affairs are not condemned as strictly as a woman's infidelity. The double standard prescribes the man the role of an experienced and leading partner in sexual relations, and for the woman – the passive, driven side.

If we want to raise a child in the spirit of gender equality, we need to show him an example of treating people equally, regardless of their gender. When talking with your child, do not associate this or that activity or housework or profession with gender - dad can wash the dishes, and mom can drive the car to buy groceries; there are female engineers and male chefs. Don't let double standards towards men and women and be intolerant of any violence, no matter from whom it comes: a girl who bullies a boy deserves the same censure as a boy who takes away her toy. Gender equality does not abolish sex and gender differences and does not equate women and men, girls and boys, but allows each person to find their own way of self-realization, to determine their life choice regardless of conventional gender stereotypes.

* O. Weinenger “Gender and Character” (Latard, 1997).

** N. Berdyaev “The Meaning of Creativity” (AST, 2007).

*** Y. Kolominsky “Psychology of a children's group. System of personal relationships" (Narodnaya Asveta, 1984).

**** I. Dobryakov “Experience in studying heterosexual relationships in prepubertal children” (in the book “Psyche and gender in children and adolescents in normal and pathological conditions”, LPMI, 1986).

Possible options

Do not make a “real man” out of a boy, sociologist and sexologist Igor Kon* advises parents.

All real men are different, the only fake men are those who pretend to be “real”. Andrei Dmitrievich Sakharov resembles Arnold Schwarzenegger as little as Carmen resembles the heroine mother. Help the boy choose the version of masculinity that is closer to him and in which he will be more successful, so that he can accept himself and not regret missed, most often just imaginary, opportunities.

Don't instill belligerence in him.

Historical destinies modern world are resolved not on the battlefield, but in the sphere of scientific, technical and cultural achievements. If your boy grows up to be a worthy person and citizen who knows how to defend his rights and fulfill the responsibilities associated with them, he will also cope with the defense of the Fatherland. If he gets used to seeing enemies all around and resolving all disputes from a position of strength, nothing but troubles will happen to him in life.

Don't teach a boy to treat a woman from a position of strength.

It is beautiful to be a knight, but if your boy ends up in a relationship with a woman who is not the leader, but the follower, this will be a trauma for him. It makes more sense to see “a woman in general” as an equal partner and potential friend, and to build relationships with specific girls and women individually, depending on their and your roles and characteristics.

Don't try to mold your children in your own image.

For a parent who does not suffer from delusions of grandeur, a much more important task is to help the child become himself.

Do not try to force your child into a certain occupation or profession.

By the time he makes his responsible choice, your preferences may be morally and socially outdated. The only way is to enrich the child’s interests from early childhood so that he has the widest possible choice of options and opportunities.

Don't force your children to realize your unfulfilled dreams and illusions.

You don’t know what devils are guarding the path you once turned off, or whether it exists at all. The only thing in your power is to help your child choose the optimal development option for him, but the right to choose belongs to him.

Don't try to pretend to be a strict father or an affectionate mother if these traits are not characteristic of you.

Firstly, it is impossible to deceive a child. Secondly, it is influenced not by an abstract “sex role model”, but by the individual properties of the parent, his moral example and how he treats the child.

Do not believe that defective children grow up in single-parent families.

This statement is factually incorrect, but acts as a self-fulfilling prediction. “Incomplete families” are not those in which there is no father or mother, but those in which parental love is lacking. The maternal family has its own additional problems and difficulties, but it is better than a family with an alcoholic father or where the parents live like cats and dogs.

Do not try to replace your child’s peer society,

avoid confrontation with their environment, even if you don't like it. The only thing you can and should do is mitigate the inevitable trauma and difficulties associated with it. A trusting atmosphere in the family helps best against “bad comrades.”

Do not abuse prohibitions and, if possible, avoid confrontation with your child.

If strength is on your side, then time is on his side. A short-term gain can easily turn into a long-term loss. And if you break his will, both sides will lose.

Never use corporal punishment.

Anyone who hits a child demonstrates not strength, but weakness. The apparent pedagogical effect is completely overwhelmed by long-term alienation and hostility.

Don't rely too much on the experience of your ancestors.

We know little about the real history of everyday life; normative regulations and pedagogical practices have never coincided anywhere. In addition, living conditions have changed greatly, and some methods of education that were considered useful earlier (for example, spanking) are unacceptable and ineffective today.

The information and materials contained in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of UNESCO. The authors are responsible for the information provided.