Essentials of Cultural Anthropology: Ch. 7 Gender

gender studies

research into understanding how gender identities and expressions are shaped by and affect one's life chances

sex

The culturally agreed upon physical differences between male and female, especially biological differences related to human reproduction

gender

the expectations of thought and behavior that each culture assigns to people of different sexes

sexual dimorphism

the phenotypic differences between males and females of the same species

cultural construction of gender

the ways humans learn to perform and recognize behaviors as masculine or feminine within their cultural context

Transgender

people whose gender identity and performance do not correspond with the biological sex category assigned at birth

Cisgender

people whose gender identity and performance correspond with their birth sex

masculinity

the ideas and practices associated with manhood

femininity

the ideas and practices associated with womanhood

gender performance

the way gender identity is expressed through action

Intersex

the state of being born with a combination of male and female genitalia, gonads, and/or chromosomes

gender stratification

an unequal distribution of power in which gender shapes who has access to a group's resources, opportunities, rights, and privileges

gender stereotypes

widely held preconceived notions about the attributes of, differences between, and proper roles for men and women in a culture

gender ideology

a set of cultural ideas, usually stereotypical, about the essential character of different genders that functions to promote and justify gender stratification

Gender Identity

Each person’s internal experience and understanding of their own gender.

Gender Expression

How a person expresses or presents themselves in relationship to gender, whether in their behavior, appearance, name, or pronouns.