Re: gender (fwd)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 15:54:38 -0700 (MST)
From: Richard N Hutchinson <rhutchin@U.Arizona.EDU>
To: Kristin L. Marsh <KMARSH@emory.edu>
Subject: Re: gender

On Sat, 18 Mar 2000, Kristin L. Marsh wrote:

> Not quite.  Gender refers to "feminine" vs. "masculine" behaviors,
> roles, preferences, etc., that are associated with sex only as a social
> construct: that is, we impose these associations.  

I thought that's exactly what I said.


Gender roles do not
> naturally develop from sex differences.  


I didn't say they did.


And I would adamantly disagree
> with you re: sex differences.  These are also socially constructed to
> the extent that the dichotomous categorization of sex into either
> all-female or all-male is, likewise, socially imposed. 


Again, here's where I lose you.  A sex difference is not socially
constructed unless it is the result of surgery.

RH