Gender Identity

A gender identity is the way in which an individual male or female or in some cases being neither identifies with a gender category. Normally at the age of three, basic gender identity will be formed, and it is difficult to change after that. All society has a set of gender categories as male, female and transgender as a social identity in relation to other members of the society.

Individual without identity

 In many societies there is basic separation between masculine and feminine genders that are understood to be indomitable by biological sex. But in many societies some individuals do not have identity with the gender that is not associated with their biological sex. Some societies supposed to have third gender categories, used as basis for gender identity for the individual who is not comfortable with the gender usually associated with their sex. 

Sex reassignment

The term Gender identity was really a medical term used to explain sex reassignment surgery to community. Some culture makes use of the surgical or hormonal sex reassignment for getting people biological characteristic in line with the gender identity.  There is an open question that, why gender identity of some people is confirmed and some or not confirmed and others may not identify with any of given gender categories. All this difference is because of product of nature or nurture (care for) that has been the controversial topic in the social and biological science.

 And there is still very open question that, to what extent hereditary Vs social factors play a role in shaping the gender identities of individuals. Biological factors may influence gender identity that include pre and post natural hormones levels and genetic material regulation. The formation of gender identity is not yet completely understood, many factors have been recommended as influencing its development.

Social learning Theory

A public factor which may influence gender identity adds up gender message expressed by family, mass media, and other institutions. Gender identity is also influenced by social learning theory, which says that usually children’s will develop their gender identity through observing and imitating gender linked behavior, and then punished or rewarded for behaving that way. In many cases, individual gender identity is incompatible with their biological sex characteristics, resulting in individual dressing or behaving in a way, which is perceived by others as being outside cultural gender norms. This gender may be described as gender variant or transgender.

Questions:

• What is Gender identity?
• How children’s develop their gender identity?