Forte, Kayla

In class, we have been going over the distinctions of gender and whether it is based on sociological values or biological means. In the textbook, they also go over the comparison of basing gender on social or biological means. I interviewed a Caucasian female on Wednesday to discuss her beliefs on gender values. The interviewee stated that she believes gender is based mostly on social values. There are some distinctions that are based on biological means but most of them are learned through our culture. I, the interviewer, also believe that gender is based on social factors. As a college student, we experience many things in our daily lives, especially gender roles. I believe that we are in a prime time of our lives where we get to develop and shape who we want to be. There has been a lot of speculation in the media that has to do with gender identity. There was a recent article where the Department of Motor Vehicles would not allow an individual to take his ID picture because he was wearing make-up. The reason they fought this was because they said we had to be represented how we look in our everyday life. For this particular individual, he identified himself as a woman and he looked like a woman every day. I spoke with the interviewee about different aspects of gender and why we think the way we do. She claimed that she believes we identify with a specific gender based on culture and the society we grow up in. This is also true to say that we learn how to act based on our surroundings and the way that we learn and grow. There is a view of hegemonic masculinity that goes against this and says that there is only one way to act masculine and that is how men should act. The same goes for females and the idea of emphasized femininity. The idea is based around how women should act and in doing so appeal to the needs and desires of men. 

Kayla Forte

http://icati.catishack.com/uploads/KaylaForte/KaylaForte-15594731785-20140918-1411004438.1127.mp3