University Report: Gender and Identity in Contextual Studies

This report provides an in-depth exploration of gender and identity, examining it through the lens of contextual studies. It begins with an introduction defining gender and identity, differentiating between biological sex and gender identity, and highlighting the influence of both nature and nurture. The main body delves into the theme of gender and identity, discussing how self-conception as male or female is influenced by biological sex and societal factors. It explores various perspectives on gender development, including the views of social constructivists and essentialists, and the significance of parental influence and social reinforcement. The report also touches upon the evolution of gender identity, including the increasing acceptance of non-binary gender identities and the use of gender-neutral pronouns. Several theories are also presented to understand gender and identity in a detailed manner. The report concludes by summarizing key points and emphasizing the complexity of gender identity, acknowledging that it is not always a binary concept and encompasses chromosomal, anatomical, and psychological variations.

Assessment 2
Contextual Studies

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
THEME – GENDER AND IDENTITY......................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Gender and identity are the two different elements, which are specifically gets described or
characterized as an individual origination of oneself as female or male. This particular concept or
idea is personally identified with the idea of identity and gender as well, which are characterised
as the outward indications of character that focuses on gender (Hines, 2020). Basically, gender in
practically is self-distinguished, because of a mix of characteristic and outward or natural
elements; sexual orientation and so on. Although, identity is regularly an outward element of
gender, yet most of the individuals do not consider the same. In many individuals, diversification
among gender and identity are specifically consistent. In this report, the particular theme that has
been taken into consideration is Gender and Identity, where deep discussion will be done on
various aspects.
MAIN BODY
THEME – GENDER AND IDENTITY
According to Simons and Beck, (2020), a person’s self-conception as a man or woman can
be distinguished considering different elements like actual biological sex which is female or
male. For most of the individuals, it can be said that biological sex and gender identity are said to
be the two different corresponds that focuses on conventional ways. Also, there are a number of
individuals as well that experiences no or just a little connection only among gender and sex.
This could be understood with a good example of biological sexual characteristics where
unambiguous and distinct elements do impacts upon person’s identification. In the context, it is
said that gender conventionally stays connected directly with the other gender (Sex and Gender
Identity, 2021). Although, it is specifically considered as an inside society by recognizable
factors, for example, appearance and identity. For instance, if an individual sees himself as a
male and is most happy with alluding to his own gender in manly terms, at that point his sex
personality is male. Be that as it may, his gender identity is male just on the off chance that he
exhibits normally male attributes in conduct, dress, as well as individualities (Buckley, 2018).
Over the years, many investigations took place in the past where, development of gender
along with identity where different philosophers and researchers has given their point of views.
Basically, a number of scholar’s critique that gender and identity are the two elements that
incorporates in an individual from birth only. This was mentioned by them due to different

reasons like because of various biological factors like genetic. On the other hand, it can also be
said that there are a number of social constructivists as well who argued that gender and identity,
or the manner in which gender identity is expressed, is “socially constructed” i.e., determined by
social and cultural influences. Social constructivism of the latter type is not necessarily
incompatible with essentialism, because it is possible for a supposedly innate gender identity to
be expressed in different ways in different cultures (Olivetti, Patacchini and Zenou, 2020).
On the other hand, basic gender identity is generally established within children where age
of three alongside very hard to change from that point. In situations where gender was
ambiguous upon entering the world were made, it has been practically difficult to understand
children (Pistella, Ioverno and Russell, 2019). Besides the other gender type, personality can be
created over the centre character, as gender-related practices might be embraced, which would
help in understanding the deeper knowledge in much effective and in efficient manner. Away
with this, there are some of the other aspects as well where gender and identity develop by means
of parental example language and social reinforcement. Including this, guardians train what they
saw as gender, character and conduct to their youngsters since the beginning, and this conduct is
strengthened as the kids become more established and enter a more extensive social world. Away
with this, as kids starts speaking, they likewise learn early differentiation among "he" and "she"
and comprehend which relate to themselves.
Since the late twentieth century the acknowledgment that numerous individuals have
gender and identity that are not traditionally connected with the different elements and that a few
people have no binary sexual orientation personalities (i.e., neither or both man/boy and
female/girl) have expanded help for the overall use in English and different dialects of impartial
pronouns (they, them, and their) instead of female or male pronouns (he, she, him, her, his, hers).
Such use, it is contended, empowers speakers and journalists to try not to describe personality to
an individual dependent on gender. The selection of sexually impartial manages to say
additionally has been pushed by the individuals who object to the utilization of gender (Gender
identity, 2021).
Also, there are ample number of theories also present which has helped in understanding the
gender and identity terms in much detailed manner. Away with this, behaviour is also considered
as something, which has presented a range of understanding in relation with challenging issues
for families, individuals, along with the society as well. Gender and identity are the terms that

also includes more than the anatomical–it includes the inward information and external
articulation of one's sex. The predominant view has been that identity and gender dwells inside
the individual (Gender Identity, 2021). Also, different perspectives challenge this presumption
by contending that identity and gender are made with regards to communications, cultural
constructions, and social assumptions. Many investigations over identity and gender has
additionally centred around the results of creating gender and identity that is reliable and also
unique in relation to one's gender as well.
CONCLUSION
With the help of above mentioned report, there are different areas that are required to be
analysed in proper sense because, some of the individuals knows identity or gender in two ways
only (biological male or biological female). However, identity is something which fully captures
the chromosomal, complex anatomical, biological and some of the other type of variations that
can occur in one’s complex situation. Therefore, it can easily be said that considering two
options (biological male or biological female) might not describe what’s going on inside a
person’s body.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Hines, S., 2020. Sex wars and (trans) gender panics: Identity and body politics in contemporary
UK feminism. The Sociological Review, 68(4), pp.699-717.
Buckley, T.R., 2018. Black adolescent males: Intersections among their gender role identity and
racial identity and associations with self‐concept (global and school). Child
development, 89(4), pp.e311-e322.
Simons, J.D. and Beck, M.J., 2020. Sexual and Gender Minority Identity Development:
Recommendations for School Counselors. Journal of School Counseling, 18(20), p.n20.
Olivetti, C., Patacchini, E. and Zenou, Y., 2020. Mothers, peers, and gender-role
identity. Journal of the European Economic Association, 18(1), pp.266-301.
Pistella, J., Ioverno, S. and Russell, S.T., 2019. The role of peer victimization, sexual identity,
and gender on unhealthy weight control behaviors in a representative sample of Texas
youth. International journal of eating disorders, 52(5), pp.597-601.
Online
Gender identity. 2021. [Online]. Available through: <https://www.britannica.com/science/self-
actualization>.
Gender Identity. 2021. [Online]. Available through:
<https://kidshelpline.com.au/teens/issues/gender-identity>.
Sex and Gender Identity. 2021. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/gender-identity/sex-gender-identity>.