Individual and Society: Exploring Sex and Gender Influences Essay

This essay delves into the multifaceted influences of biological and social processes on sex and gender. It begins by defining key concepts such as gender socialization and examines how biological factors, including genes, hormones, and sex differences, interact with sociological perspectives to shape gender development. The essay explores the impact of socialization agents such as family, peers, schools, media, and religion on gender roles and identity. It discusses the differences between sex and gender, explores biological approaches, and highlights the traits and stereotypes of males and females within society, as well as influences on sexual orientation. The essay also addresses the interplay of nature and nurture, the role of culture and social factors, and the impact of childhood gender typicality on adulthood. The conclusion emphasizes the social, cultural, and psychological constructs that shape gender, and how upbringing and social environments affect gender identities. It also discusses the concept of social practice and how individuals behave differently according to their gender, based on both biological and social factors.

The individual and
society

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Main Body.......................................................................................................................................3
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

Introduction
The following essay is based upon the topic - How might biological and social processes
influence sex and gender. The concept of gender socialization is defined as process by which
children are able to learn about social attitude, expectation and behaviours. In this essay, there is
discussion about the fact that biology and sociology affects gender development. There are
different biological and sociological factors that affects sex or gender (Andrew and Tierney,
2018). The sociological perspective for biological notions of sex helps to emphasize cultural and
social bases of gender. There are basic genetic and physiological differences which includes the
combination of behavioural and cognitive differences. Hormones play an important role within
the behavioural and cognitive sex difference. Sex is defined as the physical difference between
people who can be male, female or intersex. Every individual is assigned with it at the time of
birth. On the other hand, gender is described as the involvement of the way in which person is
identified. There are different male and female factors involved in external and internal bodies
which are different for males and females (. Batz and Tay, 2018). Females are assigned
individuals who have higher level of estrogen and progesterone. There is presentation in the
given essay which reflects upon the different traits of male and female and how they are affected
by biological and social process.
Main Body
Biological and sociological factors affect sex or gender of an individual. This can be explained
with an example that there are various differences between typical girls and boys. The main
effect is according to genes and chromosomes. The level of sex hormone impacts upon early
development (Ching and Xu, 2018). There are hormonal changes which carry on into adulthood
and puberty. Socialization is also playing an important role within enhancement and
encountering of biological influences. When a female is exposed to higher levels of male
hormones before birth then she has more interest in “male” activities. but according to society, it
can be seen that socialization impacts behaviour in a girlish manner. As per the behavioural sex
difference, this originates from the womb itself. There are sex differences between behaviour is
associated with health and illness. There are both social and biological factors which have been
invoked for explaining sex (Fényes, Pusztai and Engler, 2020). There are different social
perspectives used for tending the importance of social, health related and socioeconomic factors.

There are different age shapes, behaviours and social relation that impact upon sex. There are sex
differences within mortality which are common within younger adults. There are more chances
for young males to get risky and aggressive behaviour which is linked with age. There are
different people who get confused with the terms – sex and gender. The biological difference
between male and female is sex. On the other hand, gender is defined as cultural difference
which is expected for men and women as per their sex. There are several people who were
involved within ideas which were associated with sex and person who is behaving in different
manner is regarded as deviant (Mikhalevich and Powell, 2017). According to the biological
approach, there is no distinction between gender and sex. There are biological approaches which
suggests that there is no distinction for gender and sex. Hormones and chromosomes are the two
factors on which gender is dependent.
Hormones are known as chemical substances that are secreted by glands and are carried
away throughout the body. Sex hormone is present in both men and women but it differs in
amount and it impacts upon different part of the body. Testosterone is released within womb
when there is cause of development of male sex organ. Hormones also help in developing brain.
There are different traits that effects stereotypes of females and males within society of today.
There are major differences between behaviour of male and female. It is clear that women cry
more than men do (Spagnolo, Manson and Joffee, 2020). Males are more physically violent than
females. Women talks about their personal life with each other but on the other hand, men so not
talk with each other about their personal lives. Sexual orientation is defined as preference of
person for sexual relationship with other individuals of different sex, own sex or both sexes
which is bisexual. There are various transgender individuals who behave, appear and manage the
identity which fails for conventional norms. There are difficulties for people in determining
number of people who are lesbian, gay or bisexual. There are different biological factors that
impact upon the sexual orientation. It can be said that some of the gays say that they were gay
during adolescent but they are straight now. There are few authors which have provided their
viewpoint that sexual orientation is partly affecting the cultural norms. It can also be said that
sexual orientation starts with the complex mix of biological and cultural factors which remains
determined. There are several differences between men and women which makes it easier to
identify them according to the traits. It is determined that biological factor which is linked with
women bearing and nursing children whereas men cannot. It is also concluded that women are

more gentle than men. There is a biological implication that makes it easier to analyse the extent
of gender differences. When culture and social factors influence individual mind-set, it directly
affects sex or gender. If biology is paramount, then gender differences are inevitable and status
remains quo. There are some cases when culture and social influence is more than biology, then
gender differences can change. There are various biological explanations for gender role which
includes sociological and psychological factors. In context of prehistoric societies, it can be said
that social roles are being impacted. There are different elements associated with the role of
nurse or hunter at that time. These roles were given to people according to their capabilities the
sociologists and evolutionary psychologists provide their views on natural selection of women or
men. According to critics, it can be said that evolutionary explanation is depending upon several
grounds for survival. The human environment is diverse as per the irrelevant and straightforward
biological development. Tendency of men towards violence is biologically transmitted.
According to the evidences found by authors, it is determined that violent men makes more
trouble for women. There are some of the most compelling evidences that shows that biological
determination of gender roles is provided by anthropologists. The working of these people
depends upon gender variation from one person to another. The extensive evidence of the impact
depends upon the creation of cross cultural preindustrial society (Spagnolo, Manson and Joffe,
2020). There are different patterns which provide evidence for evolutionary evidences and these
are regarded as different tasks associated with trapping and hunting. There are different agents of
socialization consisting of peers, family, schools, media and religion which also impacts upon
the gender role socialisation. This also helps in developing gender identity.
Family – The aspect of socialisation comes into gender role during infancy which is
moment of birth parents. There are different studies which shows that there are different
documents associated with parents who are commonly known as describing the neutral and
delicate observers. According to the studies, it is evaluated that gender differences among infants
provides the infant’s sex. Peer influences the encouragement of gender socialization. Parents
describe infant daughter as a pretty, delicate and soft person. But on the other hand, a man is
described as active, strong and alert person.
Peers – These influence and encourage gender socialisation. When there is time of
reaching school age, children begin to play with games which are associa6ted with their gender.
Males are more into play associated with competitive team and they are governed by inflexible

tiles and regulations. On the other hand, girls are more into games associated with cooperative
games, smaller games like jumping ropes. There are many examples like encouraging
competitiveness among boys and cooperation among girls still persist and this information is
provided by peers.
Schools – These are known as another agent for gender socialisation. At first, the thing
which is considered is school play grounds that includes location for gender linked play
activities. There are different teachers at different level of play activities and this includes
treating of female and male students.
Mass media – There are different factors associated with mass media that affects gender or sex.
In television shows of children, mostly main character is male for e.g. SpongeBob, Novita, etc
(Street and Dardis, 2018). On the other hand, for prime time television shows like Grey’s
anatomy and the Good wife, female plays main character. According to the judgement of
television commercials, it is seen that chief goals in life for a woman includes having a good life.
Religion – This is another agent for socialisation and it contributes for traditional gender
stereotypes. Major figures within Bible are male and women are basically depicted as mothers,
wives, etc.
There are several authors which have provided their viewpoint on the relative importance of
biology and culture. It is analysed that socialisation means the way in which an individual
behaves and thinks about girls and boys. The main biological difference between male and
female includes the assumption for masculinity and femininity. There are several sociologists
and anthropologists who think that social science acts as the gender for social construction.
Biology do impact upon culture and socialisation. Gender is involved within shaping of culture
and society. Gender roles and identity are different phenomenon that are impacted due to biology
and psychological influences (Yagan Güder and Ata, 2018). There are two factors naming
nurture and nature which includes opposing forces. These include environmental factors which
act as opposing forces for biological processes. According to the historical actors, it is concluded
that environment affects biological processes and gender identity is shaped into primarily
focused hormones. Sexual orientation such as complex behaviour starts with package of different
traits like childhood gender, behaviour and activities or interests which are statistically atypical
biological sex during childhood (Zeitler and Babitsch, 2018). The childhood gender typicality is

associated with masculine and feminine during adulthood. These are correlated with adult
homosexuality.
Conclusion
From the above report, it is concluded that when gender flows, individual can expect
world to allow a baby for becoming male or female. There are several stages of sex
determination and these stages are associated with child development. Gender is deeply
engrained within society and social practise. Different individuals apply gender stereotypes for
computer generated speech. Gender is social, cultural and psychological construct for developing
socialisation. There are different culture and society which includes different understandings for
being masculine and feminine. Gender is of analytical category and it includes political idea that
addresses distribution for power within society. There are several studies which have shown that
upbringing and social environment of children impacts upon development of gender identities.
There are different interests, preferences, behaviour and overall self-concept which is different
for male and female. There are different traits and activities which are appropriate for managing
teachings. Most boys develop primarily masculine gender identity and on the other hand, girls
develop feminine gender identity. The concept of social practise is defined as human activity
which is used as human activity that emphasises conventional aspect of social structure.
Individuals can behave differently according to their gender. It totally depends upon biological
and social factors that how a person is going to behave or act.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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Why are women more often affected than men?. Women's Health, 14,
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being. Salt Lake City, UT: DEF Publishers.
Ching, B.H.H. and Xu, J.T., 2018. The effects of gender neuroessentialism on transprejudice: An
experimental study. Sex roles, 78(3), pp.228-241.
Fényes, H., Pusztai, G. and Engler, Á., 2020. Gender Role Attitudes and Religiosity among
Higher Education Students. Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies, 19(55),
pp.69-84.
Islam, N., Khunti, K., Dambha-Miller, H., Kawachi, I. and Marmot, M., 2020. COVID-19
mortality: a complex interplay of sex, gender and ethnicity. European journal of public
health, 30(5), pp.847-848.
Mikhalevich, I. and Powell, R., 2017. Response: Sex, lies and gender.
Spagnolo, P.A., Manson, J.E. and Joffe, H., 2020. Sex and gender differences in health: what the
COVID-19 pandemic can teach us.
Street, A.E. and Dardis, C.M., 2018. Using a social construction of gender lens to understand
gender differences in posttraumatic stress disorder. Clinical psychology review, 66,
pp.97-105.
Tripathi, A., Avasthi, A., Grover, S., Sharma, E., Lakdawala, B.M., Thirunavukarasu, M., Dan,
A., Sinha, V., Sareen, H., Mishra, K.K. and Rastogi, P., 2018. Gender differences in
obsessive-compulsive disorder: Findings from a multicentric study from India. Asian
Journal of Psychiatry, 37, pp.3-9.
Yagan Güder, S. and Ata, S., 2018. Father Involvement, Gender Perception and Children's
Gender Stereotypes. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 6(8), pp.1637-1646.
Zeitler, J. and Babitsch, B., 2018. Barriers and facilitators for the development of sex/gender
sensitive clinical practice guidelines: A qualitative interview study. Zeitschrift für
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