There are several wide range of topics that encompass the Nature-Nurture debate. The recent question that emerged is about gender influencers. Biological scientists and geneticists have claimed that hormones and genetics predetermine all our gender and sexuality, however, psychologists, sociologists, and evolutionary theorists argue that stereotypical and environmental influences are responsible. Environment, natural selection, and genetics are the three main influences on gender development. To figure out what influences gender we must first correctly define the difference between sex and gender.
Gender and sex are interdependent but not the same. As mentioned in chapter 10, the primary and secondary sexual attributes (penis and vagina) in males and females is called sex. The primary sex characteristics consist of testicles and ovaries. Gender, in contrast, is the behavior and the attitudes that society reflects proper for females and males; femininity and masculinity. Sociologists often describe gender as a tool or device, used by society to control its members. Biological factors certainly play a significant role in our lives. But the gender difference in behavior is not biological but social. The submissive nature of women and the dominant nature of men are social characteristics.
The nature side of the debate is that gender is defined by family upbringing and social expectations. This allows us to understand why people choose different gender for their expected sex. I agree with the nature side of the debate and the study of Gender and Age helped me understand the role of social influence in gender characterization through different studies. Biological factors are involved in human behavior as well and sociologists can determine how social factors change biology.
