Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Blog for the Week -- gender reading
Building from the issues addressed in tonight's class, must one develop a sense of self-identity first before establishing gender identity, or must one resolve gender identity before truly knowing our overall sense of self? More simply put, would I need to know what I think it means to be a man before knowing my self... or do I need to know my self before constructing my sense of male identity? Is the same true for racial identity?
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What I interpreted from the reading is that society has placed standards on the "male identity" that shape his values as a person. According to the reading, males are to be sports oriented, show little emotion and "never let them see you sweat" These assumptions of "manhood" are distorted. Yes, sports are great for teaching certain attributes as teamwork and commitment. But to suggest that if a male does not engage in team sports makes him less than a man is ludicrous. I feel that a male needs to know himself before constructing a sense of "male identity".
ReplyDeleteI was impressed by how the father played a huge roll in his son's interest in sports. then the reader specified how white father encouragement were some what different of the black father encouragement. I wonder if that is the same regarding to identity building. Do white and black men differ in the issue of the male identity? or is it universal for men not to show emotion?
ReplyDeleteGender identity is formulated biologically and socially. Biginning at birth, babies are labeled according to their external genitals either male or female. Parents and other childcare providers continue from this point on treating boys and girls differently based on the label applied at birth. These expressions, whether verbal or nonverbal send messages to the child about what roles he/she is expected to perform in their families and in society. In some families, boys are socialized to believe that showing emotions - sometimes even happiness, laughing, smiling - is said to be a sign of weakness. Perhaps, this is also a generational issue.
ReplyDeleteAn element revealed in this article is that boys/men from lower SES who are involved in organized sports were from their beginnings socialized differently then others. As a result, boys/men from a higher SES were in a more secured place with their identity of themselves, therefore, they didn't relate their entire existence to the world of organized sports.
Correction: Beginning at birth,...
ReplyDeleteOK, interesting thoughts. However, the posts so far have not fully addressed the issues presented in the prompt for this post. I'm asking you to go beyond the scope of this piece to look at the question of whether gender identity must be resolved first before establishing "overall" self-identity, or is it typically done in reverse? Is the phenomenon the same with regards to racial identity or relational (sexual) identity? Feel free to write what you wish, but be sure to at some point answer my questions. : )
ReplyDeleteAlso, if you're interested in seeing what my grad students had to say in their blog about the documentary I asked you to watch, feel free to check it out:
http://springed508.blogspot.com/2010/02/for-bible-tells-me-so-video.html
I would augue that gender identity is established in the early developmental stages of life as one interprets a sense of being male or female. Whereas, self-identity can be considered an on going process that encompasses all experiences, both external and internal, that has been associated with one's life. Many factors throughout life helps to shape and reshape self-identity. As this relates to race and relational identity, one must know him/her value as a human being before attempting to plug into the big pictures of race and relations.
ReplyDeleteI think self identity is learned, and acquired as one moves through life, certain situations as we go through our lives assist in building our identity. Gender identity is a bit sketchy, i think we assume it is acquired at birth, and in our homes by the examples we see, but some influences can alter peoples thought process, experimenting in some cases "fitting" in. As far as which comes first i believe one has to know themselves and their desires before they can assume a gender identity. We have discussed how families play a big part in the growth of thier children,but it is ulitmatly up to the person as to what they choose a identity in gender. ok, so i tried to sound intellectual, what i really want to say is most people know who they are, and have an idea of what their particular preferences are and will be, situations, circumstances change, we live in a world again i say of perfection where difference is wrong. It is wrong we no understood. If some people took the time to learn of others cultures and lifestyles,and not worry about what others are going to think of them for thinking outside the box, we might have a half way decent society. Pre-judging= before knowing all the facts. Green i would have to argue that early stage in development is when gender starts, sort of, because in the womb we are all one and from my knowledge i believe it is male, i won't go into the graphic details,but the brain is mush in the first stages of life babies don't have knowledge of male and female. I will say this as a final note, who in their right mind would intentially want to be different knowing the consequences of thier and others actions
ReplyDeleteRemember, gender identity means our sense of what it means to be male and female in our society. Clearly, sexuality can be tied in, but I am not exclusively referring to that issue here....
ReplyDeleteSorry, Crystal, I'm not particularly fond of this type of communincation for this reason, I tend to take it for granted that I've said enough to be understood when in all actuality, I haven't. I'm not a wordy person by nature, at that rate alone, I try to say as little as possible. Nevertheless, I wasn't referring to the prenatal early stages of development, however, I didn't clearly make my point. I did say that gender identity comes about as one interprets a sense of being male or female. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I must put forth greater efforts in my communications to avoid being misunderstood. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to Dr.Greenfield's question, I would have to say that gender identity has to be identified before assuring self identity. Although it is very hard to seperate the two, as it all goes in hand in hand in my opinion. Gender and racial identity is a large part of who you are from the day you are born. With out knowing and understanding this part of you, you can't possibly know your self identity.
ReplyDeleteThe reading really showed me how man are "suppose" to be to society. Society has set these standards for men that are no longer playing a role in society. Not all men are breadwinners or shows no emotions. I believe you do have to know your self before you can put a label on your self. Not saying your less of a man for crying or not playing sports. But everyone should know themselves more than society do. Our identity has been taken and we (society) have let OTHERS tell us who we are. This is a issue for all races blacks,whites,Asians,etc. What is it going to take for people to stop letting labels make them?
ReplyDeleteOK,ladies, you've all made good points. I believe that gender identity begins at birth. When one has a child the first thing people want to know is if it's a boy or girl.Our society had predisposed us to the way we should relate to a male or female child. We buy blue clothing for boys and pink for girls, simple because "society" says that's the "norm". So what's wrong w/a boy wearing pink and a girl wearing blue? Does wearing these colors change their gender? I dare say no, to often parents play into this game, but the gender of their child remains the same,their gender identity, as with racial identity, began at birth regardless of the clothes they wear.
ReplyDeleteAgain society is playing too much of a part in who or what we are, and how we should live. According to the bible day one there was a significant difference for a sole purpose,but it wasn't until man stuck his or her nose in did everything change. GREEN it's a Blog, no harm meant or intended.
ReplyDeleteBeing that gender is what you prefer as a person, I strongly believe that finding your self as a person should come first. Finding yourself is very signifcant when it comes to your self identity. Once you find your self identity it becomes very easy to get the gender identity up to par. Gender indentity has to be found based on the something within yourself. That's when labeling come in to play.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you ben, when it comes to race and rational identity. Identity is something that is ongoing because it may change with your personality and where you are placed. It all depends on who you are and how strongly you believe in your identity. yes, the values matters first before anything.
ReplyDeleteI think that you need to know yourself before constructing a "true" sense of male identity.What I mean by this is for anyone to know themselves they must work at it. I also agree with a comment that I read above that talked about knowing yourself begins in the adolescent stages. You are taught at a very young age how you are suppose to act. Its you that must take the proper steps in order to critique them so that you can make them your own and become your own person.
ReplyDeleteIt is very important to know yourself before you become a man. You need to know who and what you are because if you do not know you how can you possibly relate to others. Becoming a man is a process in which you stop doing childess things and become mature. Some boys never grow up and except reponsiblity.
ReplyDeleteI had a very long blog and somehow I lost it. Anyway sometimes I think males or confused about manhood. Being a man is more than making badies.
"BADIES" LOL I AGREE WITH BYNUM THO BECOMING A MAN IS A PROCESS IN WHICH BOYS LEARN TO BECOME MATURE; I BELIEVE THAT "SELF IDENTITY" AND "GENDER IDENTITY" GO HAND IN HAND WHEN MALES ARE MATURING, I DONT BELEIVE BOYS HAVE A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF "SOCIETYS MALE" WHILE CHOOSING ROLE MODELS BUT I DO BELEIVE THAT GROWTH AND CHANGE HELP CREATE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR SELF IDENTITIY TO INUMERATE. NOT KNOWING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MAN GROWING UP IS ONE THING BUT CONSTRUCTING A FALSE SELF AND THINKING THAT IT MALE INCLINATION IS ANOTHER
ReplyDeleteI believe gender identity is something that is learned,starting at an early age.I feel that one has to be comfortable within him or herself to be comfortable with his or her gender.
ReplyDeleteTo whom it may concern: my father use to say, all the time to my mother, “ no mata how old u grow, u will neva grow 2 b a man.” wen I fell of my bike, wen I got into fights, etc I was taught 2 b tuff, wen things were broke around the house I was encouraged to take initiative to fix things on my own. I was taught work ethic, yard work, washing dishes etc. but y ..? well im glad u asked .. Da reason y boys are raised the way that we are is because as men we will encounter all type of things in life. In life its not about wt happens to the individual but about how the individual responds to what has happened.
ReplyDeleteAn example my dad used all da tyme, was about how he was n high school walken his gf home from school wen some random guy sexual assaulted his gf right n front of him. Imagine ladies if u were wit ur bf or husband and sumone sexual assaulted you in front of him, wt wood u do? Or a beta ?usettion Wood b which man wood u want.. The one that was raised to be sensitive and emotional to run from a fight to b meek. Or the traditional man, hard, masculine..wt happen to the term ruff neck lol ….to respond to Watson, u have to no ur gender b4 u no ur identity..and identity is shaped by society. Everyone is a product of there environment….glah
To Mangle, I agree, you must first know your gender BEFORE you can form an identity. One's personal identity is shaped due to life experiences and events. As mentioned before, society influences one's gender.
ReplyDeletei agree with crystal...self identity is learned, and if you ask me ill say it starts from the type of caste family a person was born into. you have people who are born under certain rules that must be followed. some of these rules that are being followed by for example a young child, never realize that they are following such rules, it is just part of
ReplyDeletethere culture. let me be more clear on what i am trying to say...i lived in the projects all my life, for years and still i have been following this "street code" and did not notice that i was doing such things until 5 days ago..things such as, not telling on a person who committed a crime, which in the street is called (snitching), things like when a person looks at me and feeling threaten by just eye contact alone and reacting in such angry way, learning how to fight from watching my uncles fight when i was a little kid, or just always having to be this manly guy, etc, there is much more, but this self identity of having street smarts is nothing but a cultural adaptation that i gained from birth now, the "street code" is the rules i have been following in order to gain this respect that i have now. respect as of not being bothered any where i go because i learned how to establish the ( dont even try it attitude) for what reason? if i have not established this type of identity, and i was to be bothered by a person or persons, this would result into violent behavior. so self identity has you can see depends the the type of caste family being born into.