A N T H R O P O LO GY & M E

GENDER, IDENTITY & CULTURE

IDENTITY: WHAT IS IT?

Sex• Generally the

biological characteristic such as: • XX or XY chromosomes,• genitals• other physical

characteristics determined by a person’s genes

Gender• An individuals sense of

being male or female• Defined by a person’s

culture, not just biology.

ONTARIO HUMAN RIGHTS CODE

• A person’s gender identity is different from their sexual orientation, which is also protected under the OHRC.• People’s gender

identity may be different from their birth-assigned sex, and may include:

GENDER & IDENTITYTransgender:• People whose life

experience includes existing in more than one gender. • This may include people

who identify as transsexual, and people who describe themselves as being on a “gender spectrum” or as living outside the categories of “man” or “woman.”

GENDER & IDENTITY

• Intersex: • People who are not

easily classified as “male” or “female,” based on their physical characteristics at birth or after puberty. • This word replaces the

inappropriate term “hermaphrodite.”

GENDER & IDENTITYTranssexual: • People who were identified

at birth as one sex, but who identify themselves differently.• They may seek or undergo

one or more medical treatments to align their bodies with their internally felt identity, such as hormone therapy, sex-reassignment surgery or other procedures.

CULTURAL VARIETY

• Human societies vary in: • How male and

females perceive each other.

• How they define what it means to be a man or woman.

• What roles they view as appropriate for men and women.

IDEAL WOMAN?• Attractive• Intelligent• Successful• Witty• Humour• Athletic• Model• Nurturing• Physically fit• Fertility• Health• Artistic• Heterosexual?• Race

IDEAL MAN?• Successful• Attractive• Tall• Muscular• Wealthy• Occupation• Intelligent• Witty/humour• Sensitive• Protective• Artistic• Healthy• Heterosexual?• Race?

GENDER IS CULTURALLY CONSTRUCTED

• The symbols associated with gender, such as clothing• The classification of

what is inherently male or female• The relative values of

the genders• Behaviour pattern,

including what is appropriate for each gender

WHAT ARE THE CULTURAL EXPECTATIONS OF WOMEN IN CANADIAN SOCIETY?

FEMININITY?

FEMININITY?

FEMININITY?

MALE IDENTITY AND CULTURE

Identity is socially constructed What it means to be a man or

woman varies from culture to culture

Identity is shaped by historical context and the economic development of the society

Gender roles are influenced by social and cultural norms, expectations and ideas

Childcare Men are taking increasingly more

responsible for child care within families

80% of men take some form of leave at birth of a child

DEFINING MASCULINITY

• What is masculine?• How is masculinity

culturally constructed in Canadian society?• What are some of the

rules that boys learn to follow in order to be accepted as men?• How are these rules

changing?

MASCULINITY?

MASCULINITY?

MASCULINITY

MASCULINITY?