Part one

Read the article The ‘Pink vs Blue’ Gender Myth (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. and watch the video Gender Identity. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.After reviewing these resources regarding what it means that gender is a social construct, address the following questions:

• What does it mean when sociologists argue that gender is socially constructed?
• What is an example of a difference in men and women’s behavior that you feel is rooted in biology rather than socially social constructed? Be sure to provide evidence from this week’s readings and/or external research to support your argument that this behavior is rooted in biology and is not socially constructed.

Which example from the resources provided did you find most compelling in building your knowledge of social construction? Summarize the example and explain why you found it most useful. For more information on how to effectively summarize visit the Ashford Writing Center’s Guidelines for Summarizing Sources (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references.

Part two

All societies throughout time have divided their population by sex. The roles, norms, and expectations for those sexes comprise gender. However, not all societies today recognize only two genders. Watch the following videos that explore three different societies where more than two sexes/genders are recognized.

• Albianian Sworn Virgins (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
• Five Genders? (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
• India Matters: The Third Gender (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

After reviewing these videos, please address the questions below.

• The video highlights the Hijras, or third sex, in India. How would a Hijra person be categorized here in the United States – as male or female? Explain your answer by describing the criteria you used to select either male or female and not the other.
• Even though Indian society recognizes the Hijras as a third sex, they are marginalized and discriminated against in society. In some modern Indonesian villages, on the other hand, five genders are recognized and those that transcend traditional sexes are celebrate, and even worshiped. Explain how you could use these two examples as evidence that gender is socially constructed? Use evidence from the video to back up your answer.

Using the Albanian “sworn virgins" as an example, describe how social context (the historical period and/or cultural norms) can lead to the creation of more than two genders.

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references.