Cultural Constructions: Gender and Marriage/Relationship
Monica Abrego
Anthropology 101-1004
Mrs. Erin Stiles
10 December 2013 Cultural Constructions: Gender and Marriage/Relationship In many different countries gender and marriages can be totally different from each other, including race. That the cultural construction can be influenced and these culture have beliefs on a certain thing. We are socially separated in groups, such as norms, beliefs, values, and behaviors. Although some may not have really thought of it there is more than one gender and different ways to get married, and different ways to identify race. Cultures have different ideas about how males and females work, they vary the importance of the behaviors on what they expect from females and males. Cultures can separate gender in a scientific way (biologically) by the x and y sex chromosomes or whether you have a vaginal or genital area. Cultures form their own opinion and beliefs about the difference in the gender. For example, “In Native America cultures, it does not appear to be genitals or sexual potency that defines masculine and feminine, but mainly occupation.”(Nanda, 142). In the US man is supposed to be manly and bring home the money and women are only supposed to clean and cook. This can also be referred to as a social norms, which means that it is an appropriate or expected behavior. In India a person can be born a male but later on have chosen to have an operation that can remove their penis. They are known to be called hijras and in India it is a rite of passage. “Cultural definition of hijars as neither men nor women and the experienced gender identity of many hijars as women.” (Nanda, xix). Hijars are also known to be a third gender. In the US having this type of gender is not part of the social norms. Conflict can arise from performing this because some people in America don’t find this to be an appropriate way of living. Hijars already do deal with conflict in their own
Anthropology 101-1004
Mrs. Erin Stiles
10 December 2013 Cultural Constructions: Gender and Marriage/Relationship In many different countries gender and marriages can be totally different from each other, including race. That the cultural construction can be influenced and these culture have beliefs on a certain thing. We are socially separated in groups, such as norms, beliefs, values, and behaviors. Although some may not have really thought of it there is more than one gender and different ways to get married, and different ways to identify race. Cultures have different ideas about how males and females work, they vary the importance of the behaviors on what they expect from females and males. Cultures can separate gender in a scientific way (biologically) by the x and y sex chromosomes or whether you have a vaginal or genital area. Cultures form their own opinion and beliefs about the difference in the gender. For example, “In Native America cultures, it does not appear to be genitals or sexual potency that defines masculine and feminine, but mainly occupation.”(Nanda, 142). In the US man is supposed to be manly and bring home the money and women are only supposed to clean and cook. This can also be referred to as a social norms, which means that it is an appropriate or expected behavior. In India a person can be born a male but later on have chosen to have an operation that can remove their penis. They are known to be called hijras and in India it is a rite of passage. “Cultural definition of hijars as neither men nor women and the experienced gender identity of many hijars as women.” (Nanda, xix). Hijars are also known to be a third gender. In the US having this type of gender is not part of the social norms. Conflict can arise from performing this because some people in America don’t find this to be an appropriate way of living. Hijars already do deal with conflict in their own