By?Mouhcine El-hajjami
Morocco World News
Fez, June 26, 2013
From a grammatical perspective, gender refers to the nouns that are classified as masculine, feminine or neuter. This definition was first introduced by the two pioneers of Greek philosophy named Aristotle, and Protagoras, since words in classical languages were laden with masculine and feminine qualities. In fact, the term gender is not confined etymologically to this definition, yet the word comes to define itself within a variety of other linguistic contexts. For instance, in Middle English, gender comes from the Latin ?genus? to signify a kind, sort, or type as it was also used in Greek language to imply ?gen? which is used as an equivalent to the word to produce.[1]
The concept of gender in cultural studies approach is defined in association with the socially-constructed functions whereby men and women are characterized. According to the international organization of food and agriculture (FAO), it is argued that gender is not determined biologically as it is the case with sex; however it is socially reshaped and molded through the process of socialization. More significantly, gender?s subjective is not aimed at considering or prioritizing one sex over the other, its main concern is devoted to the study of the relationship existing between female and male in society.[2]
In his book entitled Sociology, the British professor and contemporary sociologist named Anthony Giddens defines gender within a sociological parameter. For him, gender is attributed to the individual?s cultural attitudes together with the interpretations about the behavioral qualities seen appropriate to each sex. Giddens also emphasizes that the study of gender relations has gained a broad interest along with the area of sociology for refuting the argument that this concept should reconsider the physical attributes of men and women. Thus, to back up his argument, Giddens goes on saying: ?the distinction between sex and gender is fundamental, since many differences between males and females are not biological in origin?. So, apparently the quote makes it clear by locating the dividing line between gender and sex.[3]
It has been found obvious to differentiate between sex and gender as two separate concepts. To begin with, the word sex is derived from Middle English to mean ?section? and in Latin, the term means number ?six?.[4] Scientifically, sex refers mainly to the biological and physical characteristics that identify men as males and women as females. For this reason, the sexual identity of each sex in lone includes a set of visible distinctions; some of them are so important, such as: the physical anatomy, ?genitals?, facial features hair, body structure and composition.? Based on this evidence, sex seems to exclude the influence of culture and society in constructing its nature. Hence, one can understand that sex, as opposed to gender is originally a biological-construct and has nothing to do with the social variables.[5]
To clarify it more, G. Anthony tries to explain in a quote taken from his book Sociology, the scientific origins of sex differences by stating:
Our sex, and much of our biological makeup, is a result of genes contributed by our father?s sperm cell and our mother?s eggs cell at conception that is at the formation of a new cell. All this genetic material is contained in twenty three pairs of chromosomes which reside in that new cell. The sperm and egg each contribute genetic information to one member of each pair.[6]
In the light of this quote, it can be deduced that it is made clear to realize sex differences. As Giddens has shown, the very differences that control and constitute the sexual identity of both sexes are of biological origins. As a matter of fact, the sociologist tends to consider the intervention of human genes and their role in forming which sex one is going to take before birth.
Aspects of sex in comparison to those associated with gender do not differ among individuals in world societies. This is due to the fact that human physical structure is a shared property and quality; whereas, it?s agreed that gender roles differ considerably from one community to another. As an instance, women in United States of America are less paid than their male counterparts even if they have the same job, and in most parts of the world women undertake domestic tasks much more than the men who are mostly supposed to work outdoor.[7]
[3] Anthony Giddens. Sociology, 1989, p?: 161
[4] Medicalnewstoday.com.The difference between sex and gender. Retrieved on January 8th 2012
[5] Nichola-morine.suite 101.com. What-is-the-difference between sex and gender. Retrieved on January 8th 2012
[6] Anthony Giddens. Sociology, 1989, p?:162
[7] Www.WHO.com/ what is gender?. (Retrieved on January 8th 2011).
El-hajjami Mouhcine is a Moroccan-born cultural studies master student and a B.A holder from Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah Unviversity: School of Arts and Humanities Fez Morocco 2012. El-hajjami is the author of ?Man between Health and Sickness? book 2011, and ? Signs of Gender Clash Representation in Folktales? book 2012; El-hajjami works also as a tutor of English,a social activist, a translator, and a founding member at the Moroccan Center of Social Enterpreneurship, and the Yamanda Center for Cultural Innovation.
Source: http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2013/06/95646/understanding-gender-and-sex-etymology/
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