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Mayra Moran
English 114A
Professor Corri Ditch
6 December 2014
XX vs. XY

The social construction of gender is the ideology that society defines and develops the
certain ways men and women must act and look. Every day each individual takes part in the
social construction unknowingly; through the way a person talks, acts, and dresses. Most gender
norms and social expectations are based of biological sex differences and this has consequences
that possibly restrict the type of activities that men and women are capable of doing in Western
society. The readings, Rethinking Womens Biology, by Ruth Hubbard and From Women,
Men, and Society, by Claire Renzetti and Daniel Curran, share the common idea the society
constructs gender roles based off biological sex differences. This is a common idea that I have
seen through personal experiences growing up as a girl in my Hispanic culture. By comparing
the different physical appearances and social roles men and women have, Hubbard, Renzetti, and
Curran support how socially constructing gender roles based of sex potentially limit the activities
men and women are able to participate in, in western society.
The idea that sex is biological is true, human beings are born biologically male or female
due to the fact males have an XY chromosome and women have an XX chromosome pair. Most
people in American society however, are often brought up to believe that human beings that are
born females must grow to be feminine and males to be masculine; but this is not necessarily
true. The concept of what American society thinks men and women should be like is not
included in the biological terms for men and women, instead it is a socially constructed

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stereotype that can lead to certain consequences. Judith Lorber says in the article, Night to His
Day, A sex category becomes a gender status through naming, dress, and the use of gender
markers (Lorber 20). Whether a human being is born a male or female should not have to
determine a persons clothing, activities, and education in future but because all these
characteristics serve as gender markers to indicate femininity or masculinity; people are limited
to perform the activates that fit as normal based off their sex.
In Ruth Hubbards essay, Rethinking Womens Biology, Hubbard Points out how
societys interpretation of what is normal and not normal for men and women to do is based off
sex differences. The authors purpose is to point out that biological sex differences tend to
organize society in a stereotypical way, in order so that her audience can realize that changes in
the social construction can only be made once people of both sexes freely choose to contribute to
social activities of their preference regardless of the rejection they may receive from society.
Hubbard supports her claim using examples where stereotypes of womens physical appearances
such as height restrict the type of activities women can participate in. In her examples Hubbard
explains how expected feminine feature in a women, such as being shorter than most men or
weighing a certain weight are part of the variables that social construct the idea of a feminine
women.
According to Hubbard, Women and men physically are not very different, yet
American society seems to think there is evidential physical differences between men and
women based of sex categories (Hubbard 47). Generalized comments constructed through men
and womens physical characteristics socially construct the ideal appearances for men and
women as well as unintentionally limit the standards of what they could possibly be. Hubbard
points out a common generalized comment, men are taller than women, which realistically is

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not true; and uses it as an example of how these comments help make sure men and females
contribute to the proper gender role. She examines this idea more closely with the example,
female swimming champions, who because of their intense, early training tend to menstruate
later that most girls, tend also to be taller that average girls( Hubbard 48), which implies that
factors that possibly delay womens menstrual cycle also potentially determine womens average
height. Ironically playing sports could be a potential reason for why boys seem to be taller than
girls on average, but in American society girls arent normally encouraged to play sports at a
young age and therefore this socially constructed stereotype is created through sex differences.
Not only do generalized physical differences between men and women set standards for what
feminine and masculine markers should be like, but they also cause those who dont fit the
standards to feel insecure or abnormal. It is possible for young women taller than most girls to
feel insecure because their appearance does not fit the socially constructed standard.
Based off sex differences social roles are usually assigned to children from the moment
they are born or even before. Boys are expected to grow to be dominant muscular men who will
one day be astronauts or firefighters, whereas girls are expected to be passive women who might
someday be mothers (Kolker and Burke, 1992). It is possible that most adults create social roles
for children unintentionally, but because American society tends to reinforce individuals to these
roles, this could potentially limit childrens strive to obtain occupations titles outside their gender
roles expectations. Renzetti and Curran illustrate this idea with the following quote, what they
may do, as what they can do, is largely determined and limited by their sex, suggesting
biological sex differences limit the types of activities people are able to participate in (Renzetti
and Curran, 83). The author s purpose is to point out that assigning gender roles to young

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children based off sex is a social exercise that limits their strive to obtain gender roles beyond
the social construction.
According to Renzetti and Curran there is research that shows, parents do have different
expectations of their babies and treat them differently, simply on the basis of sex (Renzetti and
Curran, 76). This could imply that social role expectations and physical features as Hubbard
pointed out in, Rethinking Womens Biology, could be assigned or directed towards a certain
direction in an early stage in life based on sex. Renzetti and Curran support this idea by showing
how toys used at an early age represent potential future social roles. The authors say, Toys for
boys tend to encourage age exploration manipulation, invention, construction, competition, and
aggression. In contrast, girls toys typically rat high on manipulability, but also creativity,
nurturance, and attractiveness (Renzetti and Curran, 82). This could be part of the reason why
most male and females stick to the socially constructed gender roles in American society.
After reading both articles I definitely noticed some of these ideas practiced in my own
culture. Growing up my family had their own definition of what a women should look and act
like. My grandma and aunts always wanted me to behave and look a certain way so I would one
grow up to be this women they always envisioned. I always had to keep my body structure a
certain way, restrain myself from biting my nails, and wear feminine clothing. I know realize that
perhaps my family was just trying to help me avoid the ridicules and rejection society would put
on for looking a different way. Now that I am aware of the pressure from society to become
men and women; I want to apply some changes in my life. Next time I see someone
transgressing against the norm I want to support it versus ridicule it.
As Renzetti and Curran quoted Kolker and Burke, The knowledge of sex implies more
than chromosomal or anatomical differences. It implies gender, and with it images of personality

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and social role expectations (1992, 12-13). Rethinking Womens Biology, From Women,
Men, and Society, and personal experiences in my culture demonstrate how assigning gender
norms based of sex differences versus personal abilities can limit the activities men and women
are able to participate in. American Society should be aware of this important issue and should
transgress slowly against these expectations. Everyone within a community is accountable to aim
towards social change and transgression in a society.

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Works Cited
Hubbard, Ruth. "Rethinking Women's Biology. Composing Gender. Groner, Rachel, and John
F. O' Hara. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2013. Print.
Lorber, Judith. "Night to His Day": The Social Construction of Gender. Composing Gender.
Groner, Rachel, and John F. O' Hara. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2013. Print.
Kolker, A., & Burke, B.M. (1992). Sex preference and sex selection: Attitudes of prenatal
diagnosis clients. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Sociological
Association, Pittsburgh, PA.
Renzetti, Claire. & Curran, Daniel. From Women, Men, and Society. Composing Gender.
Groner, Rachel, and John F. O Hara, Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2013. Print.