Many people tend to closely tie biology and gender roles in society. However, psychologists say that the notion of gender roles cannot be considered either a biological or cultural issue. It is far more appropriate to consider gender roles to be a combination of natural and cultural characteristics. When discussing gender roles only from biological or only from cultural points of view, the picture may be wrong and misinterpreted.
It is critical to look at gender roles taking both explanations into account because they complement each other. The problem of using only biological or only cultural explanations when speaking about gender roles concerns the fact that natural and cultural peculiarities in human beings influence each other. However people often do not understand which behavioral patterns are related to biology and which ones to cultural development. For instance, the claim that women have superior verbal skills and men – visual-spatial skills is more about culture than about biology (Gender In Cross-Cultural Perspective 2). Many scientists are against the so-called “gendered brain” because a bigger or more active brain cannot be equated to a better brain (Gender In Cross-Cultural Perspective 2). Thus, it may be more convenient for society to justify the imposition of certain gender roles on men and women using biology-related arguments, which, in reality, are more related to culture and social development.
That is why many people still consider biological factors to be the reason for certain behavioral patterns in male and female behavior pointing out that male and female animals have similar behavioral patterns. At the same time, those who study animals and their compartment state that if interpreted correctly, biology as a science can help people understand different gender roles better (Zuk 12). It is crucial for both men and women since both of them faces the impositions of certain social and gender roles they may be not eager to play (Kimmel). The course readings on the connection between biology and gender roles help me see which behavioral patterns may be considered typically natural and which are culturally developed.
Works Cited
Gender In Cross-Cultural Perspective. Pearson, 2012.
Kimmel, Michael. “Why Gender Equality Is Good for Everyone – Men Included”TED, 2015. Web.
Zuk, Marlene. Animal Models and Gender. Web.