Sex and gender are the particular notions which should not be confused. Sex “marks the distinction between women and men as result of the fundamental biological, physical and genetic differences between them” (Narasaiah 37), while gender roles are “set by convention and other social, economic, political and cultural forces” (Narasaiah 37). Therefore, it is possible to conclude that sex is the item which cannot be chosen as people are born with some particular signs which maybe deleted by means of surgeon operations, but it is not preferable. Gender is more flexible item which maybe changed depending on the personal will and social norms. The main idea of the paper is to consider the difference of sex and gender on the basis of the case of David Reimer.
Considering the situation with David Reimer, it is possible to say that a person was offered to live with another sex, but the gender roles in the society could not be changed. Being a girl up to 9 years, David Reimer felt some problems, being “she” he was unable to lead a normal life. However, it is not that easy to shift from one gender to another especially when issue is about changing the sex. Reading the story about David Reimer in the CBC News Online (n.p.), it was obvious that a person felt some problems, it was obvious David Reimer, being a girl experienced some problems which could not be explained.
David Reimer’s father decided to tell the truth? Was he right? It is impossible to answer this question. Everything was done. David Reimer appeared in the situation when he could not find his gender role and social status. He could not even say his sexual orientation as being grown up as a girl with the direction at being with boys David Reimer had to change his attitude to the whole world, but he could no. It was really difficult for him to live even after having understood his male sex and trying to be of the male gender. The reasons of his death are called the inability to live without a twin brother, but this is not the real reason as the suicide. The inability to find out the gender role, people are unable to live in the society.
As for me, I suppose that in the modern world with too much prejudice and the inability of others to understand some gender roles of people sex reassignment of children is inadmissible (Macionis and Gerber 125). Such cases are possible in the world free from prejudice, but considering the political and financial impact of the social situation in the world, the indifference and normal attitude to sex and gender of people will always play an important role. Those children who are submitted to the practice of sex reassignment of children should be carefully treated. The work should be done with professional psychologists.
Thus, it is important to state that the practice of sex reassignment of children is not that spread in our society and it should not be spread as people are not ready for this. Gender roles and sex are very important for them and the chances to lead a normal life with the changed of at least one of the factors is difficult. Even people with different orientation are not accepted in this society, people with changed gender roles. There is nothing to say about the practice of sex reassignment of children.
Works Cited
Narasaiah, Mark Lee. Population and cities. New York: Discovery Publishing House, 2006. Print.
Macionis, John J. and Linda Marie Gerber. Sociology. Stamford: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009. Print.
CBC News Online. “David Reimer the boy who lived as a girl.” CBC News, 2004. Web.