Is the word man, restricted just to the representation of the male gender and woman to the female gender or is there any evidence of differentiation between the two major human species? Primarily there are mixed notions about the use of the word sex and gender to distinguish men and women. Sex is the genetic demarcation of male and female whereas gender is a range of anatomical, psychological and behavioral characteristics distinctive between masculinity and femininity. Today, however, as males and females, we expect things, of each other which our ancestors would never have expected (Lofas, MacMillan, 1995).
Men symbolize masculinity and women, femininity.
Because masculinity stands for a society in which men are supposed to be assertive, tough and focused on material success; women are supposed to be more modest, tender and concerned with quality of life (Hofstede, 1998). What is femininity? Most of Koreans believe femininity is being a homemaker. The highest order of differentiating femininity is that a woman can give birth and is the caretaker of the social ethics of the house. The woman is expected to have all the good virtues of being caring, patient and sacrificing. And the man requires being strict, commanding and should be able to hide their emotions. Men are considered superior to women. One paradoxical aspect of the belief that women are inferior is that they are often seen as nicer, more morally upright, human beings (Archer, Lloyd, 2002). Gender inequality is a culture and in some cases a religious matter. I am Korean, and Korea is part of the Confucian culture that perceives a conservative idea about the female gender. With the modernization set many women demand the right to equality with men. Also the demarcation line between men and women seems to be imperceptible with the advent of transgender, homosexuals and bisexuals.
Enthymeme: Men symbolize masculinity and women, femininity because masculinity indicates the physical strength and mental steadfastness in men and femininity represents the beauty, compassion, sensitivity and adaptability in women.
These traits and clear differences are the reason for most of the harmony into families. Though women have been given an equality status, it has not deterred their femininity and has excelled in fitting to all the domestic roles like mother, daughter and wife to all the high profile roles of officer, entrepreneur as well the holding of political power.
Works Cited
Lofas, Jeannette., MacMillan, Joan (1995). He’s OK She’s OK: Honoring the differences
between men and women, Tzedakah Publications.
Archer, John., Lloyd, Barbara (2002). Sex and Gender, Cambridge University Press.
Hofstede, Geert., and associates (1998). Masculinity and Femininity: The taboo dimension of
National Cultures, Sage Publications, Inc.
