Nature Nurture Debate in Gender Development Essay Example

the nature-nurture debate. If a behavior is a product of human nature, then it should occur across the world regardless of experience and upbringing. For example, sleeping is a natural behavior and is therefore universal. Buss’s research indicates that sex-based mate preferences are also universal and so must be determined by nature.

There are problems with the nature argument. How does nature explain those cases where a person does not adopt the gender role expected of their sex even when there are no genetic abnormalities? In addition, if males and females are naturally different, then how do we explain the finding that both sexes are becoming more similar as gender roles become more androgynous? There is also a body of evidence to show that males and females have different roles in different societies.

The nurture side of the argument states that gender is essentially a product of socialization. It is dependent on environmental experiences. Family upbringing and society’s expectations would therefore play a key role in a person’s gender. This would mean, of course that most boys learn to behave in a masculine way and mot girls learn to behave in feminine ways.

The nurture argument can explain why some people adopt the gender role not expected of their sex. In theory, a feminine boy would have had a set of experiences which have led him to acquire a different gender role from most boys. If gender roles are nurtured, it also explains why an individual’s gender may change over time as anything that is learnt can be unlearnt and replaced by a new set of behaviours.

The nurture argument can also explain cultural variations in gender-related behavior. What

distinguishes one culture from another is the fact that they have their own set of beliefs, values and norms. There is evidence that people’s behavior is influenced by the standards and expectations of their society. Gender is a behavior and so is also open to this kind of influence.

The basic assumption of the nurture argument is that babies are born without a gender identity. In theory, a baby boy could be raised as a girl and vice versa. Of course, it would be unethical to put this theory to the test experimentally. However, there are real life cases where children have been raised as the opposite sex which has given psychologists useful insights into the origins of gender.

In one example, a new born girl had been identified as a boy because her genitals appeared male due to exposure to male hormones in the womb. At age three, when the child’s true biological se became apparent, it was decided to continue to raise him as a boy. This was because he already had a firm masculine identity. The “boy” had surgery to make his genitals more male and was given hormone treatment during puberty. As an adolescent, he associated with other males and was sexually attracted to females suggesting the role of nurture was more significant in his gender identity.

To conclude, there is evidence to support both the role of nature and nurture in gender development. Many psychologist at this time adopt an interactionist approach to explaining gender, and recognize that gender is a product of both biology and environmental experiences.