IDENTITY

Gender Identity in Sociological Perspective

Gender Identity in Sociological Perspective

Introduction to Gender Identity

The personal conception of oneself as male or female is known as gender identity. The outward manifestation of personality related to the concept of gender role reflects the gender identity of oneself. The identification of both gender role and gender identity is identified on different essentials. The self identification of one through the combination of inherent and extrinsic factor helps one identify his gender identity. The gender role of an individual can be identified through its appearance and behavior the two most observable factor of the society.

In English language the term gender is often interchanged with the terminology sex. While in the technical and scientific sense these two terms are not synonymous. Hence, the term gender is often used to define the psychophysiology processes involved in social role and identity. The Latin extracted word 'gender' is thus used by an individual to identify one's own identity as female, male or intersex. In addition to this social identity, gender identity is often based on personal experiences, social interactions, psychological setting, public persona and legal status (Neil, 2006, p.1).

Relationship of Gender Identity & Society

In our society gender is all around us. The gender identity of an individual from the moment of their birth is affected by community, religion, culture, peers, and media. These influences make an individual learn and interact within a society in a certain manner. In other words, gender of an individual is closely monitored by the society. It is the basic influence of the society and personal preferences that make an individual choose certain behaviors and activities associated with their sex. Socially accepted gender identity is male and female (Balarajan, Gray and Mitchell, 2011, pp.116-123).Individuals of the society are accepted to exhibit their roles and expectation within this acceptance level. In addition to the socially accepted gender, our society is facing the challenge of gender diversity. This diversity recognizes the people who fall outside the commonly known gender acceptance forum and norms (Jessicam, 2012, p.1).

Gender Diversity

The phrase gender diversity recognizes those individual that fall outside the socially accepted gender identity such as male and female. The social and political context of an individual identity defines their sense of positioning themselves in the society. It is the right of every individual to become socially recognized and respected. In our society gender diversity is often recognized as transsexual, intersex, pansexual, pan- gendered, intergender and androgynous. There are people in the society who are comfortable with these terminologies of gender diversity while others are not. Many debates in the past have occurred emphasizing that this diversity is referred to a person's personal medical condition and does not require a proper terminology to be identified with it in the society (Balarajan, Gray and Mitchell, 2011, pp.116-123).

Key Issues and Challenges of Gender Diversity

In our society everybody has a right to have a gender identity. However, it is so unfortunate for some people who do not consistent any gender ...