Gender In Native American Culture

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There is a biological difference between boys and girls. There are also social constructions involved. Sex makes you female or male by your biological characteristics. Gender is generally learned from our society. It is behaviors and traits and based on appropriateness for our sex, according to our society. Socially constructed throughout our lives, gender is also a result of sociocultural influences.
Gender socialization begins at birth. Some cultures have a third or fourth gender established. Samoa has the Fa 'afafine, who take on female behaviors and roles, but are biologically male. In Native American cultures, they have individuals who were a different kind of gender, were called “two spirits,” because they dress like a man but act like …show more content…

I do not think that learning specific roles for boys and girls today would be good for anyone. It would leave children no room for growth in themselves. Everyone would be kind of like robots. Following their specific roles. Some say that dangerous consequences of stereotyping can make a person never reach their full well-being and potential (Srichand, n.d.).
Men in our culture are looked at for being the muscle, stable, strong, and an aggressive leader. Women in our culture are supposed to be emotional, sensitive, gentle, warm, nurturing, kind, and polite followers. We will always find women and men in our culture that are the exact opposite of what is considered normal or they may be a mix of both.
We have women and men that do not fit into the neat little box of male or female. The may look one or the other, but may not feel that way inside (Srichand, n.d.). Anatomically, women and men have less differences. Wants, dreams, desires, and fears are wanted by all people, women or men.
I was a tomboy growing up and for the most part I still am. I never liked the dresses or the lace, but I loved going deep sea fishing all the time and riding motorcycles with the neighborhood boys. I am a happy, married mother of three, completely opposite daughters. I have a girly-girl, a tomboy and a sporty, athletic girl, in today’s

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