Activity NO. 1
GEE2: Gender and Society
1st Semester, A.Y. 2024-2025
NAME: GLADY VELLE C. BALANAG
SECTION: BSME-3B
The question whether an individual becomes man or woman based solely on
their primary and secondary sexes is complex and multifaced issue that intersects
various domains, including biology, sociology, psychology and philosophy. It is not
possible to determine a person's identity as a man or woman only by their primary
and secondary sexual traits. Although physical characteristics like body hair and
breast development, as well as reproductive organs, are frequently used to
determine a child's gender at birth yet they do not fully convey the complexities of
gender identity. Gender is a more comprehensive term that encompasses personal,
cultural, and social aspects.
The traditional belief that biological sex and gender are synonymous is being
questioned more and more in many nations. People's perceptions of themselves
and how they desire to be identified—their gender identity—may not always
coincide with their physical characteristics. And someone born with a feminine
given gender may identify as male, and vice versa. Furthermore, some people
identify as non-binary or genderqueer, which is a category that defies the binary
distinctions between man and woman.
In conclusion, while main and secondary sex traits influence a person's
biological sex, gender is not determined by them. The contrast between gender
identity and biological sex underscores the need of acknowledging personal self-
identification and the multiplicity of human experiences that extend beyond
physical characteristics.
1. Does a person become a man or woman based on her/his primary and
secondary sexes? Why?
