SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY IN APPLIED
CONTEXT
SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT
TOPIC-
GENDER
EFFORTS BY:
NAME ROLL NO.
APOORVA SETHI PSY/22/12
AVNEET KAUR PSY/22/39
ALHJIT KAUR MALHOTRA PSY/22/46
TANISHA TIWARI PSY/22/49
GENDER & RELATED TERMS
Gender in simplest terms means the act of being a girl or a boy .This includes
norms, behaviors and roles associated with being a woman, man, girl or boy, as
well as relationships with each other. As a social construct, gender varies from
society to society and can change over time.
Gender, according to Butler, is by no means tied to material bodily facts but is
solely and completely a social construction, a fiction, and one that, therefore, is
open to change and contestation. Because there is neither an 'essence' that gender
expresses or externalizes nor an objective ideal to which gender aspires; because
gender is not a fact, the various acts of gender creates the idea of gender, and
without those acts, there would be no gender at all.
Sex refers to the physical differences between people who are male, female, or
intersex. A person typically has their sex assigned at birth based on physiological
characteristics, including their genitalia and chromosome composition. The factors
that determine our assigned sex begin as early as fertilization. Most people are
assigned male or female, and this is what’s put on their birth certificates. When
someone’s sexual and reproductive anatomy doesn’t seem to fit the typical
definitions of female or male, they may be described as intersex.
Sex and gender are often used interchangeably. Sex is about biology, anatomy, and
chromosomes. Gender is society’s set of expectations, standards, and
characteristics about how men and women are supposed to act. Your gender
identity is how you feel inside and how you express those feelings. Clothing,
appearance, and behaviors can all be ways to express your gender identity. People
may or may not identify with genders that are same as their natal sex or with none
at all. Also Sex isn't same as sexual Orientation.
Sexual Orientation is about who you feel attracted to and sex simply about your
anatomy. Sexuality is often confused with sex, but it covers more than that.
Sexuality is a term for someone's behavior, attraction and identity, as well as their
likes, dislikes pleasures, fantasies, intimacies, preferences and more. It's complex
and has many layers to it.
ORIGINS OF GENDER
In 1955, the controversial and innovative sexologist John Money first used the
term "gender" in a way that we all now take for granted: to describe a human
characteristic. Money's work broke new ground, opening a new field of research in
sexual science and giving currency to medical ideas about human sexuality. An
ardent advocate for sexual liberation, he became something of a fixture in the
popular imagination, giving expert testimony in court cases and being featured in
Life and Playboy magazines.
Terry Goldie seeks to cut through Money's talent for controversy and self-
promotion by digging into the substance of Money's theories and achievements. He
offers, for the first time, a balanced and probing textual analysis of this pioneering
scholar's writing, to assess Money's profound impact on the debates and research
on sexuality and gender that dominated the last half of the twentieth century.
Goldie reconsiders Money's work and influence, paying specific attention to his
work on intersex, trans-sexuality, homosexuality, pornography, and sexual
liberation. Through his analysis, Goldie recovers Money's brilliance and insight
from simplistic dismissals of his work due to his involvement in the tragic David
Reimer case, while never losing sight of his flaws.
GENDER HISTORY
Gender history is a sub-field of history and gender studies, which looks at the past
from the perspective of gender. It is in many ways, an outgrowth of women's
history. The discipline considers in what ways historical events and periodization
impact women differently from men.
As it turned out, the development of gender history enhanced women's social
history and shed new light on femininity. For the early modern period the histories
of sexuality, women's criminality, and prostitution were all restudied.
Although there was little debate that the majority of witches were women, the
localized studies-for instance those of Wolfgang Behringer and Alison Rowland-
found witches to be distributed along marital and age statuses in many cases. These
works also showed that witches could be integrated into the community for long
periods of time.
However, the "gendered" subjectivity an narratives of witches, as explored by
historians, as explored by historians like Lyndal Roper and Dianne Purkiss, found
in accuser's testimonies evidence of particularly "feminine" concerns such as those
of motherhood, the body, and female duty.
Women with such anxieties might project their sense of guilt onto others, who in
some cases became the accused. In the case of witchcraft, oddly enough, gender
turned historical analysis away from misogyny toward the conditions of femininity.
TRANSGENDER IDENTITY
Transgender individuals face numerous hurdles, largely due to the social stigma
surrounding their gender identity. This discrimination negatively affects their
mental well-being and often results in various forms of social exclusion and
discrimination.
Kerala, often referred to as "God's Own Country," made history in 2015 by
introducing a transgender policy. The state passed the Transgender Bill in an effort
to integrate transgender individuals into mainstream social life. However, despite
these progressive steps, discrimination, exclusion, suppression, and oppression
persist in various aspects of their lives.
Transgender individuals often suffer from the lack of continuity in their identity, a
lack of self-esteem, an overemphasis on their distinctiveness, and injustice at every
turn. Today, we aim to expose the suffering, discrimination, and marginalization
experienced by transgender individuals and offer insights into their everyday
challenges through the lens of sociology.
Gender equality, on the other hand, refers to providing everyone with equal
opportunities to realize their full human potential, regardless of gender. This
encompasses equal opportunities in social, economic, cultural, and political
aspects, as well as equal protection of human rights. Despite constitutional
guarantees of fundamental rights for all individuals, transgender people continue to
face a multitude of boundaries and obstacles.
We'll strive to raise awareness about gender issues, especially those affecting the
transgender community, and seek to break down the boundaries that have held
them back for far too long.
Some people who are transgender will experience.
Gender identity disorder, today, called gender dysphoria which refers to
psychological distress that results from an incongruence between one’s sex
assigned at birth and one’s gender identity. Though gender dysphoria often begins
in childhood, some people may not experience it until after puberty or much later.
In India, many transgender individuals often grapple with a profound sense of not
feeling free to lead the lives they deserve. The hurdles they face are multifaceted,
extending to employment and education.
Discrimination in the job market makes it exceedingly difficult for them to secure
stable employment, contributing to financial instability and poverty within the
community. Educational opportunities are also restricted, with many transgender
students facing discrimination and exclusion in schools and colleges.
The weight of societal pressure and the relentless taunts they endure further
compound their struggles. In their pursuit of authenticity and acceptance,
transgender individuals continue to fight against an uphill battle, striving to break
free from the confines of a society that often fails to provide them with the basic
rights and respect that they, like every individual, truly deserve.
CASE STUDIES
Certainly, one example of the challenges transgender individuals face in accessing
education and employment is the story of Gauri Sawant, a transgender activist in
India.
1. Gauri Sawant was forced to leave her family at a young age due to societal
rejection after coming out as a transgender woman. She faced immense difficulties
in securing an education and struggled to find stable employment. Discrimination
was a constant presence in her life, both in educational institutions and job
interviews. Despite her dedication and intelligence, the doors of opportunity were
often closed to her.
Gauri's experience highlights the systematic barriers that transgender individuals
encounter in India. Despite her remarkable resilience and determination, she was
denied the educational and professional opportunities that many take for granted.
Gauri Sawant's story is a stark reminder of the urgent need for policy changes and
societal transformation to ensure that transgender individuals have equal access to
education and employment, without fear of discrimination or exclusion.
2. The Journey of Manabi Bandopadhyay
Brief Story: Manabi Bandopadhyay made history by becoming the first openly
transgender college principal in India. Her journey includes facing discrimination
and stigma as a transgender woman and working hard to break down gender
barriers in the field of education.
Struggles: Manabi's struggles involved societal discrimination, rejection by her
family, and obstacles in her professional life. As a transgender woman, she had to
overcome prejudices and biases in a conservative society. Her appointment as a
college principal was a significant milestone in challenging stereotypes and
promoting transgender rights in the educational sector.
3. The Story of Rudrani Chettri
Brief Story: Rudrani Chettri is a transgender activist who has made her mark in
the Indian fashion and beauty industry. She is the founder of Mitr Trust, an
organization dedicated to providing support and resources for transgender
individuals. Her journey includes battling discrimination, stigmatization, and the
lack of opportunities for transgender people in the fashion world.
Struggles: Rudrani's struggles involved facing discrimination and exclusion in the
fashion and beauty industry, which has traditionally been unwelcoming to
transgender individuals. She founded Mitr Trust to provide a safe space and
support for transgender people, addressing the lack of opportunities and resources
for this marginalized community.
GENDER STEREOTYPES
Gender Schema Theory (GST), is based on the understanding that children learn
to understand gender from the society and culture in which they live through the
development of cognitive ‘schemas’ (Keenan, Evans, & Crowley, 2016).
Wingrave (2016) explains further how children aged 2-3 years start to identify
whether they belong to a male or female category, they then begin the gendering
process by categorizing the world around them accordingly: those who are the
same as them and those who are not. As well as children gendering their
understanding of the world, the child’s perceptual development also categorizes
behavior into gender; it is further suggested that by the age of 5 children have
developed firm beliefs on how girls and boys should behave (Freeman, 2007).
Freeman’s (2007) findings suggest that children felt that their parents would
approve of them playing with stereotypically gendered toys which match their sex,
yet also felt that should they choose a ‘cross-gender’ toy the opposite sex parent
would be more accepting suggesting that there may be some disequilibrium in the
child’s perception of their parent’s schema’s of gender and a discrepancy between
theirs and that of their own.
An encompassing theory by Tobin et al. (2010) suggests that the complexity of
learning gender is acquired socially through a combination of “internalization of
gender identity, the assimilation of gender stereotypes which inform the child
about gender expectations and each child’s unique experience of gender, thus
gender acquisition is both an individual and a societal experience.” (as cited in
Wingrave, 2016, p. 5).
Gender identity is developed in various forms within the early years,
predominately through socialization or biological determinism. When
understanding gender and developing gender constructs there has been reported a
large range of input which shows gender in a constricting view building ideas of
gender stereotypes for children to absorb. Research has shown how fixed
perceptions of gender which follow these stereotypical views can be damaging to
children’s outcomes in various areas and affects their future opportunities
(McNaughton, 2000; Robinson & Davies, 2007).
BIO- PSYCHO- SOCIAL DISTINCTION
The hormonal and surgical treatments that Trans men undergo have devastating
effects, including a significant but potentially reversible impact on fertility. From a
physiological perspective, there are no studies that indicate that a transgender
man’s pregnancy differs from that of a cis-gender woman.
Gender identity can correlate with a person's assigned sex or can differ from it. In
most individuals, the biological determinants of sex are congruent and consistent
with the individual's gender identity. While a person may express behaviors,
attitudes, and appearances consistent with a particular gender role, such expression
may not necessarily reflect their gender identity. Essentialists argue that gender
identity is determined at birth by biological and genetic factors.
In contrast, social constructivists argue that gender identity and how it is expressed
is socially constructed instead determined by cultural and social influences. These
positions are not mutually exclusive, as an innate gender identity can be expressed
differently in different cultures.
Some transgender people do transition and others do not. Transition is not for
everyone. Transition refers to a change in gender role. This may be a major
change, identifying and presenting as much as possible as a member of the other
sex. Hormone therapy and/or surgery to feminize or masculinize the body may be
part of that. A change in gender role may also be part time or involve changes in
some parts of gender expression and not in others.
For example, some transgender women only present in the female gender role at
the time of their choosing while socializing. A transgender man may present as
male, have chest surgery, but not take masculinizing hormones.
In other words, people find different ways and may need different medical
interventions to find a comfortable gender role and expression. Also, among the
younger generation, there are transgender individuals who feel that transitioning
from A to B does not apply to them. Rather, they say that they always have been C
(i.e., transgender or gender queer). In short, transition is a means to affirm gender
identity, and includes steps and interventions that are implemented to varying
degrees by people within this diverse community.
Recognized genders in 2023:
Gender identity can be understood to include how someone describes themselves,
how they present, and how they feel. Below are 107 gender identities currently
listed for 2023, please note that these can change at any time.
www.sexualdiversity.org
Legalization of transgender:
Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020: The Rules have been
made under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. The rules
seek to recognize the identity of transgender and prohibit discrimination in the
fields of education, employment, healthcare, holding or disposing of property,
holding public or private office and access to and use of public services and
benefits.
National Portal for Transgender Persons: It would help transgender in digitally
applying for a certificate and identity card from anywhere in the country, thus
preventing any physical interaction with officials. It will help them track the status
of application, rejection, grievance redressal, etc. which will ensure transparency in
the process.
In November 2020, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment inaugurated
Garima Greh, a shelter home for transgender persons. The Scheme of ‘Shelter
Home for Transgender Persons’ includes shelter facility, food, clothing,
recreational facilities, skill development opportunities, yoga, physical fitness,
library facilities, legal support, technical advice for gender transition and surgeries,
capacity building of trans-friendly organizations, employment, etc.
In January 2022, the Ministry of Home Affairs sent an advisory to Heads of
Prisons in the States/UTs to ensure privacy, dignity of the third gender inmates. In
India, the Prisons Act 1894 does not recognize sexual minorities based on Sexual
Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) as a different class of prisoners.
Support systems and NGOs for transgender:
1) “Aasra” is an initiative by Tweet Foundation which provides short stay
shelter to transman and transmasculine people. Trans men in India are
highly susceptible to gender based violence both within and outside their
homes. Most Trans man are not accepted by their families and lack
education and employment support. Aasra was set up in 2019 to provide safe
space to Trans men in India.
2) Sahodari Foundation is a pioneering organization in India which has been
working for the underprivileged transgender and thirunangai persons for
their better lives and wellness. Sahodari was founded and established in
2008 by transgender rights activist, artist and writer Kalki Subramaniam
(www.kalkisubramaniam.com).
3) The All Assam Transgender Association was formed on 25th Dec 2015,
recently after the Honorable Supreme court verdict on Transgender. the
deprived community built this association to fight for their right, dignity &
prestige; under ARTICLE 19(c) of the Part-III of the constitution of INDIA,
which provides freedom to form Union & Association throughout the
territory of India. Later on, this Association was supported by many legal
counsels of higher court & Supreme court of the country along with
renowned Medical practitioners.
4) Raahi is a Karnataka-based organization that works on the rights of the
LGBTQIA+ community, with a special focus on the issues and needs of
trans men and partners of trans men, queer, lesbian and bisexual women,
gender non-conforming and non-binary persons, and persons with intersex
variations. The name “Raahi'' was chosen through a collective process to
symbolize our role as co-travelers on the journey towards dignity.
