Lopez

Luna, 1

Isabel Lopez Luna

Professor Beadle
English 115
8 December 2015
Oh Boy, Its a Girl!
The conformities placed upon gender and sexes isolate individuals from society and
discriminate against those who dont fall under the norms that society has set forth. With certain
articles which can be found in, Composing Gender by Rachael Groner and John F. OHara,
that introduce the social conformities between gender and sex. The distinction between sex and
gender is having one be the identifier of who we are, our gender, whereas the other is the
physical identifier of what we are, our sexuality. For one, the social construct of our sexuality
becomes an increasingly prominent issue as we grow up. This results in the parents within our
society to establish the gender identity discrimination creating the isolated standards from
nonconformists integrating the acceptance in both sexes in society.
A parents hostile judgment towards their childs gender nonconformity and cross gender
play, creates the concerning social standards that discriminate against certain individuals whose
identity is either to feminine or masculine. Emily W. Kane addresses in her article, No Way
My Boys Are Going To Be Like That: Parents Responses to Childrens Gender Nonconformity,
the effects that are brought upon by the discriminating relationship between parents and their
children identifying as something different. Kanes reference to Donald McCrearys, Sex
Roles, emphasizes the discrimination towards femininity among young boys, for example, the
remark made by a father expressing his concern about his sons excessive emotionality was that
he wanted, to see him strong, proud, not crying like a sissy (Kane 94), which ultimately causes

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a negative affect towards the childs identity construction. For the reason that, unlike the
females who are regarded as being prepared for their roles as the domestic and submissive
partner, male children who perform with certain feminine characteristics are perceived to be
homosexual, If [he] were to be gay, [the father] will see it as a failure, because I am raising him
to be a boy, a man (Kane 96). Making them the forced individual to conform towards the belief
of their parents in becoming the successful heterosexual male with accrediting masculine traits.
The social implications that arise from these forced conformities create a higher rate of
discrimination among cross-gender play in children.
Nevertheless, in my personal experience growing up in a household with two older
brothers, , without being discriminated against. Toys; the invention to which most parents will
nurture their children to grow, all the while, they are structuring the actions of their children to
remain as a hetero-identity. Granted, those that were given to me were hand me downs, which
consisted of racecars, Legos, and action figures, but even so, what I played with did not deter my
sexuality or gender identity for playing with masculine labeled toys. Instead it gave me a
greater perspective as a child that a certain task, job or something as simple as a toy should not
pertain to just that sex or gender. Furthermore, I have acquired a sense of athleticism and
competiveness, in following my brothers footsteps, as well as having the same and at times
more encouragement from my parents, who never limited my options. For the reason that,
parents who carefully balanced openness within limits (Kane 94) were also, what society
deemed appropriate or sensible for girls my age, and for my parents, their beliefs were
considerable towards how we will identify as we continue to grow. As for societys conformities
among cross gender play, which should not forcefully categorize children and individuals into a

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certain mold, but instead establish an acceptance toward having an open minded awareness of
different identity and conform with the idea of nonconformists.
The saying, One is born a woman, one becomes a woman of Simon de Beauvoir, in
The Second Sex is assessed in the article, Rethinking Womens Biology by Ruth Hubbard
with her introduction being the assessment towards the fact that it is a socially constructed
concept we try to fit as we grow (46). As a consequence, it creates an influenced interpretation
about women in todays society, affecting who they should be, brought on by means of
university-educated men scientists (46). Such as, the stereotypical conformities placed on
women by society, about their, maternal instincts given that they are walking wombs and that
the reality is most women are restraining in not having children (Hubbard 46, 49).
Subsequently, from what I have experienced at school, is that the physicality between
sexes, for one being that most of it is based upon the social status of either race or culture. The
moment we enter an environment with different culture and expectations, there is a certain
standard that is generated to accommodate the interaction between sexes. For example, the
nature of how we act becomes an issue that is discouraged by those who have unintentionally
created an idealistic form, In our society changes in style not just of clothing but of body shape
are generated (Hubbard 48). We change to please society, because society has deemed a
specific body type or clothing to be indifferent to the rest, and that if we are to conform the result
is becoming, twiggy anorexic or putting on padded bras. Being indifferent doesnt help these
circumstances, because no matter what, women deliberately eat less than they need for healthy
growth and development which often creates the cycle of abuse among groups of individuals
who dont find themselves worthy' enough (Hubbard 49). Therefore, to end the conformities
that isolates and discriminate our physiological development, their needs to be a sense of

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usefulness that is developed between both sexes to integrate acceptance between both sexes in
society.
In conclusion, the isolating conformities parents in todays society place upon their
childrens sex and gender identity should be taken into consideration. In order to showcase and
bring to light what truly differentiates us is not the attributes of femininity and masculinity thats
been discriminated by society, although it is one of many factors, but the discrimination that we
place upon individuals. The standards that parents and society have placed upon should be
replaced with a new perspective to establish a much more accepting norm upon society that
benefits the gender identity of many who have been discriminated against. As well as the women
in society having been socially constructed, should be addressed and the stereotypical
conformities that have been placed upon them to act the minute we are old enough to understand
gender identity. In all circumstances, pertaining to race, culture, sex, and gender there should be
a voice to unite, genderless, neutral, and nonconformist individuals, in order to establish a more
accepting and less discriminative standards on individuals.

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Works Cited
Groner, Rachael, and John F. O'Hara. Composing Gender. Boston, MA : Leasa Burton, 2014.
Xi-294. Print.
Groner, Rachael, and John F. O'Hara. Composing Gender: "Rethinking Women's Biology".
Boston, MA: Leasa Burton, 2014. 46-52. Print.
Kane, Emily W. "No Way My Boys Are Going to Be Like That": Parents Responses to Children's
Gender Nonconformity. Boston, MA: Leasa Burton, 2014. 91-97. Print.