It has become clear that biological factors also influence the stage at which the social concept of 'gender' is formed in children.
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Gender , which distinguishes between men and women socially and psychologically, is distinct from biological sex, or 'sex,' and is the concept of gender expressed in terms of 'masculinity' and 'femininity.' The results of a survey based on multiple research findings highlight that gender differences have biological roots, separate from the widely accepted notion that they are 'socially constructed.'
Sex differences in children's toy preferences: A systematic review, meta-regression, and meta-analysis - Todd - 2017 - Infant and Child Development - Wiley Online Library
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/icd.2064/abstract
Gender is not just a social construct, according to scientific research — Quartz
https://qz.com/1190996/scientific-research-shows-gender-is-not-just-a-social-construct/
The study was published by Brenda Todd, a senior lecturer in psychology at City University London, and her team. Through a meta-analysis of 16 previously published studies, the team found that gender differences in children are influenced not only by social backgrounds but also by biological backgrounds.
The collected data compiles 'the actual state of interest in toys shown by children around the world.' The total sample size was 1,600 people, and the survey asked which boys and girls would choose when presented with 'boys' toys' and 'girls' toys.' Analysis revealed that data from around the world consistently shows a tendency for 'boys to choose boys' toys and girls to choose girls' toys.' The statistical 'effect size' for this was 1.03 for boys and 0.9 for girls. An effect size greater than 0.8 is considered significant, indicating a strong tendency for both boys and girls.
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What's most interesting is that this trend did n't vary much across countries or regions . Todd explains the results: 'There was no clear trend for the size of the gender difference in children's preferences for masculine and feminine toys to be smaller in countries with high gender equality.' In fact, the results in countries with very low gender inequality, such as Sweden, were very similar to those in countries with high gender inequality, such as Hungary and the United States. This suggests that, regardless of social culture, boys naturally tend to choose boys' toys and girls to choose girls' toys, regardless of social culture, across the world.
What becomes clear from this is the fact that the 'boyishness' and 'feminineness' that emerge in childhood go against the idea that 'gender is determined entirely by societal expectations.' If we take the view that 'gender is determined entirely by societal expectations,' then, for example, in Sweden, where gender equality is high, we would expect that boys and girls would choose toys at the same rate. However, in reality, as mentioned above, there is a bias in toy choices between boys and girls.
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In other words, it is becoming clear that the formation of gender in children involves factors other than societal expectations, namely, 'biological factors.' Sean Stevens, a social psychologist and research director at Heterodox Academy, which aims to 'increase diversity of perspectives in academia,' says, 'The dichotomy of gender formation as 'nature or nurture' is wrong. As far as I know, there is no human behaviorist who advocates either of these.'
However, in reality, this way of thinking often receives critical attention from society and even political power. 'For many people, the idea that gender is not purely socially constructed seems to be uncomfortable,' Todd says. He believes that people who express this view 'are often found in the so-called 'left', who believe that 'gender is a reflection of social factors and is completely malleable (i.e., it changes depending on the situation).'
However, while there are biological factors behind gender, this does not necessarily mean a 'gender binary' that completely divides men and women, nor does it deny the existence of sexual minorities such as transgender people and non- binary people, also known as 'third genders.' Many biologically based sex differences result from the hormonal environment in the womb, which works very differently for boys and girls. However, even within each domain, there is a wide range of variation. Alice Eagly, a professor of psychology at Northwestern University, states, 'Boys have a boyish range, and girls have a girlish range. Even though it's biological, it doesn't necessarily mean it can be completely divided into a binary.'
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Eagly also argues that 'policy should not influence science.' 'Science seeks valid findings, truth in findings, whether you like them or not. We strive to understand how biology works in humans. Are we going to close our minds as scientists because we think it might be politically incorrect?' he said, stressing the need for science to pursue truth.
'Gender may not be entirely socially constructed, but biological influences do not mean that gender norms must be constrained to traditional ones. There is nothing in science that contradicts the value of gender equality,' the Quartz article concluded.
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