Reflection 4

            In their article Gender in Canada, Adie Nelson and Barrie Robinson describe the differences between sex, gender, sexuality, and how each is perceived in Canadian society. According to the article, western culture has an obsession with defining a person’s status according to their biological sex. (Nelson and Robinson, 2002) Gender is whether someone is male or female, but is not solely based on biological makeup. (Ibid, 2002) This becomes complex because there are three types of relationships between sex and gender: sex determines gender; sex is arbitrarily related to gender; sex influences gender. (Ibid, 2002) The first relationship implies that biology determines someone’s gender. The second relationship suggests that gender is socially constructed according to ones social environment. The third relationship then argues that biological makeup and social environment interact to determine one’s gender.

            I think that it is valuable to recognize these relationships because it is very common in Canadian society for people to be treated differently based on their gender representation. This is a result of people only being aware of the first relationship described by Nelson and Robinson.

            As a result to this assumption, gender stereotypes become far too common. Nelson and Robinson define gender stereotypes as widely held beliefs about the defining characteristics of masculinity and femininity which influence perceptions of ourselves and others. (Nelson and Robinson, 2002) For instance, if a woman with a female biological makeup does not fit in with the ‘normal’ traits prescribed by gender stereotypes (emotional, weak, gentle, passive), she will be considered masculine. In my opinion, these stereotypes cause a plethora of social problems that affect the lives of men and women who do not possess these certain characteristics. Not only are these social problems because they are common and result in the negative treatment of these individuals, they also define what is appropriate for certain genders. Nelson and Robinson’s studies find that a masculine woman is described as someone who is superior, active, competent and ambitious. (Nelson and Robinson, 2002)

            

 An example of this stereotype in American society is illustrated in the example of Caster Semenya. She was tested to determine her biological sex after coming in first place in an 800 meter race. (Vinton, 2009) According to an article written on the issue, “there have been numerous instances of outright deception, as well as more ambiguous cases in which athletes classified as women have lived their whole lives with male chromosomal material,” (Ibid, 2009) and this is why they decided to go through with the testing of Semenya. In my opinion, the testing was sparked by the qualities that Semenya possessed that were masculine; her being active and strong, and not showing the typical qualities of women.

            The treatment of Semenya, and eighteen year old woman who should be applauded for her success resulted in negative media feedback, masculine photos portraying her in a distorted way, and embarrassment and shame for Semenya. When she returned to the public sphere after keeping a low profile in her country, she presented herself on the cover of US Magazine with a feminine make-over. If this was truly how Semenya felt about herself then that is perfectly fine, but if it was a direct result of the treatment she received and to make herself appear more female, than this is an example of how when someone goes against a gender stereotype it results in unfair treatment.

            Semenya’s gender was a product of the third relationship described by Nelson and Robinson because her biological make up combined with her social environment was that of a female with traces of some male chromosomes (As explained by Darryl Leroux in Lecture 8). The social conditions that make up her gender are the conditions that accept women as successful athletes. I personally think that this is a positive thing and Canadian and American society should adjust their standards to allow for people to not have a self fulfilled prophecy according to their sex. In addition, I believe that transgendered individuals should be treated as the gender that they consider themselves to be. 

            In my research I was pleased to come across a bill recently passed by the NDP party in Quebec. It is called the Trans Rights Bill (Bill C-389) and adds gender identity and gender expression to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Act. (Page, 2010)  It also aims to amend hate crimes and sentencing provisions in the Criminal Code of Canada. (Ibid, 2010) This bill is a positive thing for Canadian society as a response to those treated differently because of their gender.

Caster Semenya before and after her makeover.

Gender Stereotypes.

Works Cited

1.      Nelson, Adie, and Barrie Robinson (2002). Gender in Canada (pp. 1-21). Toronto: Pearson Education.

2.      Page, Jill. (2010, November 4). Trans Rights Bill. Montreal Gazette.

3.      Vinton, Nathaniel. (2009, August 19). IAAF asks South Africa to Conduct Gender Verification Test on Rising Track Star Caster Semenya. New York Daily News.