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Nicholas Curey
Jon Beadle
Eng 115
17 September 2015
Journey through Gender
The rules of gender co-exist across history as a form of human development. Every
aspect of life in any culture imaginable is in some way influenced by the psychological idea of
gendered roles. Gender has the fortune to be a discussion that began in early civilization, twisting
and forming itself to abide under the ideology of every society to exist. Due to the sheer
magnitude of the topic, gender has found its way into many forms of literature and film
throughout human history as a topic of criticism and reform. A common idea found throughout
many gender focused pieces of literature is the breakdown of how the rules of gender conformity
inevitably affect innumerable aspects of human development and society as a whole. Sociology
professors Aaron Devor, and Claire Renzetti and Daniel Curren effectively analyze gender
development in their essays Becoming Members of Society: The Social Meanings of Gender
and From Women, Men, and Society, respectively. In the words of Devor, learning to behave
in accordance with ones gender identity is a lifelong process and reading literature that presents
societies gender norms, is a primary method that individuals use to learn how to act in society,
stressing the overall importance of the authors work..
Gender has impacted society in many common ways throughout history; whether it be on
the occupational level, forming gendered career paths, or the clothing worn by each, forming
gender specific styles that suppress individuality. Every civilization has been impacted by some

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form of gender rules, each adding their own distinct variation on the overarching values of
gender. Because of its inevitability, gender always becomes a major discussion topic. That is why
there are an innumerous amount of books, essays, speeches, etc. on the role gender plays under
different societies. 20th century civilization is no different from any other society in history.
Many authors, including Devor, Renzetti, and Curran, devote their life to understanding how
gender has affected them and others around them to give individuals the necessary understanding
of gender to properly develop and thrive in society. They choose to research and experiment with
gender because it is relevant and inescapable. It is such an integral part of society that most do
not even think about it, until there is a problem.
In order to solve issues of equality and gender discrimination, the pillars of gender must
be knocked down and restructured. All aspects, ranging from the active and dominant male and
the passive and emotional female archetypes to the division of pink for girls and blue for boys
clothing must be analyzed and rebuilt (Renzetti and Curran). Even the development of self
through the tension between the personal I and the societal me must be challenged if society
wants to alter the effects of gender (Devor). No factors can be overlooked when changing the
thought process, especially on a topic as fundamental as gender. In changing thought, all
progress will be erased when people refuse to accept the change due to a lack of information and
evidence, leaving room for skepticism. Presenting every detail in its simplest state is the only
way to remove doubt and allow the human brain to accept the new ideals and change
accordingly. This is why it is necessary to relentlessly experiment with gender. Authors like
Devor, Renzetti, and Curran, are providing readers with the information necessary to understand
that there is a psychological division, and hopefully open their eyes to the problems caused by it.

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Scrutinizing every detail of gender is a colossal task that cannot be completed by a single
experimenting individual. Innumerous experiments must be evaluated in order to develop an
accurate understanding of gender. Different authors each provide some of the many pieces of the
gender puzzle. Specializing in distinct areas, they collectively work to uncover the many aspects
of gender. The topics range from early gender division, like Renzetti and Curran, to the definition
of gender and development itself, like Devor. Those that focus on early development discover
that society has trained parents to dress boys in dark and primary colors, and to have them play
with military toys and athletic equipment. These authors will also discover that parents dress
girls in pastels, especially pink and yellow, and have them play with baby dolls and miniature
appliances (Renzetti and Curran). Encompassing only the basic elements of gendered
development, the early division of clothing and toys leads into the specified roles for males and
females in adult society. The only way to change how males and females are treated under
society is to remove the divisions in early treatment and change the development process.
However, the idea of development as a whole must be studied in order to change the entire
process. This information comes from authors who study development at all stages of life like
Devor. Devor proclaims that children develop by testing the reactions of established society
members to discover what is acceptable for their gender (Devor). Therefore the only way to alter
child development, is to change the adult populace; a near impossible task. Adults become so
deeply integrated with their values that even the thought of changing any major aspect sets the
brain into a frenzy, resisting the change out of fear of the unknown. This resistance to change is
why every detail about gender needs to be explained. Removing the doubt in the mind and allow
the change to come naturally and logically by each and every individual, including myself.

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Although I grew to see the world through an open mind, I developed in a gendered
society, making it impossible to completely remove gender discrimination from my personality.
My parents tried their best to separate me from the gendered mindset, sending me to a nondivided primary school. In attempting to remove the stereotypical boundaries of a gendered
development, I was allowed to play with whatever toy I desired, whether it be a doll or an action
figure, miniature oven or an army jeep. Even with this freedom, for some reason, I still tended to
play with the toys designed for males and, if I ever did, reluctantly played with toys designed for
females. I believe this mindset came from my heavily gendered older brother, who was sent to a
gendered primary school. Growing up, my brother was my playmate, and even though, as I said,
we were allowed to play with whatever toys we wished to, he would choose the action figures
over the dolls each time, leaving me in a conundrum. Do I follow his lead and play with the
action figures, or do I break the gender stereotypes and play with the dolls. To my
underdeveloped brain the choice was obvious, follow the leader and learn to live under societies
rules. I am living proof of Devors research that developing children choose the simplest course
of action. Unable to contemplate what their actions mean, children just go with what is
acceptable in their current environment. Now that I have grown up and have spent some time
studying the extent of gender stereotyping, I realize that although I have been affected by
gendered development, I am generally neutral when it comes to the topic of gender. My mostly
non-sexist upbringing has developed into the mindset of gender equality. Some aspects question
these values, but, for the most part, I am a male who identifies as such, but looks at the world
through a gender neutral lens, as I feel the entire world should.
Overall, the heavily gendered members of society do not understand what they are. Most
go through their gender journey, promoting the exact roles they grew up believing it to be the

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only way to live life. It is the job of authors and researchers to inform these individuals of their
life options, and allow them to understand how gender is affecting them to give them the
freedom to choose what best fits their personality. The world is constantly changing and even the
most resilient of minds can be changed if it is presented with a logical argument with sufficient
support. New information on the bounds of gender is being discovered every day, changing
society little by little, influencing new generations and eventually future societies. What impact
should modern society make, heavily gendered or gender neutral?

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Works Cited
Curran, Daniel, and Clare Renzetti. From, Women, Men, and Society. Composing Gender. 1st.
John E. Sullivan III. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins. 2014. 76-87 Print.
Devor, Aaron. Becoming Members of Society: The Social Meanings of Gender. Composing
Gender. 1st. John E. Sullivan III. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins. 2014. 35-45. Print.