Passage -1
Sexuality is the outward expression of one’s sexual behaviour. A ‘sexual’ individual expresses his or her sexuality and sexual identity. However, society dictates how individuals should express their sexuality. It lays out clear expectations that shape the different forms of sexual identities that develop into socialised stereotypes. Sexuality is largely viewed as an aspect of human existence that has no relationship with procreative sex.
Everyone is born with sexual capacity that is nurtured by society through social learning. At birth, a child’s sexual orientation is unknown. Nonetheless, society assigns the child gender based on his or her genitalia. As the child grows, he or she becomes socialised based on the established social roles and expectations of the assigned gender. Thus, one’s sexual expression must be compatible with socially acceptable forms of sexuality.
The notion that sexuality or sexual expression is a social construct stems from the observation that gender socialisation defines what roles one takes in the society. In traditional societies, roles or chores were assigned based on one’s gender. The gendered roles largely defined the sexual identity of an individual. Even in modern societies, if one is assigned the male gender at birth, they are expected to perform physical chores, which are associated with masculinity. On the other hand, females are expected to be more ‘nurturing’ and caring. This shows that society has a prescribed system of behaviour that its members must observe. For this reason, it can be said that society enforces gender differences that define sexual identity and expression.
Q1 With respect to the above passage, what is most correct about gender assignment?
