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3
12
Yes and is relative by society No, it is objectively real
Debate Score:15
Arguments:23
Total Votes:18
Ended:03/15/17
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 Yes and is relative by society (3)
 
 No, it is objectively real (9)

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Is gender a social construct?

Do you think of gender as a social construct or is it objectively real?

Provide evidence for your position. 

Yes and is relative by society

Side Score: 3
VS.

No, it is objectively real

Side Score: 12
Winning Side!
0 points

Yes, gender is a social construct.

Social Construct- a social mechanism, phenomenon, or category created and developed by society; a perception of an individual, group, or idea that is 'constructed' through cultural or social practice (Dictionary.com)

Gender is definitely a category of people that is kept and developed by society. People are influenced by their society and institutions, so it is clear why people largely accept the gender they were classified to (but of course, not always). Gender roles (which are part of gender) are also clearly socially constructed as well.

Side: Yes and is relative by society
seanB(950) Disputed
2 points

Sex is the main determiner of the traditional binary gender classifications. Those binary genders are sufficient and acceptable to almost all human beings on this planet. Those who lie outside the binary classification are an exception, not a norm. Why? Because humans are almost always one of two sexes: XY, and XX. Those sexes biologically determine the hormonal and physical makeup of the person. And those hormonal and chemical compositions have a huge part in determining behaviour.

So yes, gender is what you might call a social "construct", but it has significant and valid biological bases.

People who are outliers to the usual genders, often have genuine medical reason: androgen insensitivity syndrome, for instance, or an abnormal hormone balance. That's fine, and I support fully these peoples' right to choose their gender and have reassignment surgery. Absolutely.

However, it is ludicrous to come at this problem with the idea that non-binary gender is the norm. It is not. It is a rare exception to the established evolutionarily affirmed sexual characteristics and behaviours of binary genders -- archetypal male and female.

Side: No, it is objectively real
DS0330(267) Disputed
0 points

I am talking about gender, not sex (which is a social construct too, but has a biological basis).

Those who lie outside the binary classification are an exception, not a norm.

This just proves my point.

So yes, gender is what you might call a social "construct", but it has significant and valid biological bases.

No, it does not. Biological sex does have a valid biological basis though.

However, it is ludicrous to come at this problem with the idea that non-binary gender is the norm.

What is "normal" here is dependent upon the context of society. Society (social relations) created gender.

Side: Yes and is relative by society
1 point

The labels are a social construct, but the differences between male and female are quite distinct.

Side: No, it is objectively real
Whitepride21(59) Clarified
1 point

but the differences between male and female are quite distinct

What are you claiming the label is being applied to?

Side: Yes and is relative by society
sylynn(626) Clarified
1 point

The labels are applied accordingly:

Male: Of or denoting the sex that produces gametes, especially spermatozoa, with which a female may be fertilized or inseminated to produce offspring.

Female: Of or denoting the sex that can bear offspring or produce eggs, distinguished biologically by the production of gametes (ova) which can be fertilized by male gametes.

Male and female are not simply ideas and not a matter of opinion or self-identification.

Side: Yes and is relative by society
1 point

I looked very different from that one chick I looked at...

Side: No, it is objectively real
Whitepride21(59) Clarified
1 point

And I look very different from many other males, but this is not a question of simply looking different but one of whether "gender" is a creation of society or something natural.

Side: Yes and is relative by society
DevinSeay(1120) Clarified
1 point

Well it depends on your context. Socially or biological ?

Socially, I guess you can call yourself whatever you want.

However, just because I call myself a toaster, doesn't mean I'm a toaster. There are only 2 genders. Males and females.

Side: Yes and is relative by society
1 point

Human sexual dimorphism is an observable, demonstrable phenomenon. That is, di-morphism, not "tri-" or "quint-".

Side: No, it is objectively real
1 point

It's both.

Gender is largely a product of sex and the differences between genders are not typically based on societal whim. However, which differences are highlighted, and to what degree, may be a social construct. Some differences are entirely a product of socialization, but certainly not all.

Pretending that there is no social influence would lead one to conclude that a woman wearing jeans is mentally ill. However, pretending that gender is entirely a social construct denies some important biological facts as well as various common differences of behavior arising from those biological differences.

Side: No, it is objectively real
Whitepride21(59) Clarified
1 point

Gender is largely a product of sex

This is because society classifies biological sex and gender identity as corresponding traits.

However, pretending that gender is entirely a social construct denies some important biological facts as well as various common differences of behavior arising from those biological differences.

Are you saying that being feminine and masculine are biological facts or is the quality of separating behavior into masculine and feminine traits into two distinct concepts a social construct?

Side: Yes and is relative by society
Amarel(5669) Clarified
1 point

Are you saying that being feminine and masculine are biological facts or is the quality of separating behavior into masculine and feminine traits into two distinct concepts a social construct?

I'm saying that the qualities that society deems masculine are sometimes a product of social construction, and other times a product of traits deriving from biological facts.

This is because society classifies biological sex and gender identity as corresponding traits.

It's likely that this sometimes applies, but not always. There are traits that are common to males that can be shown to develop before socialization can be considered to have a significant impact. Experiments have shown this for both males and females. From this it follows that we cannot assume socialization for the development of later traits, particularly where experimentation and observation are insufficient to come to a conclusion either way.

Side: Yes and is relative by society
1 point

Ummmmmmmm.......seriously? You don't know the difference between male and female? Is this what our schools are teaching kids now?

The whole public school system should be purged of liberals who pass this insanity off as education.

Side: No, it is objectively real