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April 9, 2001 The question of how the sociological discussion of gender differs from the biological discussion comes down to the classic debate of “nature vs. nurture.” The learning and reinforcement of gender roles, as viewed by the sociologist, come from the child’s environment. The nurturing idea says that children learn their gender roles from the way they are brought up. From the time when a parent paints their newborn baby boy’s room blue, they …

…certain physical characteristics, but not yet whether the same is true with behavior. Testosterone has also been linked to the production of adrenaline, supporting the biological argument. While both arguments have their strengths, neither has been proven. The sociological, as well as the biological explanations for the presence of gender roles in our society are both strong. My opinion is that neither is entirely responsible, but rather a combination of the two factors. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography**