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Gender and Self

Arguably the most profound outside force shaping our sense of self is our gender—the composite of social, psychological, and cultural attributes that characterize us as male or female (Canary, Emmers-Sommer, & Faulkner, 1997). It may strike you as strange to see gender described as an “outside force.” Gender is innate, something you’re born with, right? Actually, scholars distinguish gender, which is largely learned, from biological sex, which we’re born with. Each of us is born with biological sex organs that distinguish us anatomically as male or female. However, our gender is shaped over time through our interactions with others.

Immediately after birth, we begin a lifelong process of gender socialization

Immediately after birth, we begin a lifelong process of gender socialization, learning from others what it means personally, interpersonally, and culturally to be “male” or “female.” Girls are typically taught feminine behaviors, such as sensitivity to one’s own and others’ emotions, nurturance, and compassion (Lippa, 2002). Boys are usually taught masculine behaviors, learning about assertiveness, competitiveness, and independence from others. As a result of gender socialization, men and women often end up forming comparatively different self-concepts (Cross & Madson, 1997). For example, women are more likely than men to perceive themselves as connected to others and to assess themselves based on the quality of these interpersonal connections. Men are more likely than women to think of themselves as a composite of their individual achievements, abilities, and beliefs—viewing themselves as separate from other people. At the same time, just because these differences exist doesn’t mean that all men and all women think of themselves in identical ways. Many men and women appreciate and embrace both feminine and masculine characteristics in their self-concepts.