Before I read "How to Build a Man" by Anne Fausto-Sterling, I believed that men were born. I guess that once you read some one else's point of view you start thinking twice of what you really think. Now that I have read the passage I think they are made.
Sterling mentions when the baby is the womb and describes the development. "Maleness requires the presence of special hormones; in their absence, femaleness just happens." says Anne Fausto-Sterling. When I read that statement, I thought males were made. Science has to pay more attention to the males than the females when developing. Not only in science, but in culture. Parent's show boys that they have to play with cars, not dolls. They won't be playing hand games like girls do, they'll be playing rough with other boys.
In the end, they aren't born masculine, they must be taught to become masculine.
The quote you include in your post, from Fausto-Sterling's article, "Maleness requires the presence of special hormones; in their absence, femaleness just happens" is very telling of the difference science perceives between men and women. Consider the word choice in the quote. What does it suggest about the nature of men,that makes them different from women? Why do you say "Science has to pay more attention to the males than the females when developing"? Also, you end your post by stating "[boys] aren't born masculine." Think about the difference between male and masculinity.
ReplyDelete