Nature and Nurture in Developing Gender and Sexuality

Nature and Nurture in Developing Gender and Sexuality

Introduction

Gender Identity is said to be the sense of self, it is the sense of being male or female. The term sex and gender though at many stages use interchangeably but possesses a slight different meaning. Sex is the biological differences on the basis of hormonal profiles. However, gender is the result of society and environmental influences, which is because of the treatment received from parents, relatives, and friends. Researchers, with a coherent approach, view gender as the result of nature, particularly the outcomes of hormones.

Scientist, now talk about sex reassignment. They say that the biological assignment can be reverted back, but what about the interaction between the nature and nurture. If a person feels opposite to what he is told about his gender identity, will he be able to overcome from such a trauma or will he be pushed hard by the identity disorder to boycott the society.

Discussion

The case study which is referred as John/ Joan case in history is the story of twin brothers, named David and Brian Reimer. David was the one, who is referred as John in the story, had gone through a sexual reassignment. This case tells us the intense fight between the nature and nurture. It was the first reassignment case in the history, which initially seemed as a big success and laid the basis for such surgeries. However, this was not the reality. History seems to be extreme biased in this case. This surgery was performed in 1968 and since then it was reported as a big success and milestone in the history of sexual development, until 1997, when the child called David was 31 years old, and was interviewed by Milton Diamond.

Sex and Gender, though have certain difference in terms of meanings but hold a great relationship in order to form the identity of a person. The child David, who was later named as Brenda after this surgery, was enforced by the society to act and dress like a girl. However, she never felt like one. Doctors might have been successful in just artificially developing the female organ but could never become successful in changing the feelings of that kid.

Brenda after the surgery, up till the age of 12 years, was made to visit the psychologist, Dr. Money, who initially advised her parents for sexual reassignment, on yearly basis. Dr. Money conducted different types of examinations to assure the success of the surgery. But the girl was going through the Gender Identity Disorder. She did not feel as a complete girl and was unable to make up with other girls of her age, and at the age of 15 she decided to carry herself as a male, after she came to know about her sexual reassignment.

David remained unable to live a happy life even then, he had bitter relationships with his parents because of their sexual reassignment decision, remained less blessed when comes to job and had always been ...