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Fear. (01/2022)

Definitions of sex and gender by Andrea Maihofer.

Text: Andrea Maihofer

In today’s society, it is widely accepted that there are more facets to gender than just male and female. How is an individual’s sex defined? Answers from the field of
gender research.

Andrea Maihofer
Prof. Dr. Andrea Maihofer

Current gender research is concentrated in two different focal areas: One branch of gender studies centers primarily around the humanities and social sciences, while the other focuses on the natural sciences. These two approaches constantly interact and, in places, even merge.

The first of these two approaches, upon which this essay is based, defines gender largely as a sociocultural phenomenon. Research in this area focuses on the dominant understanding of gender (gender identity, gendered bodies, sexuality) within its respective historical context and the associated gender norms. The research highlights both how they constantly change and how different the social division of labor and gender hierarchy associated with these norms are.

In addition, it reveals significant differences in the social relevance of gender throughout history. In the early modern period, for instance, a person’s status or class affiliation was more important than their gender. Therefore, no single historical, prevailing idea of gender, gender roles or societal or domestic division of labor is inherently natural. Instead, these notions are contingent upon sociocultural factors – they are finite models, not suprahistorical phenomena.

This is not to negate the existence of physical, biological differences between people of different sexes. Nevertheless, it is not the penis itself that is an expression of activity, male potency and superiority, while there is 'nothing there' in women and the female sexual organs are primarily passive or receptive. It is the people who place value on these respective body parts and associate with them different normative conceptions of gender and sexual practice.

Andrea Maihofer joined the University of Basel in 2001 as Professor of Gender Studies. Hers was Switzerland’s first professorship devoted solely to the field of gender studies and coincided with the launch of the Center for Gender Studies and the introduction of gender studies as an independent subject. Andrea Maihofer’s research focuses on gender theory and transformation and the persistence of gender and gender roles, among other topics. She received emeritus status in 2020. One of her current fields of research is masculinity and right-wing populism. She is also writing a book about Virginia Woolf.

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