Sociology: What Is Gender?

The three people I interviewed were all different. I knew them all some better than others however they are all of different or similar gender identification. First was my best friend since the 7th grade Paul. Paul and I both grew up in smalltown Sandusky Ohio, yes home of Cedar Point. He is heterosexual and is married with 1 son. So as I conducted these interviews I did my best to keep all personal bias’s weather thoughts feelings or actions out of the interview. First I asked him some simple questions related to the information provided. I asked him “How would he identify his self-gender wise?” His response was somewhat of your typical all American blue collar hard working male. He replied “I’m Straight Bud” I laughed and asked him why? He continued “I enjoy women and that’s it”. So as you can see Paul doesn’t realize the many other aspects that go with identifying your gender. I told him some of the way everyday people from every and all communities in one way or another conform to their particular gender. He seemed puzzled so I gave him a few examples. I asked him “Why do you think males even as children play with action figures and females play with Barbie’s?” He replied “Because they’re girls and boys”. I said you see even as small children were put in the cycle of whatever sex we are pink or blue, boys or girls, Barbie’s or He Man action figures. So in all nothing really surprised me with Paul and that’s why I appreciate him because he’s always real and always is himself. So I asked him would he be comfortable enough as a heterosexual male to go to a drag queen show and compare how he relates to his gender identifier compared to how others outside his may identify to their sex. He laughed and politely declined the offer saying it would make him uncomfortable, once again Identifying himself with his own gender identifier. Next I interviewed a great female friend of mine from high school. As when we were in school we dated at one time and now she’s a lesbian....