So what's the difference between sex and gender?

Sex refers to the biological aspects of being male or female.

Gender refers to the psychological and sociocultural meanings added to biological sex.

So how does gender identity form?

According to the cognitive development theory by Kohlberg, there are series of stages.

By 2,3 years old, children can identify their own sex

4-5, children can correctly label others

6-7, there is gender constancy. The idea that gender is unchangeable.

We can also acquire gender identity by social learning or socialization. For young boys they are given toys like cars, robots on their birthday. Whereas for girls, kitchen sets. These social experiences leads to differences in attitudes, interests, skill and personality that continue throughout adulthood.

And the last theory of Gender identity is the gender schema theory.

How about gender diversity in the workplace?

One thing to focus on is the problem of discrimination in the workplace.

Men and women are treated differently in job applications, there is sex segregation and sexual harassment (both males and females)

Men and women tend to occupy different jobs and this has a number of associated issues. Firstly, the wage gap. Studies have shown that women with similar backgrounds and education earned 83% of what men earn, one year after graduating from university.

Secondly, the Glass ceiling. An unofficial barrier to opportunities which prevent protected classes of workers, particularly women and minorities from advancing to higher positions.

Lastly, the glass escalator effect. Williams (1992) examined men's experience in 4 different female dominated jobs namely nurses, elementary school teachers, librarians and social workers. She found that men can get preferential treatment from inside the profession but can get discriminated outside and frowned upon. When discriminated outside, some stereotypes such as gay/pedophiles may be associated with them. Although not all is bad as this can result in rapport and support from superiors inside the profession.

Gender roles are defined as the expected and acceptable way of behaving for a given sex in a given society at a given time. And this expectation and acceptable was limit both sexes. For e.g, the traditional role or men is to be the sole breadwinner, bringing food and protection to the family. And women take on a nurturant role, e.g cooking, taking care of the kids and housework.

So if the social norm in a traditional society is that women stay home and perform the traditional role, a women who is career-minded may be perceived as dominant. And vice versa, is a man who is staying at home to look after kids instead of getting a job, he may be also discriminated, especially in a masculine country where competition, achievement and success are the dominant values in the society.

As society is changing, there are trends that men are spending more time on housework and women less time. (I think it's cool for males to share the load, as this is a display of independence and care)

And in Singapore, I think a dual income in a family is a necessity for a comfortable life.