Chapter 4 Entry

In the year 1991 I was born. My parents were told, "Congratulations. It's a girl". From that day on my gender as a female would be influenced by biological and social characteristics. I was born a female because I received a X chromosome from both my mother and father. If I had received a Y chromosome, which can only be found in males, instead of a X chromosome from my father then I would have been born a boy. As a baby my temperament or emotional reactivity and intensity could be described as easy. You could say I was a was cheerful, relaxed, and predictable baby. The environment I was raised in had a lot of influence from my culture; the behaviors, ideas, values, and traditions transmitted from one generation to the next. I was taught manners and how to be respectful and polite to others. This type of proper behavior would be considered the "norm" in my family. I was also taught the importance of collectivism as well as individualism. I not only gave priority for my own personal goals but I also gave priority to group or family goals. Growing up I had many roles or a set of expectations about a social position I had. I was always considered a "good girl" so my role included following rules that had been given to me. Another role I had was being a Christian and that including believing in my faith and following the rules that this role had set. The main role I had and still have to this day is my gender role of being a female. Females are expected to be lady like; don't sit with your legs spread apart, have polite table manners, and so forth. I feel that the gender role of a female has a lot of gender typing being placed onto it. Today people place a tradition role onto females.