Masculinity and Femininity: One cannot exist without the other.

After reading Chapter 2 of Connell's Masculinities, I agreed with the assessment made that the differences in the sexes are due to biology. Connell also describes it well by stating, "The account of natural masculinity that has been built up in sociobiology is almost entirely fictional. It presupposes broad differences in the character traits and behaviors of women and men." This statement got me thinking about my own so called masculinity. I am an aggressive person by nature, but now I am wondering if I was socially constructed by those around me to somehow subliminally believe that I should act more aggressive. I don't understand if the increased amount of testosterone in grown men cause them to be increasingly aggressive. If this was true then gay men would exhibit lower levels of testosterone since many people believe gay men are less masculine. However, I still do not understand why society believes men are biologically more aggressive than women. My mother is a very aggressive driver. She cuts people off, flashes her high beams, and speeds. However, when she is not driving she is a very sweet, FEMININE, person. Thus I do not understand the biological argument that explains masculinity.

I also do not understand why masculinity cannot exist without femininity. In history society has always attempted to separate the sexes. There has been the working sphere for the men, and the home sphere for the women. Men were out working, while the women were cooking and cleaning at home. The words feminine and masculine define characteristics that describe women and men. Thus the words themselves cannot exist without the other. Masculinity is the opposite of femininity and femininity is the opposite of masculinity. I find it amazing how society has attempted to separate people based on their race, class, and sex. Even though it seems everyone is in the society as equal beings there are still remnants of discrimination and sexism, which bring society down.