Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on the topic of the sociology of sex and gender. It compares and contrasts the different beliefs that explain the role of sex and gender in society. It begins by reviewing various works that define and differentiate between the terms "sex" and "gender." The works explored include feminist studies and works originating in the Victorian era. The paper then explores the importance of the familial environment on gender identification, referring to works on the Oedipus complex and concluding with a study that investigates differences in attitude among males and females concerning sex.

From the Paper
"Lets begin by focusing on how sex and gender are defined and differentiated. An article in Sex Roles: A Research Journal explains that psychologists who study the psychology of gender have struggled with distinguishing the terminology. The term "Sex" refers to the anatomical aspects of being a man or a woman. ("Gender and Society") On the other hand the term "Gender" usually refers to the behavioral, social, and psychological characteristics of males and females. (Pryzgoda) The article reports that in recent years studies conducted involving intersexed infants has caused sociologists to question the meaning of sex groupings and theories that are based on the experiences of intersexed and transgender people. (Pryzgoda) Regardless of this new concern it is safe to conclude that people who research the sociology of sex and gender would probably agree that they are not synonymous terms. (Hunt)"

Tags:belief, definition, feminist, Victorian, familial, environment, identification, Oedipus, complex, attitude, male, female

Abstract
This paper discusses Jackie Kay's novel "Trumpet", which details the emotions surrounding the discovery that jazzman, Joss Moody, is actually a woman. Those surrounding Moody's life are forced by the media to acknowledge the discrepancy in their existence. The author shows how following the conclusion of the novel, one is left to wonder whether the true origin of Joss Moody's choice of lifestyle is gender oppression, homosexuality, or Moody may have believed her gender and sex were not appropriately assigned at birth.

From the Paper
"One of the greatest oppressors in today's society is gender, and the behavior that is expected to accompany that particular role. The media frequently capitalizes on the atypical behaviors of males and females. For example, if a man enjoys singing show tunes, going to the ballet, and is not ashamed to cry in front of others, the media frequently portrays this man as a homosexual. Additionally, if a female engages in actions that are typically associated as being masculine, this woman would be portrayed as a lesbian. A homosexual male or female is rarely portrayed as an intelligent, well-rounded individual."

Tags:analysis, book, study, trumpet, women, jackie, kay, moody

Abstract
The word 'Hijra' is derived from Urdu, meaning 'Eunuch'. This paper aims to give a descriptive account of the origins of the Hijra with respect to Islam and Hinduism and that of their modern day community structure, whilst consequently highlighting the absolute identity transformation they experienced during these two transitional periods.
Outline
Introduction
Religious Role Derived From Hinduism
Historical Role of Hijras in Muslim Courts
The Hijra Community Today
Stigmatization vs. Honor
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The Hijra community is very similar in function to the Hindu Caste System. They are a sect of their own, united in like with the family system. There are seven nation-wide communal households known as gharanas for the most part in cities throughout Northern India, having their own history and rules of behaviour. Each household is head by a nayak who appoints a guru or a preacher trained to protect the community members, whose disciples are referred to as chelas or students and traditionally amount to about five per guru. Before entering the community, the hijra has to live in satla (female attire) and observe the community for at least a year. "

Tags:bhagavana, castration, eunuch, harem, hermophraditehomosexual, islam, mahabharata, mughal, ritual, sufism, transgender, transsexual, vedic

From the Paper
"M. Butterfly is a memory play in which author David Henry Hwang smoothly switches time and place throughout the play in order to reveal a story that is already known to the narrator and central character, Rene Gallimard. The play is constructed as an "evening" in the theater in which the speaker will take the viewers over his story until his "ideal audience" will come to envy him because he has been loved by "the Perfect Woman" (1936). Hwang (and Gallimard) assume that the audience is already somewhat familiar with the outlines of the story. Yet, just in case anyone is not clear on it, a certain amount of suspense is built in to the play. The opening conversations of the people at a party do not specifically state the case. Their remarks could be understood by anyone who knew the story and would offer hints to those who did not. But the gradual revelation of Song Li's..."

Abstract
This paper looks at the masculine character of the woman, Fefu in Maria Irene Forne's play "Fefu and Her Friends". It shows the various ways that Fefu strays from her traditional role as a woman as she gives up her gender to join the male forces in society.

From the Paper
"Feminism is an area of increasing interest and mystery especially in modern plays like Maria Irene Fornes' Fefu and Her Friends. Fefu, an antithesis to her stereotypical fellow women, serves as the bold, daring and "new cross-gender" type figure of the play. This broad spectrum of extreme levels of manhood portrayed by Fefu is equalized out and even supported by the overall characterizations of the women in the text. In turn, these characterizations of Fefu and her friends all come together to depict Fefu's "manhood." Although a woman, Fefu portrays herself as a strong, domineering character, like the stereotypical male, and tries to enforce this masculinity upon her friends."

Tags:masculinity, femininity, traditional, roles

Abstract
This paper analyzes the film "Boys Don't Cry" created in 1999, which explores how we identify gender and differentiate between the masculine and the feminine. The paper describes the story of the female Teena Brandon who masquerades herself as the male Brandon Teena. It illustrates visually that identity as male and female actually involves only a relative few visual and aural cues. The author writes that society does not tolerate that much freedom and that those who step too far outside the gender boundaries society has set are destroyed. The paper demonstrates how gender is not the only issue being tested in this film, for ideas about small towns, tolerance, and the threat of the outsider are also examined.

From the Paper
"The film Boys Don't Cry (1999, Kimberly Peirce) is based on a true story and raises numerous real-world issues in its story of a murder case in middle America in which the victim was a girl who successfully passed herself off as a boy. The film delves into gender issues, questions of identity, and the ethics of interpersonal relationships. First, the viewer asks why so many people were fooled for such a long time by this masquerade."

Tags:movie, murder, america, victim, girl, boy, gender, identity, ethics, interpersonal, relationships, masquerade, teena, brandon

Abstract
Sexual difference is a recent addition to studies of gender. It is generally defined as the intersection between biological sex, social aspects of gender, as well as the impact of sexuality. In effect, it posits that none of these are mutually exclusive, that they combine to create "gender identity." It particular, this paper looks at how transgenderism poses challenges to this - and how it asks why these intersections come in to play and what the costs of incongruity between the three are. This paper looks at drag performance, 'true' transgenderism, and shemale porn in this context, asking whether they each support or erode hegemonic ideals of sexual difference. By looking at the specific gender performances in each category, drag can be presented as subversive to ideas of sexual difference, transgenderism can be perceived as supportive of sexual difference, and shemale porn unintentionally falls somewhere in the middle - it is both subversive and supportive.

Outline
Drag - Entertainment and Political Subversion
True Transgenderism - Replications of Hegemony?
Shemale Porn - Dominance, Subjugation and 'Faking It'
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Raymond suggests that transsexuality, without the option of surgery, "could turn our sexual order upside down because it evades the impact of both socialization and biology as instances of sex typing" (cited in de Castro, 1993, p 88). In other words, transgenderism could have the political effect of drag performance everyday, on all people. Drag, unfortunately, only has the opportunity to challenge hegemonic norms at specific and scheduled times, to a limited (usually paying, interested, and open-minded) audience. However, by escaping into surgery, by 'matching' gender and biology, it is argued that transgendered people give up that opportunity in order to participate in the dichotomous thinking of our gender-repressive society."

Tags:biological, constructionism, feminism, hegemonic, hegemony, masculine, men, porn, pornography, power, sex, sexuality

From the Paper
"Playwright David Henry Hwang's M. Butterfly is based on a true story. In 1964, a French diplomat stationed in China fell in love with a native Chinese opera singer, lived with her for twenty years, and believed he had fathered a child by her, and then discovered she was a man. One would expect Hwang's play to be a farce -- and yet it is not a farce at all. It is a deeply riveting study of not only the psychology of two individuals but of the way the West stereotypes the East and prefers its fantasies to the reality of a changing Orient."

Tags:butterflies, madame

Abstract
The paper explains how the play and film of "M. Butterfly" both tell the same story in much the same way, but there are some details that are very different and the way elements are emphasized is different. It shows how both the play and the film raise the same essential question for the viewer, though, a question that was originally raised by the true story on which each is based: Given that the diplomat in the story has an affair for several years with a man dressed as a woman and claimed not to know that this was a man and not a woman, how is this possible?

From the Paper
"The external world of the film is more realistic than the "suggested" world of the stage, and this also undercuts the way the play deals with the conflict between reality and illusion because it makes reality more real and the illusion more obviously an illusion. The way Hwang develops Song Liling contributes to the essential deconstruction of Madame Butterfly, for while Song Liling decries the story of the opera, he makes use of it to seduce Gallimard and plays the part of Cio-Cio San in their relationship. "

Tags:French, diplomat, Rene, Gallimard, John, Lone, Song, Liling

Abstract
This paper looks at all that is involved when changing genders. The author looks at both the surgical procedures along with the psychological implications. Detailed discussion of the surgical procedure is included -- and we therefore warn anyone before purchasing this paper that graphic accounts are given.

From the Paper
"Transsexualism is defined in the Mosby's Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Dictionary as "a condition in which a person has an intense desire to discard one's biologic sex and live as a member of the opposite sex. It is considered a psychiatric disorder if the condition continues for more than 2 years. Some transsexual individuals crossdress and seek medical or surgical help to change their physical sex characteristics". Transexualism is marked by the belief of the individual that he or she was born into the wrong sex and should be the other. This is a conviction that usually dates back as far as the individual can remember and does not seem to be subject to change through life experiences. It can also be defined as extreme gender dysphoria. There is also a set of terminology created by the transgendered community that is now being adopted by the medical community. For example, a femisexual is a transsexual who crosses the gender barriers from male to female, having completed genital surgery whereas a mascusexual is a female-to-male transsexual who has completed genital surgery. Complisexual is a broad term to refer to individuals who are either femisexual or mascusexual. Treatment of transsexualism is aimed at helping the individual match their "inner sense" to their outward appearance and body, usually through hormone therapy and surgery. There are several theories as to what causes one to be a transsexual. Some are neurobiological while many older ones are psychosocial."

Tags:change, gender, perceptions, reassignment, self, sex, surgery, tg, transgender