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Gender

This research guide covers aspects of gender and was created in collaboration with Professor Rusu during the Winter 2022 semester. Each page addresses a specific topic and provides resources and varying perspectives on the ideas. The material provided is intended for academic research and discussion. 

What is gender? According to Judith Lorber, “Gender is one of the most influential factors based on which our daily living is organized” (2006).  Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (KJV).

Learn more about this important and often controversial topic by exploring the following pages. Definitions of addressed topics are provided on the next page. 

Databases

Explore these ideas through scholarly materials in the following databases. Please note, Southern Adventist University username and password is required. 

Statistics

Perspectives

Encyclopedia of Sex and Gender

The central aim of this encyclopedia is to give the reader a comparative perspective on issues involving conceptions of gender, gender differences, gender roles, relationships between the genders, and sexuality.

She/He/They/Them

She/he/they/them. Why do we use gender pronouns? And why do some people wish to be referred to as "they"? What is gender identity all about? Students will learn to understand these terms and the reasons behind them. They will also learn how to deal with questions they may have about gender identity.

Human Diversity: The Biology of Gender, Race, and Class

The thesis of Human Diversity is that advances in genetics and neuroscience are overthrowing an intellectual orthodoxy that has ruled the social sciences for decades. The core of the orthodoxy consists of three dogmas: - Gender is a social construct. - Race is a social construct. - Class is a function of privilege. The problem is that all three dogmas are half-truths. They have stifled progress in understanding the rich texture that biology adds to our understanding of the social, political, and economic worlds we live in. It is not a story to be feared. "There are no monsters in the closet," Murray writes, "no dread doors we must fear opening." But it is a story that needs telling. Human Diversity does so without sensationalism, drawing on the most authoritative scientific findings, celebrating both our many differences and our common humanity.

Understanding Transgender Identities

Authors who hold differing perspectives on transgender identities model thoughtful dialogue around a controversial theological issue.

Same Difference

A landmark demonstration of how groundless beliefs about natural differences between the sexes have harmed both women and men-with a hopeful vision based on up-to-the-minute research. From respected academics like Carol Gilligan to pop-psych gurus like John Gray, the message has long been the same: Men and women are fundamentally different, and trying to bridge the gender gap can only lead to grief. Generations have bought into the idea that women are uniquely primed to be relational, men innately driven toward achievement-even when these truths are contradicted by what's happening in our daily lives.The time has come, to liberate ourselves from biological determinism. Drawing on years of exhaustive research, the authros reveal how a toxic mix of junk science, pop psychology, and media hype has profoundly influenced our thinking and behavior, causing us to make poor decisions about how we choose our mates, raise our children, and manage our careers.

Sexual Integrity