Concept Paper As An Extended Definition of A Woman

CONCEPT PAPER
Extended Definition of the Term Woman
The term "woman" is simple yet complicated depending on how it is interpreted.

According to Tanner and Zihlman (1976), historically, biologically, socially, and culturally, the
definition of a woman has evolved. From the perspective of others, a woman could identify as a
woman, without the need to provide concrete evidence. Others would say that a woman is a
social construct that varies across cultures and periods. Still, the question remains about how
someone could know if that human being identifies or considers itself as a woman. This concept
paper addresses the vast differences in the term "woman" in different aspects.
From a biological point of view, a woman is an adult female human able to give birth and
to menstruate through natural causes. Having the normal XX chromosomes causes the females to
develop female reproductive organs during embryonic development such as the ovaries, produce
milk, and the capacity to bear offspring or childbirth. This view is well-supported by evidence
such as science, which defines biological differences between sexes The continuing change in
the definition of the word "woman "is still yet to be examined in a much more comprehensive
and holistic manner. However, biology alone does not define a woman as the term evolved
throughout the generations; one may not define a woman in biological terms because of its
stigma. Transgender women or women with intersex conditions are the examples behind it.
The generation today has a different perspective and meaning of what a woman is, gender
roles and identity are some of the key characteristics in understanding them. Gender identity is
distinct from biological sex as it differs from an individual's sense of their gender disregarding
whether or not they were born female or male. Gender expression also defines womanhood; it is
one's ability to include clothing choices, hairstyles, and other forms of self-expression to
represent oneself through appearance, behavior, and mannerisms in the community. One thing
that molds a person's gender expression is societal expectations, pressure, and what is culturally
defined as normalcy. This is perceived as abnormal to the "norm," therefore imposing pressure
on the individual to adhere to the view of traditional feminine perception, which prescribes what
a woman should do or play. In truth, most women challenge this, embracing their uniqueness,
embracing the diverseness of femininity, and, in the long run, rejecting gendered expectations.
The definition of the term 'woman' is, therefore, still in an evolutionary process in terms of
describing what it is to be one in this very contemporary society.
This brings us to the definition of a woman who identifies as female, regardless of their
biological attributes. Transgender women, for example, identify as a women even though she
was assigned as male at birth, not aligning with their gender identity. This indicates how difficult
it is to define a woman since it has biological as well as psychological connotations aspects. The
idea of gender identity permits one to assume a woman’s role instead of being constrained by the
observable attributes of the body. This premise appreciates the realities of transgendered women
and other individuals who do not conform to the biological standards. This also recognizes that
gender is not binary but rather fluid and a certain majority identifies as gender non-conforming,
thereby expanding today’s definition of a woman.
In conclusion, the term "woman" is multi-layered, encompassing biology and gender

identity. It requires a certain amount of knowledge to fully understand what it means to be a
woman. This ongoing dialogue demonstrates the complexity of gender in modern society, where
both biological and gender identity perspectives contribute to a more comprehensive
understanding of what it means to be a woman. Race, class, and culture also influence this
definition as there are different experiences for women across different backgrounds. Moreover,
the position of women in the professional or domestic spheres, as well as socially has been
changing, thus challenging the conventional wisdom of what is considered feminine. Legal and
policy frameworks are also changing in line with these new world views, with the majority of
states today permitting multiple gender identities and prohibiting discrimination on the grounds
of gender identity.
References:
Morgenroth, T., & Ryan, M. K. (2020). The Effects of Gender Trouble: An integrative
theoretical framework of the perpetuation and Disruption of the Gender/Sex Binary.
Perspectives on Psychological Science, 16(6), 1113–1142.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691620902442
Nielsen, M. W., Stefanick, M. L., Peragine, D., Neilands, T. B., Ioannidis, J. P. A., Pilote,
L., Prochaska, J. J., Cullen, M. R., Einstein, G., Klinge, I., LeBlanc, H., Paik, H. Y., &
Schiebinger, L. (2021). Gender-related variables for health research. Biology of Sex
Differences, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13293-021-00366-3
Tanner, N., & Zihlman, A. (1976). Women in Evolution. Part I: Innovation and Selection
in Human Origins. Signs, 1(3, Part 1), 585–608. https://doi.org/10.1086/493245

Concept Paper As An Extended Definition of A Woman

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Concept Paper As An Extended Definition of A Woman

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Concept Paper As An Extended Definition of A Woman

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CONCEPT PAPER

Extended Definition of the Term Woman

The term "woman" is simple yet complicated depending on how it is interpreted.

In conclusion, the term "woman" is multi-layered, encompassing biology and gender

theoretical framework of the perpetuation and Disruption of the Gender/Sex Binary.

Perspectives on Psychological Science, 16(6), 1113–1142.

Schiebinger, L. (2021). Gender-related variables for health research. Biology of Sex

Differences, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13293-021-00366-3

in Human Origins. Signs, 1(3, Part 1), 585–608. https://doi.org/10.1086/493245

You might also like