in different ways and expecting different patterns of behavior from them. The division of the human species into two fundamental categories is based on sex. All societies elaborate this biological fact into nonbiological notions of

masculinity and femininity. These concepts refer not to sex but to gender, the culturally learned differences between men and women. How equal are the genders? Any analysis of sexual equality or inequality must confront the

biological, psychological and cultural similarities and differences.

vary even if they do not usually vary a great deal from culture to culture. A cross-cultural study could provide us with significant information about variation in gender roles among the many cultures of the globe. An interesting

content of masculinity and femininity is culturally defined. Although conceptions of gender vary, most societies are marked by inequalities between the sexes due to sexism. The culturally generated ideology can be described as the belief that one sex is inferior to another and that unequal treatment is therefore justified. Obviously, religion endorses sexism and this can be proven if we read through the sacred texts of all religions. The Koran, the sacred text of Islam, declares:

example as far as the significance of cross-cultural evidence is concerned is the investigation which was conducted by Margaret Mead ( 1935 ) . She investigated three isolated tribes in New Guinea. In one tribe, the Arapesh, men andwomen had remarkably similar attitudes and behavioural patterns. The men and women of the Mundugumor tribe, on the other hand, were typically selfish and aggressive, traits defined as more'masculine' in most Western societies.

Nevertheless, these cases are not identified very often and 'the overall cross-cultural tendency points to a very strong pattern of male dominance' ( I. Robertson ). For instance, even in the industrialized Western societies, high political status is still, almost, a males' privilege. This last fact points to another cross-cultural characteristic; different occupations have been divided according to gender. For example, home maintenance is usually considered a women's task while hunting a man's one. This means that the two sexes are treated differently in different cultures and

The third tribe, the Tchambuli, the female gender were domineering and dictarial

Some common words found in the essay are:
, Margaret Mead, Greek Orthodox, Gender Equality, gender roles, gender equality, Hall Coates, Henley Nancy, Robertson Ian, Differences Webpage, biological psychological cultural, psychological cultural, societies marked, sexism culturally, biological psychological, physical development, masculinity femininity, society women, women equal,
Approximate Word count = 1234
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)