for example, if i tell you about an individual in this box (without specifying their sex or gender) and describe them as follows: > they (i'll used this pronoun for the person in the box) wear makeup, have long hair, and wear skirts, dresses, and heels. if i then ask you whether this person is a man or a woman, you would most likely say they are a woman. this answer would be based on gender, not biological reasons, since the characteristics mentioned are commonly associated with women in the society where you live. conversely, if i describe another individual in the same box as follows: > this person is a craftsman, builds things where they live, and, due to water scarcity in their area, regularly carries water from a river to their home. if i ask whether this individual is a man or a woman, you might say they are a man (although it could be anyone). your response would likely be "man" because the qualities and characteristics described are more commonly associated with men in your society. if your answer is "man," it does not mean it is incorrect. but... in fact, the person in the box that i have described is a woman. she is an african woman from the himba tribe in namibia, where women perform roles such as carrying water and building structures. what i want to illustrate with this is that the reason we label someone as "man" or "woman" is not biological but social. the perception of gender depends on the characteristics a society associates with men or women. therefore, depending on the society in which you live, these characteristics might lead you to identify these individuals in the box as men or women, as gender expectations vary according to social and cultural contexts.
Dominican Republic