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Chapter 5: Problem 7

With regard to women, Horney argues that an organism biologically built for female functions cannot be ruled psychologically by a wish for masculine attributes. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Whether one agrees or disagrees with Horney's statement is a matter of personal belief and understanding of human biology and psychology. An individual might agree, asserting that one's psychological identity can differ from their biological functions. This is visible in cases of gender dysphoria where the psychological gender conflicts with the biological sex of the person. Others might disagree with Horney's claim, arguing that an individual's psychology can indeed be influenced significantly by their biology. Either way, the discourse obliges the understanding of the complexity of gender identity and biological and environmental influences.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Statement

To start with, we need to interpret what Horney means when she asserts that an organism biologically built for female functions cannot be ruled psychologically by a wish for masculine attributes. Here, Horney seems to be arguing that the biological sex (defined by reproductive functions) of an individual does not necessarily determine the psychological gender – the ways in which they identify with or express masculinity or femininity. The first step would, therefore, be to understand the complexities of gender identity and the difference between biological sex and psychological gender.
02

Forming an Opinion

The next step is forming an opinion on the statement by considering both biological and psychological perspectives. Reflection on personal experiences and observations about how men and women function in the society could be helpful. One might also consider the roles of environmental and societal influences on gender identity, as well as scientific studies on the subject. It is vital to support the formed opinion with credible evidence, observations or experiences.
03

Explaining your Stance

The final step involves expressing the formed opinion clearly, in form of an argument. It would involve giving a statement of if you agree or disagree with Horney's claim and explaining why, while using supporting evidence. Remember to maintain an objective point of view, respect the complexity of the topic, and acknowledge limit to personal understanding of experiences different from your own.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Give a real-life example of a person who becomes angry toward someone who is weak because this weakness is a threatening reminder of what the person most dislikes about himself or herself.

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Give an example from your own life, or from the life of someone you know well, to support Horney's view that "it is a long and hard lesson for anybody to learn that others can neither hurt nor establish self-esteem."
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