RETHINKING SEX AND GENDER

In the history of the concept of gender, through the work of Margaret Mead, sex role theorists, and Ann Oakley, we find a progressive denaturalisation of the division of labour and psychological differences between men and women, and a stress on cultural variation. But none of these authors, nor most recent feminist work, has questioned the assumption that gender is based on a natural, sexual dichotomy. Delphy argues, however, that the link between sex and gender, and sex, sexuality, and procreation, should be questioned by feminists, and that it then becomes clear that gender precedes sex. It is the social division of labour, and associated hierarchical relations, which lead to physiological sex being used to differentiate those who are assigned to be dominant from those who will be part of the subordinate gender/class.