Final answer:
The belief that sexes have fixed traits such as women being nurturing and men being logical is an example of 'biological determinism' and 'gender essentialism'. Feminist ethics question these views and suggest societal factors influence gender roles. The perspective of gender roles are also seen in 'occupational sorting' shaping labor divisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Believing that gender imparts nonmodifiable traits, such as women being inherently nurturing and men innately logical, is an example of biological determinism. This philosophy posits that inherent sex differences dictated by biology are the reason for distinct behaviors between men and women. Such thoughts align with the broader concept of gender essentialism, which maintains that gender characteristics are fundamental, immutable qualities. Gender essentialism is frequently criticized as it underpins many stereotypes and overlooks the cultural and social influences on gender roles and identities.
The belief that gender roles evolved as part of our natural development, as proposed by sociobiologists during the 1970s, supports the idea that certain characteristics are naturally ascribed to men and women. However, feminist ethics challenges these traditional views and argues for a recognition of how societal, rather than biological, factors often dictate gender roles and perceptions of gender identity.
These perspectives on gender are particularly visible in the division of labor within both historical and modern societies, with occupational sorting into roles traditionally seen as masculine or feminine. Contrasting views of gender roles, from functionalism to feminist ethics, demonstrate the complexity of unraveling the nature versus nurture debate regarding human behavior and social norms.