Innatism

The argument

Innatism holds that the differences between genders are present from birth rather than acquired afterwards. On this view different genders are born with innate behavioural differences, dispositions that appear without being taught and that recur across circumstances rather than varying with how a particular child happens to be raised. Proponents argue that these differences are not arbitrary. They aid the differing and specific roles which genders are biologically designed for within society, so that the behavioural tendencies a person is born with fit the part they are suited to play. On this account the pattern that nurture is often credited with producing is in fact the expression of something already there: societies arrive at similar divisions of role not because they teach them but because they are organising around a distinction that precedes the teaching. What looks like socialisation shaping behaviour is, on this reading, socialisation following behaviour that was there first. The position is held on religious as well as biological grounds, and traditional Christian belief is offered as an instance of it. Christians who hold traditional views believe that men and women are created equal in the sight of God, and the equality is not qualified; neither is of greater worth than the other. But they also believe that while being equally important, men and women are created to be different, with different roles in society and in the Christian church. Difference of role, on this understanding, is part of how each was made rather than a ranking of one above the other, and the distinction between equal worth and distinct function is central to how the position is defended. Both strands point the same way. If behavioural differences between genders are innate rather than instilled, and if the roles that follow are grounded in how people are made, then gender is determined by biological factors rather than by upbringing.

Context

Innatism is a philosophy made famous by philosophers such as Plato and Descartes and is the claim of an instinctual, unlearned knowledge base which influences behavior. The Innatism philosophy extends to gender identity in society, claiming biological gender plays an active role in shaping personality. A belief in Innatism is often tied to a belief in religious values.

Premises

Counter-arguments

Forming evidence for specific innate knowledge, completely devoid from socialization is incredibly difficult, especially for a characteristic as defining as lgender. Gender is not universal, in that different genders play varying roles across different cultures, with many cultures recognizing more than two genders in society.

Rejecting the premises

Gender is not universal; different genders play varying roles across different cultures, so innate gender roles cannot exist.