Is there such a thing as “natural” male and female behavior? Or are all gendered behaviors culturally imposed? Share your perspective!
I am going to say yes and no to the questions but also add that we can observe an exceptionally wide range of overlapping behaviors to the point where only a very few might be considered specifically male or female.
The the first question I would point to physiological functions such as the potential for child birth and menstruation being entirely female and the potential for production of sperm to be entirely male. Having said that I do not believe that the lack of these physiological functions makes one any less female or male. Genetically speaking two X chromosomes = female and XY chromosomes = male.
However, I would consider these to be bodily functions/characteristics not behaviors. I would say that any behavior that is not related to one of the specifically male or female physiological functions is not inherently male or female. As in my answer to the question of what determines our behavior I hold that the social and cultural influences in most cases determine our behavior whether male or female. I would also say that as noted in the article gendered behaviors are culturally specific and that different sexes take on different behaviors according to their culture for the most part.