Changes

[[Anthropology]] has shown that masculinity itself has [[social status]], just like [[wealth]], [[race]] and social class. In western [[culture]], for example, greater masculinity usually brings greater social status. Many [[English]] [[words]] such as [[virtue]] and virile (from the [[Latin]] and [[Sanskrit]] roots vir meaning man) [[reflect]] this.[7][8] An association with [[physical]] and/or [[moral]] [[strength]] is implied. Masculinity is associated more commonly with adult men than with boys.

[[Anthropology]] has shown that masculinity itself has [[social status]], just like [[wealth]], [[race]] and social class. In western [[culture]], for example, greater masculinity usually brings greater social status. Many [[English]] [[words]] such as [[virtue]] and virile (from the [[Latin]] and [[Sanskrit]] roots vir meaning man) [[reflect]] this.[7][8] An association with [[physical]] and/or [[moral]] [[strength]] is implied. Masculinity is associated more commonly with adult men than with boys.

 

A great deal is now known about the development of masculine characteristics. The [[process]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_differentiation sexual differentiation] specific to the reproductive system of Homo sapiens produces a female by default. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SRY_gene SRY gene] on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y_chromosome Y chromosome], however, interferes with the default process, causing a chain of [[events]] that, all things being equal, leads to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testes testes] formation, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgen androgen] production and a range of both natal and post-natal hormonal effects covered by the terms masculinization or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virilization virilization]. Because masculinization redirects [[biological]] [[processes]] from the default female route, it is more precisely called defeminization.

A great deal is now known about the development of masculine characteristics. The [[process]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_differentiation sexual differentiation] specific to the reproductive system of Homo sapiens produces a female by default. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SRY_gene SRY gene] on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y_chromosome Y chromosome], however, interferes with the default process, causing a chain of [[events]] that, all things being equal, leads to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testes testes] formation, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgen androgen] production and a range of both natal and post-natal hormonal effects covered by the terms masculinization or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virilization virilization]. Because masculinization redirects [[biological]] [[processes]] from the default female route, it is more precisely called defeminization.