How does gender vary across cultures? According to Margaret Mead’s research, each group or culture thinks its way of distinguishing and defining gender is the right way and the natural way. Mead says...

How does gender vary across cultures? According to Margaret Mead’s research, each group or culture thinks its way of distinguishing and defining gender is the right way and the natural way. Mead says all cultures develop cultural explanations for gender differences and cultural standards for gender norms. Cross-cultural research looks at the universality and variety of gender among cultures. There is a universal division of labor by gender, which some consider functional and others consider a source of conflict derived from male domination. There is also universal gender inequality. Women’s status in a society is determined by the value the society places on physical strength and family size, by women’s economic autonomy, and by the allocation of responsibility for child care. Some societies have a third or even more gender categories, such as the berdache, and cultural rituals distinguishing men from women.