In the article “Becoming a Member of Society: Learning the Social Meanings of Gender” by Aaron H. Devor, Devor discusses how gender is formed in society. Normally, femininity and masculinity appear to be “natural,” rather than something caused by socialization. Although, in this article, Devor finds that while there are obviously biological reasons behind why you choose the gender you choose, there are also social factors that play a role in how masculinity and femininity are created. In this article, Devor discusses what defines one as male and the other as female. Devor also briefly touched on how the two genders intertwine to create a sort of communion. Devor should have delved into how male and female characteristics can be seen as having a yin and yang relationship. So what exactly do I mean by a “yin and yang relationship”? Yin and yang is a Chinese concept involved in Asian philosophy that is used to describe how polar opposites or contrasting forces exist in relationship and are interdependent on each other. Yin cannot exist without yang, and yang cannot exist without yin, just as light cannot exist without darkness and vice versa. Although opposites, they do not oppose each other, but complement each other through their differences and interact as a greater whole. In this case, the larger whole is gender and how the two genders interact with each other (especially in terms of attraction). Masculinity and femininity are both necessary to be able to identify and define the other gender. So what exactly is defined as feminine and masculine, masculine characteristics and feminine characteristics? What is considered masculine and feminine can be defined in various ways. Firstly, it is... middle of the card... compared to what the other lacks, the two genders are capable of creating a unification/harmony between the two genders. Devor didn't really dedicate himself to this sort of unification between the sexes through their differences, but he very well could have done so. The relationship between the two genders involving masculinity and femininity is very similar to that between yin and yang. The characteristics of masculinity and femininity are completely opposite, but instead of causing a hierarchy, they can attract and complement each other through their differences to create a harmonious unity between the two sexes. Works Cited Devor, Aaron. “Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social Meanings of Gender.” Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing.Ed. Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen and Bonnie Lisle. Boston, NY: Bedford/St. Martin's, 1995. 424-431. Press.