...Socially Constructed Gender Roles “As we move through our lives, society demands different gender performances from us and rewards, tolerates, or punishes us differently for conformity to, or digression from, social norms. As children and later adults, learn the rules of membership in society they come to see themselves in terms they have learned from the people around them.” (Devor 387) Girls don’t sit like that. Close your legs you have on a dress. No you can’t play in the dirt, go comb your dolls hair. Growing up I wasn’t allowed to do many things my older brothers did. Simply because they were boys and I was a ‘girl.’ This often made me unhappy because the things they did seemed so exhilarating. Is it a boy or a girl? The first question posed when a new life is being brought into this world. Today’s society plays a huge role in the construction of gender. If you’re a boy one must act masculine, if female, one must act feminine. There is no in between for either gender. A “woman” is expected to stay...
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...Socially Constructed Gender Inequalities The socially constructed differences between the sexes in American society have severely infringed the rights of women in the workplace. Mary Blair-Loy’s piece “Competing Devotions: Career and Family among Women Executives,” indicates that a socially constructed family devotion schema defines women as having to stay at home in order to care for children, husband, and household, and therefore women are discouraged by society to hold a job. In the piece “An Overview of Sex Inequality at Work,” Padavic and Reskin further explain that women who are in the job market are excluded from certain male dominated jobs and are often paid and promoted less than male coworkers. Padavic and Reskin’s piece as well as Blair-Loy’s agree that the inequalities found in the workplace, including limited prospects for promotion of women and sex differences in earnings, directly limit the social opportunities of women and keep them subordinate and dominated by men. The constructed roles that men and women are expected to play in our society also affect social institutions such as the home, where women are stereotypically expected to be caregivers, and men are expected to be the breadwinners. Women face a very unfair challenge when deciding what role to play in their adult lives. They also face unwelcome pressure by society to choose one of two schemas that are revealed in the piece by Blair-Loy. In her work, she defines a family devotion schema, and...
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...What is the Difference Between ‘Sex’ and ‘Gender’? To start this essay I will clearly state definitions of ‘Sex’ and ‘Gender’ respectively. ‘Sex’ is described as ‘the biological properties that distinguish organisms on the basis of their reproductive roles.’(Princeton University – 2010). Whereas gender is listed as ‘the state of being male or female, typically with reference to social or cultural differences rather than biological.’(Michigan University – 2010). In this essay I will explore and investigate both sex and gender, whilst identifying the differences between the two. I will start by elaborating on the given definitions. Sex is defined on the Princeton University website as ‘biological’. This is a word that has recurred in many other definitions that I have researched for the word ‘sex’. This would suggest that sex is able to be categorized in a straight forward manner. However, there are several high profile cases in the media, when the issue of ‘sex’ has come into question. Perhaps most recently is the case of South African athlete, Caster Semanya. Semanya won the 800m race during the African Junior Championship, with the fastest time of the year. This lead to some spectators questioning her sex. When looking at the athlete she has an incredibly muscular and angular frame, and this coupled with her record breaking run made the International Athletic Association ask for a sex test. This case brought the issue of ‘sex’ into much disrepute. Now, we are...
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...Gender refers to the social attributes and opportunities associated with being male and female and the relationships between women and men and girls and boys, as well as the relations between women and those between men. These attributes, opportunities and relationships are socially constructed and are learned through socialization processes. They are context/ time-specific and changeable. Gender determines what is expected, allowed and valued in a woman or a man in a given context. In most societies there are differences and inequalities between women and men in responsibilities assigned, activities undertaken, access to and control over resources, as well as decision-making opportunities. Gender is part of the broader socio-cultural context. Other important criteria for socio-cultural analysis include class, race, poverty level, ethnic group and age. (UN Office of the Special Advisor on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women: 10/05/00) World Health Organization: The word gender is used to describe the characteristics, roles and responsibilities of women and men, boys and girls, which are socially constructed. Gender is related to how we are perceived and expected to think and act as women and men because of the way society is organized, not because of our biological differences. [9] Health Canada: Gender refers to the array of socially constructed roles and relationships, personality traits, attitudes, behaviours, values, relative power and influence that society ascribes...
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...challenging these confining attitudes and systems of understanding, allowing for performers to explore non-traditional notions of gender and sexuality. Research indicates that both gender and theatre are both socially constructed, performative acts. This study aims at investigating how certain performers interpret these contradictory aspects of theatre and the interplay between theater and gender performance. More specifically, as a researcher I am interested in how students at liberal arts...
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...DISCUSS FIVE FACTORS OF INEQUALITY IN OUR SOCIETY. Gender refers to socially constructed roles and responsibilities of women and men. The difference in roles and responsibilities among women and men stems from our families, societies and culture. The concept of gender includes our expectations about the characteristics, attitudes and behaviours of women and men, and is vital in facilitating gender analysis. The different roles, rights and resources that both the genders have in society are important determinants of the nature and scope of their inequality and poverty. Inequality in access to resources between women and men is most common in Poor and developing countries. Gender inequality refers to inequality in conditions among women and men for realizing their full human rights. It refers to unequal treatment or perceptions of individuals based on their gender. It arises from differences in socially constructed gender roles as well as biologically through chromosomes, brain structure, and hormonal differences. Gender systems are often dichotomous and hierarchical; gender binary systems may reflect the inequalities that manifest in numerous dimensions of daily life. Gender inequality stems from distinctions, whether empirically grounded or socially constructed. There are factors that influence gender inequality in our society. Some of these factors are...
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...How do sociologists draw a distinction between sex and gender? The difference between sex and gender causes much controversy between sociologists. The definition of sex does not cause much debate: Sex is physical and refers to biological differences. On the other hand, gender is psychological and so causes more disputes as interpretations differ between societies and cultures. This is due to the common sense ideas societies have regarding culture and additionally whether gender is nature or nurture. It can also be said that gender is socially constructed which will also be looked at. Sex is easily defined as “the biological distinction between females and males” and is commonly seen to have six main factors associated: chromosome make up (females having XX and male having XY), reproductive organs, external genitals, hormonal states, internal genitals and secondary sex characteristics. Sex is commonly seen as a biological term based on nature which is why there is not much argument over the definition. People are either classified as male or female, however, there are some exceptions as if a child is born with too many or too few X or Y chromosomes they may have the chromosome make up of one sex and the genitals of another. However, gender is not seen as an inbuilt trait but instead refers to “the social aspects of differences and hierarchies between male and female” which means that gender suggests the behaviours and aspects a particular group (society or culture) consider...
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...Name: Tutor: Course: Date: Empowerment: How are gender and race socially constructed? From a social construction point of view, gender and race don’t mean anything. They have meaning because the society defines a meaning for them (Judith, 1998). By social construction, we mean how the society group people and how it gives certain groups an advantage over others. For instance, somebody believes that he is a man only because the society says he is a man, not because he wants to be a man. One has no choice to become what he or she wish, but must follow the classification the society has defined. According to Ruth (1993) our daily lives are influenced by race and gender, whether we are aware of it or not. Everyone sees life through a racial lens that colors our society. This view leads to the racial formation. Judith (1998) defines racial formation as a socio-historical process whereby categories are formed, inhibited, changed, and destroyed. By socio-historical, Judith (1998) meant that race was created and given meaning by society due to the many historical events that happened over time. The society classifies people as white, black, Asian or any other minority group (Ruth, 1993). Therefore, the way are seen and how we see other people affects different aspects of our lives. These elements can include the type of friends we have, the kind of job we have, and the amount of money we make. They may also include the type of school we attend and many other things that make us...
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...Gender And Its Social Unstoppable Construction Abstract This paper provides information about the social construction of gender. Research from seven different journal articles organized into the categories of children, men, women, and the culture of Bugistribe, Indonesia.The understanding of gender roles is evident in children, even at the age of three years old. Studies show that parent’s set unclear norms regarding gender roles, which confuses kids. Moreover, there is historical background on social construction and women. The importance of the role of beauty in the female gender role showing how young women are being more sexualized. Also, the role of eating disorders in men and women’s genders is addressed. Men’s struggle with masculinity in present society as well as fear of feminism is talked about. Finally, the Bugis tribe, located in South Sulawesi, Indonesia is studied. Their five separate genders show a fascinating look at social construction. Gender And Its Social Unstoppable Construction Gender is an extremely captivating concept. The social construction of gender is an extensive and complicated subject. Looking at the views children have of gender roles shows social construction. Studying how women’s gender roles are socially constructed with feminine behavior is very interesting. Also is fascinating how men attempt to balance and uphold masculinity. Finally, gender in other cultures, specifically the Bugis tribe of Indonesia, have extremely different takes...
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...yelling. This conflict leads to Keith deciding that the boys are not a good fit and need to go back to the agency. David on the other hand has bonded with the brothers and insists that they keep them. After having the brothers for awhile David expresses feeling like a single mother who is left to do all of the work by himself because of Keith's lack on interest in them. David makes Keith feel guilty for working all the time and not spending time with the boys and convinces him to attend Durrell's school play. After they attend the play things start to improve for the family and they begin working towards a healthy and happy life together. David and Keith's relationship with Anthony and Durrell defies many social norms and socially constructed ideas...
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...stereotypes of what is considered masculine and feminine traits. Most women tend to be feminine as they wear makeup, dresses, miniskirts, and are soft spoken. On the other hand, men are seen as dominant, and in athletic apparel, or casual clothing. But not every female nor male fits these stereotypes. I have changed the aspect of myself from the perceived philosophies of dressing in femininity. I have created a gender argument producing an identity that does not precisely match my so called gender. I argue that cross dressing on a woman does not define a woman’s gender nor sexuality. With what is considered male clothing, I am still a woman. My intentions are to show the relationship between gender and sex and how gender and sex is socially constructed. To address the nature of identity through feminist ideas and how it is represented. I offer to show that one's...
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...Essay: Distinguish between sex and gender and explain its implications for feminist theory Click here and here for two recent articles on contemporary Feminism from the New Statesman Magazine and here for a recent Observer article on biology, culture and gender. Click here for Varieties of Feminism In many past societies men and women have performed significantly different social roles and despite a range of economic, political and social changes such differences persist to a considerable extent in the contemporary world. For example in the case of the UK women are still more likely than men to take disproportionate responsibility for childcare and housework; their employment opportunities, although improving, are still worse than men’s and although they finally gained the right to vote in 1928 they are still much less likely than men to become local councillors, MPs or government ministers. There has been great controversy surrounding the extent to which these differences in social roles are explicable by biological sexual differences or by gender differences which are socially constructed rather than biologically determined. Sexual differences refer to biological differences between males and females such that there are variations between males and females in their chromosomes, their reproductive organs and their relative production of different hormones which in turn result in a range of physical differences. Males are on average hairier, have deeper voices and...
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...INTRODUCTION Television programs can reflect already existing gender roles that segregate men and women in modern society. This segregation supports the biological determinist argument that gender roles are embedded in us since the day we were born. Proponents of biological determinism apply the logic that sex determines one gender, thus each gender has different social and psychological dispositions (Baxi 2017). With new research and historical context, sociologists have determined that sex and gender are two different concepts. Sex is considered to be the biological and physiological difference between males and female, whereas gender is a concept that has been socially constructed through culture (Baxi 2017). The sociological argument supports...
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...primary to secondary school has affected the Teso community in Kenya. The UNESCO report (2009) guided the researcher to observe that the transition rate from primary to secondary school was 62%. And it was observed that the enrollment of girls and boys was 57% and 66% respectively. (Page 4) Government of Kenya (2009) report also aided the researcher to find that the enrollment for girls at secondary level decreases to below 30% from 50% of the total enrollment at primary school level. (Page 6) 2. Emancipatory/ Advocacy/ Participatory approach/paradigm This paradigm places central importance on the lives and experiences of the diverse groups that traditionally have been marginalized. In this case study, the researcher used this paradigm in gender disparities and how it has affected the world and the Teso community. It was observed that there has been rapid increase in the...
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...addition to this definition, hunger can also be defined as a weakened condition brought about by prolonged lack of food. Individuals of all races, genders, and ages experience hunger. Hunger is a global issue that can be viewed through the three sociological lenses of social constructionism, functionalism,...
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