Gender or sex refers to the socially constructed categories of feminine and masculine which are the cultural identies and values that prescribe how men and women should behave. The social power relations based on those categories are distinct from the categories of biological sex (male or female) (Germov, 2009, p. 131). Gender refers to the social aspects of differences and hierarchies between male and female. (Macionis, 2008, p. 367). Gender is understood as a system of relations, a social product constantly negotiated and redefined that both constrains and provides opportunity for action.
Fulcher & Scott (2011) believe gender to examine the differences between men and women in relation to feeling, thinking and behaving. When focusing on gender and how it is socially constructed, this essay will first determine the distinction between gender and sex, the inequalities between genders in relation to health and employment, and finally, will consider the extent to which gender is socially or biologically constructed. Sociological thinking of gender is relatively new in the sociological realm. It was only from the 1970s that sociologists began to make a distinction between gender and sex. The women’s movement and the consequent development of feminist ideas in the 1960s and 1970s influenced the question of gender and began emphasise the importance of gender as a concept of its own.
In order to understand Salamon's argument however it is first necessary to provide a clear analysis of Feinburg's theory. Feinburg argues that transgendered people have been historically subjected as invisible by a society that rejects gender difference. Through this observation, Feinburg suggests that theory has a key part in helping with the circulation of social change because it can steer action. With this in mind, Feinburg claims that the relation between history and theory are simple through the idea that gender can be explained through the social construction of languages. To illustrate this idea, Feinburg (2010) states, 'History is the record of past experience.
In this assignment, I am going to briefly explore the definitions of Functionalism and Feminism and how their ideologies affect our contemporary societies. In doing so I will give examples that expand upon the definitions and illustrate that such ideologies are evident and still have an impact on the society we live in. FUNCTIONALISM 1) The theory of design that the form of a thing should be determined by its use. 2) Any doctrine that stresses people. (Sourced form the Dictionary) Functionalism is a sociological paradigm that originally attempted to explain social institutions as collective means to fill individual biological needs.
From the very moment we are born, our gender plays a vital role in shaping our lives. It determines our identity through our attitudes, our behaviours, and the path in which our life is going to take due to status, stereotyping, gender roles (McDermott & Hatemi 2011). Whilst gender and sex are commonly grouped together, they do not mean the same thing. A person’s sex refers to the biological characteristics distinguishing male and female, whereas gender refers to the social, cultural and psychological components of what it means to be feminine or masculine. This implies that all people can be placed into either category, when it isn’t in fact this simple.
Mary Wollstonecraft uses radical ideas and societal problems throughout “On National Education (1792)” to provide support for her opinion on social progress and equality. Christine de Pizan uses metaphorical writing to reinforce the idea of equality between men and women. Both authors use problems and events that are occurring during their individual time period to support their point of equality. Although both of these women lived in a time period very spread out from the other, the single idea of equality has been constant. Wollstonecraft and Pizan both use and present their individual society in a way that would promote equality by the society itself; however, one can argue that Wollstonecraft and Pizan, no matter how radical their ideas
They changed the way society viewed the women’s role at home, in the work place, and they also changed the access that women had to education. Without them, everything about the women of the 21st century would be different. Some major freedoms the women of today take for granted would
By the time we reached late childhood and adolescence our concept of gender identity and sexual orientation is firmly entrenched (Wood, 2010). Our behavior, aspirations and attitudes is also strongly influenced by the gender role expectations in particular cultures. This essay will relate, contrast sex and gender in society and how important it is for sociologists to distinguish them both. The term “sex” is the natural biological genetic makeup that distinguishes males from females and in particular the sexual organs and their characteristics. Bodies are, so we think, natural, God- given, sacred, hardwired.
122 As a process, gender creates the social differences that define “woman” and “man.” In social interaction throughout their lives, individuals learn what is expected, see what is expected, act and react in expected ways, and thus simultaneously construct and maintain the gender order pg. 123 As part of a stratification system, gender ranks men above women of the same race and class pg. 123 The dominant categories are the hegemonic ideals, taken so for granted as the way things should be that white is not ordinarily thought of as race, middle class or men as a gender. The characteristics of these categories define the Other as that which lacks the valuable qualities the dominants exhibit. Pg.
That is, when society assigns a master status (i.e. social label) upon another member of that society, the labeled person’s social mobility largely depends upon the attributes (i.e. characteristics) associated with that social category. For example, the simplest form of social categorization is based upon gender – identifying and labeling someone as either male or female. However, this label can then be used to limit the individual based upon socially prescribed gender roles.