Jose Martinez GWS 210 Professor Keys 3/5/12 Gender Norm Violation Project Introduction Gender roles are changing in American society as men and women broaden their interest and activities. “It is now widely accepted that gender is a social construction, that sex and gender is something is all of us ‘do’,” says Lucal (Spade, Valentine p.22). As it is more accepting for women and men to take on roles of the opposite gender, it's still common to see certain norms violated. Gender norm violations can either transform the way in which we categorize ourselves or can hinder our progression towards equality. Thus the only way to test the direction society is heading to is by testing the norms we necessarily shouldn't partake in.
This paper will start with the most common beliefs for the gender-related pay differentials, and then look at how a society’s culture plays its part in the gender wage gap. A study breaking down explanation s for the gender wage gap into three levels to identify how culture plays a part on an individual level, an occupational level, and an organization-wide or industry level (Grosso & Smith, 2007). Then, another study discussed in this paper considers the correlation between the amounts of housework males and females are tasked with and how traditional gender roles at home relate to the work place. The study gives some insight on how traditional gender roles translate to a working environment and contributes to the gender wage gap (Chichilnisky & Frederiksen, 2008). Another study discussed in this paper takes a look at how a job segregation and stereotypes affect the career choices women make and how a
Sexuality has been evoked in multiple ways in the study of gender inequality. It may be considered as a possible motivating cause for inequality, examined for the ways it reflects or is affected by gender inequality, or incorporated as a peculiar tension between women and men that mediates both the causes and effects of gender inequality. Essentially everyone recognizes sexuality as critically important to gender inequality. (Sociology. About) Why have the roles of men and woman changed in today’s society?
In her publication titled “Gender Trouble”, Judith Butler presents her view that gender is a performative role in society, meaning that in order for gender identity to be genuinely expressed and understood, it must be conveyed openly in social spaces. Throughout her book she provides numerous examples of these “social spaces” that would be a necessary ground for women in order to better establish an identity in society. These include political representation, cultural movements, and the economic climate. These social spaces are presented in great depth and explain how they limit a person by identifying with a specific gender. In this paper, I will argue for Butler’s view on how certain gender performance is restricted in these numerous fields, and how Ms. Butler would object to these various situations.
Gender Constraints: Alice Munro’s “Boys and Girls” “Boys and Girls” written by Alice Munro uses several literary strategies to engage in the problems of oppression within a patriarchal society. In this story, a young girl is searching for her identity but realizes the restrictions that are going to be set on her because she is female. Munro’s text reveals the specific gender roles, which cause problems of oppression within a patriarchal society. Society sets certain standards and roles that are apparent for men and women to specifically follow; most members of society fall into these just by blindly doing what is expected of them, but like the main character who is a binary of what is expected of women in society, not all think they fit these standards. From the vivid descriptions, it is known that the girl is physically strong, adventurous and enjoys working outside, as the text states: “Besides carrying water I helped my father when he cut the long grass, and the lamb’s quarter and flowering money-musk, that grew between the pens”(572), typical characteristics used to describe male characters.
Among hundreds of countries and therefore in thousands societies are normal partly to create and produce this phenomenon, but does not negate the fact that with the current proceedings of the century we live in is totally unfair to segregate and degrade our gender. Mainly economic interests hide and stakes behind gender inequality, with the result human rights of either racial groups being ignored and controverted. The production of gender inequality mainly starts from, simple gender discrimination, the economic capacity of each individual, social status, culture and the civilization. Moreover globalization, ’’the masculine world’’, capitalism, poverty and misery from the human sex in certain third world countries, racism, religion and the upsurge of feminism the last two centuries composers production system of gender inequality. The main difference and inequality created between the genders, is the different biological structure and different genetic characteristics of a men and women.
While sex refers to the biological differences between male and female, gender refers to the socially constructed and variable categories of masculine and feminine. Men are the world leaders, policemen, and private security and military, women are the housekeepers and child caregivers. They are lower paid and work as repairers of the consequences of violence as nurses, psychologists and social workers. The United Nations regard gender equality as a human right. They point out that: empowering women is also an indispensable tool for advancing development and reducing poverty.
From changes in gender relations, introduction of newer media technologies and the variety of control now available today, a multitude of factors influence how gender representations are made by the media. Construction of Gender There are a number of contradictions in how ‘gender’ is constructed by the media today. Stories of rape fill the evening news
First I will discuss my experiences with gender discrimination, having opportunities taken away because I was female. Second, I will touch on the inequality of funding between men and women’s sports. And third, I will show how I was affected by the sexualization of females in sport. To start this journey of connecting my personal biography with the history of societal gender role attitudes I will briefly explain Mills concept of a sociological imagination and how larger societal issues often shape personal problems. To Mills, the sociological imagination is the ability to relate ones personal biography to society and its history as a whole.
Abstract Gender issues have become a topical issue of late with various groups advocating for gender equality and equity. Problems associated with gender stereotypes have also tended to feature strongly. This article looks at the subject of gender stereotypes in the wider society that we live in, its impact and possible ways of changing peoples’ mindsets. This article will also be supported by pictorial presentations based on some newspaper and magazine cuttings. What are gender stereotypes and how are they conveyed in our society?