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 her article, "Boys of the Lex", Gayle Salamon argues that "how we embody gender is how we theorize gender, and to suggest otherwise is to misunderstand both theorization and embodiment" (576) Salamon strengthens her argument through her analysis of a calendar which focuses on gay "boys" gender performance. Through this analysis, Salamon argues that the boys of the Lex demonstrate that gender is theorized in how gender is lived and embodied. Yet when a distinction is placed between the theorizing and the performance of gender expression, Salamon questions the purpose of this distinction. Salamon supports her argument by challenging Leslie Feinburg's assumption that gender can simply be explained through the social construction of language. In order to understand Salamon's argument however it is first necessary to provide a clear analysis of Feinburg's theory.
In every society, both males and females are taught what is acceptable to do in their society through gender socialization. Gender Socialization is the process in which such attitudes and behaviors are learned that are expected of males and females. This is done in several agents of socialization. Because males and females are taught differently, sexism and stereotypes about the opposite gender exist. Sexism is the mistreatment or discrimination of a person because of their gender.
This implies that all people can be placed into either category, when it isn’t in fact this simple. Sex is an attributed status, whereas gender must be learned. The learned behaviours of what it is to be a ‘woman’ in society is one engulfed in many inequalities. In this analysis of gender issues, I would like to particularly focus on women and gender equality. The question to be looked at is ‘What does it mean to be a woman?’Although there has been some progress in the past 30 years, particularly in women’s education and employment equality, there are still many inequalities and also more inconspicuous issues affecting the women of today including domestic violence and rape and sexual abuse and I would like to look further into this.
I feel that our concepts of gender and sex contribute to the ways we embrace gender and sex in diversity. I feel that we look at males in one light and females in another, we all at some point expect men to be the ones that are tough, and brave and look at women as being emotional. When it could be the other way around. There are still those who feel that women should be home makers and not working to where men should be out bringing home the bacon. Do our concepts of gender and sex contribute to our understanding of sexual orientation?
These classifications among men and women help to set a barrier to show the differences each gender has on society and how these common tendencies they acquire start to develop who they are. As Thompson points out it is clear and easy to discover a females writing from a males writing because it is simply the fact that, “women talk about people, men talk about things” (Atwan 89). These trends are what have been labeled as the common capabilities and expectations of each
Brave New World Timed Writing Throughout our society in this current day and age, it seems to be one of the most, if not the most crucial thing to a person to be socially accepted by others. Conforming to society is what will get a person to be acknowledged and desired by others. However, a person will often go through countless episodes of moral questioning and introspect. This idea of the tension between a character's outward conformity and inward questioning acts as a strong theme throughout the novel, Brave New World. The author, Aldous Huxley, demonstrates this theme through means of one particular character, Lenina.
The divergent communication styles of men and women, referred to as “genderlects” by Deborah Tannen, are often the impetus behind relationship problems. But before one goes into the blame game of accusing others of not listening, the styles of communication for both men and women must be examined as if one is investigating two diverse cultures. Tannen says that “each partner [in a relationship] is operating within a different
Many debates have happened whether or not these women approach feminism for their time period. The answer to that is ambiguous and depends on how the reader takes in their writings. One can say that even though Wollstonecraft is so obviously pining for co-education, and in that way to be equal to men, she is not promoting equality for anything else. By not wanting to be equal in anything else, how can she be approaching feminism? Pizan so obviously from the start of her writing, introduces how women should behave (from the perspective of a princess), so that her actions shall be beneficial to her and her husband.
“The War on Men” by Susan Venker explains how women feel about men, and what they think about them. Maya’s article is just an explanation showing how one of these essays is created, and the main points that are given within the article. It also displays how you actually write an article on feminism and the gender war. Male and females alike hold different roles over society, but do come together eventually.