social construction of gender

How gender roles are constructed by society by giving different identity of masculinity and feminity.

1. Topic : social Construction of gender roles 1 Social Conctruction of Gender Roles

2. Introduction In this presentation, I make an attempt in discussing the social construction of gender roles . It is in this regard that I have highlighted how society shapes masculine and feminine in relation to men and women roles respectively. Such an endeavor helps us in understanding how men and women adopt their appropriate roles in society. This presentation is designed to raise the consciousness of students to the nature of gender as a social construct. Rather than understanding gender in terms of fixed dichotomies (e.g. Male/female, masculinity/femininity). 2

3. Introduction In order, to help better understand social life and our participation in it, the course will explore the social construction of gender from both macro and micro-level of analysis. In addition, the course will introduce mechanisms and technologies of gender construction and representation. Then the course will move on to explore how gender relates to process of socialization to analyze its impact on the formation of the expected gender roles in society. 3

4. Research questions: In this study the researcher has focused on following questions Based on the social constructionist theory, how society shapes the male character’s masculinity? How society construct the female character’s femininity in terms of her perception and response towards their appropriate roles? what are the various theories that attempt to explain gender socialization ? what are the various agencies of gender socialization through which the child learns the roles, and seeks to behave in a particular way? 4

5. Literature review This study focuses on gender in terms of masculinity and femininity. And how society shapes different roles to male and female character will be analyzed based on the social constructionist theory. I will also provide clarification on how social factors effect and moulds their behavior in different ways. I shall begin by defining gender roles. then explain the social constructionist theory and the aspects involved such as social constructs. Besides, details on the emergence of gender issues, defining sex and gender, gender socialization and its agencies, theories of gender socialization and social construction of masculinity and femininity will be given. I will also collect data from primary and secondary sources on the social construction of gender roles in order to make my study more effective. 5

6. If gender is a social construct; How does it function? Who benefits from the way of gender construction? Why do some people continue to teach children and adults beliefs human anatomy? Why did we create two names for the same genital organ, and why does it matter to people which name we use for which person? Why do we promote an inaccurate version of human biological variation in our classrooms and research centres? By the same token, why do people – even many trained in critical inquiry and scientific traditions – believe in these social constructs and use them to explain so much of our world? And finally, what consequences we face in giving the gender roles of men as a masculine and women as a feminine? 6

7. The emergence of gender issues Gender has been a central ‘issue’ in India since the colonial period. An overwhelming woman’s question arose from the 19th century social reform movement, crucially informed anti-colonial nationalism, and remains a point of crisis in India’ s cultural, social, and political space. The recognition of gender as an issue forms the basis for India’s women’s movement. One important gender concern was a status that is, the rewards and benefits to women on India’ s journey to self-determination, statehood, democracy, progress, modernity, and development. 7

8. The emergence of gender issues Women’ s issues radically entered in the fields of culture, religion, and law; of family and community structures; of the problems of an official responses to population, poverty, illiteracy, and labor and of the new social movements of Dalits, environmentalists, tribal’s, anti-dam activists, peasants, and trade unions. In feminist writings and in discourses on Gender Studies, these concepts are basic to our understanding of social differences between men and women in the society. A study of these concepts is useful as analytical categories. 8

9. Sex and Gender sex; Sex refers to the biological characteristics with which we are born. In a very broad way ‘‘sex’’ refers to the biological and physiological differences between male and female sex. Gender : gender is a analytical category that is socially constructed to differentiate the biological difference between men and women. The term gender is also used to describe the differences in behavior between men and women, which are described as masculine and feminine. 9

10. Gender and socialization Socialization is the process, through which the child becomes an individual respecting his or her environment laws, norms and customs. Gender socialization as the learning of behavior and attitudes considered appropriate for a given sex. The gender socialization process occurs in multiple social institutions, including the family, religious and educational institutions, mass media and peer networks. Gender socialization is a more focused form of socialization, it is how children of different sexes are socialized into their gender roles and taught what it means to be male or female. 10

11. Agents of gender socialization family The family is considered as the institution that has the greatest impact on gender socialization. The parents usually hold a number of gender stereotypes, which are ideas about how a girl and a boy should ideally act and think.   the choice of toys for the children seem to an image of what is expected of them in their future. Talking and communication pattern. Setting expectations. Providing opportunities. Peers Toys tend to be sex typed. Female athletes still face institutional barriers. Young children prefer same sex play partners. 11

12. Agents of gender socialization Schools The next environment that children are entering is the school, where a conscious socialization is happening. Schools are major contexts for gender socialization. In elementary and middle school, boys usually get more time to talk, are called on more often, and receive more positive feedback. Popular Culture and the Media Advertising Newspapers and Magazines Television and other Screen Media Music Videos 12

13. Theoretical Approaches to Gender Socialization Several theories that attempt to explain gender socialization – social learning theory, and gender schema theory, for example - fall within the category of learning theories more broadly (Wharton, 2005). Such theorists understand the processes by which children learn gender appropriate behavior in the same way children learn in general. Other theories focus on gender and sexuality exclusively. Psychoanalytic theory, for example, emphasizes the unconscious processes involved in developing gender identity. Stockard (1999) suggests that all three theories help explain the process of gender socialization. 13

14. Social Learning Theory : This theory suggests that learning occurs through reinforcement or imitation and modeling. People learn attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors through social interaction. Psychoanalytic theory : it isn’t a learning theory, it suggests that some aspects of gender identity result from unconscious psychological processes, rather than more conscious processes. Cognitive Development theory : Cognitive theories of gender socialization offer a different perspective, emphasizing the developmental nature of the socialization process, as well as the active role the child plays in the construction of his or her gender identity. Gender schema theory: Gender schema theory suggests people have mental organization systems (schemas) to help them identify as male or female. 14

15. Social Constructionist Approach A social construct is something that does not exist independently in natural world but is instead an invention of society. Cultural practices and norms give rise to the existence of social constructs and govern the practices ,customs, and rules governing the way we use/view/understand them. In other words, we all act as if they exist, and because of our intersubjective agreement, they do. 15

16. Social construction of masculinity Masculinity consists of those behaviors, languages and practices, existing in specific cultural and organizational locations, which are commonly associated with males and thus culturally defined as not feminine.   As socially constructed identities, boys and men learn “appropriate” gender roles in accordance to the masculine expectations of their given society.   Another way to explain masculine is construction through what is known as the “man box” .   Inside the box is a list of socially valued roles and expectations that constitute conventional masculinity.  All men are influenced by their upbringing, experience, and social environment which play a big role in determining one’s view of masculinity and manhood.  16

17. Social construction of femininity Simone de Beauvoir's quote, "one is not born a woman, but becomes one is applicable here. The notion of womanhood or femininity is accomplished through an active process of creating gender through interacting with others in a particular social context.  given a choice to decide their own identity through toys, dresses etc. build characteristics and expectations. Based on the characteristics of physical, emotional etc which are particularly appropriate with femininity. 17

18. conclusion To conclude, gender and gender roles are neither only innate nor only socially constructed. The notions “gender” is both biological and cultural, so gender roles are resulted from both of the two factors. People’s daily life interactions and linguistic codes , family life, parental guidance, parental selection of toys and clothes, role modeling  creates a constructed perception of gender. However, culture and society are not the only; people’s biology, genes, hormones, brain and the way their brain functions have a huge influence on people’s gender as well as their sex. To understand the secrets of gender and gender roles attached to both men and women, it is necessary to focus on both biological and social factors. We cannot understand one without understanding the other. Gender and gender roles are socially constructed as well as they are innate. 18

19. 19 Thank You…