Gender and the Importance of the Social Construction of Gender

“Gender” and the Importance of “The Social Construction of Gender. ” Gender is an individual's natural sense of themselves existing as a male or female, which may hold opposing views from their biological sex. I believe sex and gender are two terms used interchangeably. Sex implies the biological characteristics among females and males. Whereas gender implies the social qualities connected with being a female or male.

As Lorber states, “I am arguing that bodies differ physiologically, but they are completely transformed by social practices to fit into the salient categories of a society, the most persuasive of which are’female’ and ‘male’ and ‘women’ and ‘men’. ” (pg. 11) An emphasis on gender not only exposes knowledge about women and men’s different familiarities; it also illustrates the embedded politics and stereotypes about men and women. Social construction of gender is generally conferred by the distinction of biological differences of males and females. Such as, men are biologically aggressive and women are rather more passive.

Gender is socially constructed and a product of sociocultural impacts all the way through an individual's growth. Gender identity can be modified by and detached from one society to another varying on the individual’s dedication to their society and their weigh on the view of females and males. Frequently people mistake or misappropriate the terms gender and sex. To make the discrepancy more concise one could deliberate that we inherit the sex but we learn our gender. Gender could be a fundamental characteristic of society and the sociological importance of gender that it is a system by which society governs its associates.

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Gender comparable to social class and race can be expended to socially classify individuals and even steer to prejudice and discrimination. When there is a distinction in the behavior of people centered on their sex, many would express this as sexism. This inequality around the world demonstrates that gender identity is swayed by social standards and has little to do with biological distinctions Society forms individual’s gender and groups its members comparable as many do with age, ethnicity, race, social class and status.

However, by labeling according to gender is another way of swaying members of a society and to encourage inequalities. There are recognizable biological and culture differences amid the two sexes but we cannot use these variances to reason our conclusions and deliver stereotyped ideas about gender. Another form of sexism is portrayed by damaging stereotypical interpretations in the direction of women. For instance, sexism ideas of women are concentrated on the beliefs that women are secondary to men due to insignificant ideas that one can hold again women.

One mark of gender socialization is the configuration of gender identity, which is one’s distinction of oneself as a man or woman. Gender identity molds how we judge others and ourselves which then impacts our actions. For instance, gender distinctions are present in the possibility of drug and alcohol abuse, violent atmospheres, and depression. Gender identity furthermore has an predominantly powerful effect on our emotions about our exterior reflection and our body image.

Broadminded feminists reason that gender inequality is applicable from past traditions that create obstacles to women’s development. It underlines individual moralities and equal opportunity as the foundation for social justice and reform. These feminists, alternatively, debate that the root of women’s oppression resides with the system of capitalism. Since women are inexpensive when it comes to labor rates, they are taken advantage of by capitalism, which in return composes them to a smaller amount of authority both as women and as workers.

Lastly, feminists see social systems wherein men dominate as the principal grounds of women’s oppression and debate that women’s oppression is within men’s control over women’s bodies. As conveys, “Women are less powerful than men in the society, they are often stigmatized because of their bodies and its functions, and they are regular targets of symbolic and physical abuse from males. ” There is much deliberation between the means of social construction and deconstruction of sex, gender, and sexuality because of the ever changing sex and gender identities.

As Ferber states, “I argue that race and gender identities are constructed and inequality is maintained through the regulation of sexual practices. I offer a deconstructionist approach that is at the same time intersectional-exploring the intersections of race, sex, gender and sexuality. ” (pg. 93) A viewpoint about what a male and female is or what society considers they should be is raised in every culture. Women, for instance, are expected to be more drawn to things like fashion and worry significantly about their appearance.

In contrast, men should be less absorbed on these fixations. When we are raised in a distinctive culture we engross ideas of what is expected of us from our parents, peers and the media. Most individuals then accommodate their actions, manners and pleasures in life to more closely fit society’s viewpoints. Although many don't unseeingly adhere to the socially constructed gender roles many of societies norms are developed and internalized by us as individuals and generally turn out to be part of our individuality.

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