Social Construction Of Male Dominance Essay

When attempting to explain something as intangible and complex as human behavior it is difficult to devise experiments that lead to conclusive results. Sometimes complex problems are easier to solve when they are broken down into smaller pieces or into simpler problems that are more approachable. Using human evolution to explain human behavior is such an example. Evolutionary psychology reaches for the roots of human development when they were in their most basic stages to explain why people behave the way they do. Specifically, explaining human masculinity through science has been a major focus of evolutionary psychology. This paper seeks to explain why masculinity cannot be explained by sociology alone and will present

The definition of masculinity; Is the fact of being a man or having qualities considered typical of a man.

Compare and contrast the representation of masculinity in two films or TV series of your choice.

Throughout history women have always been minimized from social, sexual , and political aspects juxtaposed to men. Just like in the novel  In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez, the author uses the Mirabal sisters to demonstrate the inequalities set in the Dominican Republic. The dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo causes the Mirabal sisters to come together and overthrow Trujillo’s regime.Trujillo. Rafael Trujillo was despised by many yet many were forced to worship him like some type of paragon. As the novel progresses, illustrations of male dominance often appear throughout each chapter. The Mirabal sisters: Minerva, Patria, Maria Teresa and Dede each demonstrate the ability to overcome stigmas in order to obtain freedom.

Gender or sex roles are the expected patterns of behavior assumed to follow from a person's sex. Gender roles are not natural. They are formed by and vary within society, culture, geographic location, politics and time. There is a strong relationship between the social construction of gender and compulsory heterosexuality. People are programmed into certain gender roles and social categories through socialization and interaction with others.

Physical dominance as an expression of social power was translated by the Native American children 's experiences at boarding school, where school leaders showed dominance through physical abuse in addition to the psychological indoctrination. “Sexual, physical, and emotional violence was rampant. Even when teachers were charged with abuse, boarding schools refused to investigate” (Smith, Boarding 91). The United States has been reluctant to address the issues that were present in the boarding schools, and continue to affect Native American culture. “Despite the epidemic of sexual abuse in boarding schools, the Bureau of Indian Affairs did not issue a policy on reporting sexual abuse until 1987, and did not issue a policy to strengthen the background checks of potential teachers until 1989” (Smith, Boarding 91). While the United States has been concerned with ignoring the issues started at the boarding schools, Canada has been more open to admitting the wrongs that were done. Canada 's boarding schools were charged on the grounds that “several schools contained unmarked graveyards of children who were murdered, particularly those born due to the rape of Native girls by priests and other church officials at the school” (Smith, Boarding 91). The charges brought against Canada 's boarding school illuminated the deplorable conditions the students survived, but the United States has not been able to admit to wrongdoings in its own boarding schools. This is not because

Masculinity is described as possession of attributes considered typical of a man. Hegemonic masculinity is a form of masculine character with cultural idealism and emphasis that connects masculinity to competitiveness, toughness, and women subordination. Masculinity hegemonic is the enforcement of male dominion over a society. Masculine ideology dates back to the time of agrarian and the industrial revolution in Europe when survival compelled men to leave their homesteads to work in industries to earn a living for their families while women remained at home to take care of family affairs (Good and Sherrod 210). Women did not work in industries then because industrial labor was considered too physical beyond their capacity. This led to

Nature vs. Nurture? The debate has obsessed the minds of psychologists and philosophers for many years, each arguing their idea is the right way. ABC aired a TV documentary "Boys and Girls are Different" hosted by John Stossel to show some of the leading feminists ideas and their opponents thoughts.

Throughout today’s society, almost every aspect of someone’s day is based whether or not he or she fits into the “norm” that has been created. Specifically, masculine and feminine norms have a great impact that force people to question “am I a true man or woman?” After doing substantial research on the basis of masculine or feminine norms, it is clear that society focuses on the males being the dominant figures. If males are not fulfilling the masculine role, and females aren’t playing their role, then their gender identity becomes foggy, according to their personal judgment, as well as society’s.

My beliefs and view on the gender ideology towards work and family is more weighed on one side (Masculine) and partly on the other (Feminine). It is evident that the ‘Masculine’ gender is more dominant in our society and because of this; there is more expectation and responsibility for the masculine gender. However, there is a continual inclusion trend in which we are witnessing the feminine gender assume some roles of the masculine gender. But overall, the masculine effect is still dominant. I personally feel that there should be a good balance of work and family responsibility by the men. It is necessary that the ‘Men’ are mostly responsible for taking the role of the breadwinner of the family therefore, the working hours of the men would have to be met as required by the employer. For example, working 40 hours a week is the minimum in the US but varies in some other places. In a case whereby the man has to take an overtime shift just to meet the needs of the family.

In her text, Millet discusses the power-structured relationships within a patriarchal society. She defines the concept of power as a series of oppressive circumstances between power-structured relationships. In this relationship there is a dominant group and subordinate group. Millet states that the “male shall dominate female, elder male shall dominate younger” (Millet 25). Women are oppressed in a patriarchal society, giving men the power to dominate. The theory of patriarchy is derived from the creation of social norms based on biological differences between males and females (Millet, 27). Judith Butler would refer to these norms as the ways in which society believes each gender should perform. Women are socialized to be loving, affectionate and feminine, while men are more prone to dominant behavior. This has created cultural expectations that encourage the notion that women are inferior to men (Millet 31). During child development, family and society have traditionally encouraged patriarchal structures by reinforcing certain behavior such as aggression in male or passivity in female. As a result, children develop a core gender identity based on their upbringing. Children then grow within a culture of sexual hierarchy while maintaining the roles they have been classified to.

Gender inequality is a critical issue that affects more women than their male counterparts all around the world. Gender inequality is a form of legal discrimination towards women’s rights. In order to progress and grow as a community and society, gender equality needs to be acknowledged. According to LISTVERSE, the top ten “extreme” examples of gender inequality towards women that exists around the world today, specifically in the Middle East and North Africa, are being forbidden from driving, having clothing requirements, having limited access to divorce, education, and travel, being victims of violence, lacking custody rights, being denied citizenship, being in sexual subjugation, and female infanticide. An example of female infanticide is that the normal ratio for births in India should be 950 girls for every 1000 boys. However, some regions report numbers as low as 300 for girls (Rushfan). The 650 number gap in the expected to actual number ratio represents all the girls that were aborted or abandoned due to societal or cultural gender inequality towards infants. China is another example of female infanticide. China’s government only allows one child per household in order to not overpopulate the country even more. Parents who want a boy but end up getting a girl neglect and abandon their daughter to try again for a son. The idea that so many parents would abandon their child based on their gender calls for a social change in culture and

Masculinity is an attribute that shapes most of human relationships. On this research Dominant masculinity and Subordinate masculinity are emphasized. And how social agents such as the family contribute to the creation of this of dominate masculinity, by creating the sense that the degree to which a man is regarded as “man amongst men” he must bring home an income. Hide his emotions and have dominion over women. And if he is in touch with his emotions and expressive that his is not a real man he is rather a “wimp” or a “pushover” Connell(1995)

One of the key learning from this topic is the relation between financial independence/education and women’s sexual and reproductive health. And the way social, economic, demographic, and community characteristics affect women’s ability to acquire information, and their ability to act and decide on their reproductive health and their overall health. I gained important understanding on social determinants of women’s health that is related to gender norms, that places women as inferior in many part of the world leading to health, social, and economic issues that men do not face. Coming from developing country the impact of social determinants on women’s health is a big issue, and understanding the disparities that even exist in developed countries from this course opened, my eyes on how disadvantaged women are worldwide economically and socially.

Low rates of maternal health service utilisation in sub-Saharan Africa have also been attributed to the unequal gender relations arising from religious beliefs, teachings and practices and cultural influences (Katherine Marshall, 2013; UNAIDS, 2014; International Community of women living with HIV/AIDS, 2004; J.K. Ganle, 2015; Booth D& Cammack D, 2013). The low levels of commitment to protecting women’s health in many