Throughout Centuries Gender Has Been A Social Construct

​​Gender is defined as whatever behaviors and attitudes a group considers proper for its males and females. Unlike sex, gender is something that we learn from the day we are born. “Young children begin to acquire gender role stereotypes at about the same time they develop gender identity and by the age of 3 or 4 most children” (Amanda Youmans). Peers, community, media, religion and our upbringing all play a role in the understanding of our culture and what is considered acceptable for males and females. When the sex of a child is revealed, they are automatically placed into a gender specific role with certain expectations. There are things in this world such as colors, toys, media depiction and taught behaviors that play into these gender roles.

Sex and gender are often used interchangeably in American culture, yet they have distinctly different meanings. Sex is based on a person’s biological traits, such as chromosomes and genitals, while gender is used to outline what cultural roles a person will perform. American society uses a binary system of male or female for sex and gender. Both sex and gender are integral in shaping a person’s identity. The gender and sex binary system can be detrimental to individuals who do not conform to it.

The authors suggest that gender identity transitions through various stages much like cognitive development. As children age from toddler toward more maturity into adolescence they move from less gender awareness towards a complete awareness of differences in sexual make up. Typically many of us have been socialized to participate in groups, dress and play with toys that are gender specific. Some examples that explain this is the way in which we bring babies home from the hospital. Girls are dressed in pink and boys are dressed in blue. This continues

Western countries like us North Americans take education for granted and we don’t realize how fortunate we are. We complain about attending classes and completing our homework, while there are many girls fighting for our privilege. Are you aware that there are still many countries where girls don’t have access to education? `Education is an essential human right that developing countries such as India, Pakistan,Afghanistan were intended to have access to already! This resembles as one breathes, eats, and drinks. I fully agree with the UNESCO research, which demonstrates that education transforms lives. Unfortunately, this transformation seems to be unacceptable for many in developing countries. They desire women to be dependent, enslaved, and

Sexual differences are the biological differences between males and females in organs, and hormones based off of chromosomal arrangement (Berger, 2016, p.213). This line of reasoning is reflected in the more basic and straight forward differences between genders. The gender stereotypes that others referred to indicates gender differences. Gender differences being the differing clothes, behaviors, and actions of males and females or the cultural roles that are put onto a particular gender (Berger, 2016, p.213). By the age of 2 most children will except that they are either a boy or a girl, and by 4 years old developed a gender schema (Berger, 2016, p.214). A gender scheme being the child’s beliefs about what actions are appropriate for their gender (Berger, 2016,

I personally feel as if even though gender is socially constructed, it is binary because these are the beliefs that a majority of the population has been raised to accept as normal for ages now. With a majority of the population identifying as either male or female and accepting the genders placed upon them, it will be hard to break this construction that has been imbedded in our mindset. When you have individuals that are different from the majority, they get ridiculed for not being like everyone else. This behavior has been going on since our young adolescents years, whether individuals point out others flaws, bully individuals for being different, etc. Therefore, since those who are transgender are seen as different to the majority this

A social construction is something that is created by society and believed to be natural. Social constructions are both a myth and a reality because social constructions aren’t natural, but it has real effects on the people who experience them. What society identifies as masculine and feminine is the social construction of gender. For example, masculinity and femininity is closely tie to being a man and a woman, respectively. In our society, men are supposed to be aggressive and unemotional, while women are supposed to be soft and gentle. This social construction of gender affect individuals lives because it makes those who don’t fit into these gender roles feel as if they aren’t the ideal man or woman. Women and men can both develop problems

Gender is defined as the social arrangements that are built to meet personal traits of being male or female and society has created roles that reflect a gender to act in a certain way in society. Rape culture is seen as normal behavior in society where genders experience violence in social institutions. Society has arranged roles to males and females that have led females to experience violence in society and is seen as a norm rather than a problem, because males need to show their masculinity to society.

Lets take a look at the core of gender inequality. What first must be distinguished is the difference between sex and gender. Sex refers to the biological label given to each individual at birth (Social Inequalities 316). We are labeled male or female based on our sex organs, bodily chemistry, and bodily functions in general (Social Inequalities 316). The social and cultural differences not acquired at birth determine gender (Social Inequalities 316). These accepted behaviors to which men and women are expected to conform are established by the society. These are referred to characteristics of femininity and masculinity. As one grows up they realize their role to play in society and make it their duty to play their role to its full extent. This is how inequality begins.

Gender differences are biologically constructed. We are born either as male or female. Without going any further these statements appear normal and one can take the view that this is the general assumption. What then is sex? Is there a difference between sex and gender? Distinctions between sex and gender have been made by social scientists from the feminist movement of 1970’s, when feminists argued that the traditional views of masculinity and femininity often led to the disempowerment of women. Ann Oakley (1972) in particular, set the stage for the socialization explorations of gender identity (Abbott 2005).

Throughout history, there has always been the role of both the male and the female in society. As time passed and civilization progressed, the question of the role of the women has also changed. Men and women in society have had many differences, which included things such as gender roles, gender inequality, inequality in the workforce, and sex discrimination. Also, the questions of what it takes to be a man or to be a woman is very important. For many different cultures, gender differences are extremely important, as well as the role it has played in history and present day. Men throughout time have always had dominance over women. To this day, this dominance still exists and is shown in many different instances. Examples such as the gender system, and the sex role theory help to explain these differences. Theories on how to reduce gender inequality are extremely important in today’s society. Traditional roles are beginning to change, and a new freedom for men and women to explore different new roles has begun. The idea of gender stereotyping is fading, but still has not completely disappeared.

Gender inequality has been an issue since long before the 1840s, when feminists finally brought the problem to light. Most ancient cultures were societies based on gender inequality, skewed towards male-dominance. Most societies are still mostly patriarchal, in fact. Patriarchy is the root of discrimination between sexes and genders and has been for a very long time.

Society has clearly defined boundaries between what is considered to be male or female. The development of an individual’s gender role is formed by interactions with those in close proximity. Society constantly tells us how we should look, act and live based on gender. Family, friends and the media have a tremendous impact on how these roles are formed and the expected behavior of each gender role.

Gender plays a key role throughout our life, it is defined as “the psychological, social and cultural aspects of masculinity and femininity” (butler-sweet,c,2017). Masculinity and femininity have been standardized into their own stereotypes. For example, masculine is known as aggression, competitive, brave, etc. While feminine is known as sensitive, weak, nurturing, etc. Because of these traits and these stereotypes masculinity holds a higher power over femininity. Therefore, when the parents have the child and they find out what gender they are they automatically uphold them and raise them according to these standards. This begins to refer to gender socialization which is “the process by which we learn the rules and conduct the behavior of masculinity and femininity” (butler-sweet,c,2017). Meaning, that from a young age, we learn the correct way to act within society, including the correct way to act according to our biological gender. Once our parents know if we are a boy or a girl they decorate our room a certain way,

There are distinct differences between Sex and Gender. Sex is divided up into two divisions, male or female, based upon their reproductive system. Gender is the notion set by society on what social behaviours are acceptable for males and females, for example the expectation that females are more caring or nurturing than men. Gender can be further divided into two subcategorise: identity and stereotype. Gender identity is the concept that your sex and gender do not have to be the same but can different, i.e. a male at birth can identify as a female. These notions of acceptable behaviour set by society create gender stereotypes for both male and female, which can cause a person to reject their gender identity if they do not conform these gender stereotypes.