Social Construction of Gender

Vignette 1) Sheena and Jaye are sister and brother. Sheena is invited by a neighbor to an all girl birthday party. Jaye wishes to go, but the neighbor said that he can’t go because he’s a boy. What would you tell Jaye if you were his parent? 1) Sheena and Jaye are sister and brother. Sheena is invited by a neighbor to an all girl birthday party. Jaye wishes to go, but the neighbor said that he can’t go because he’s a boy. What would you tell Jaye if you were his parent? Now, reflect on what the different ways say about your assumptions of gender. Now, reflect on what the different ways say about your assumptions of gender.

Gender as a Social Construction 1) What is Gender/Sex? 1) What is Gender/Sex? Gender/Sex as falsely dimorphic. Gender/Sex as falsely dimorphic. 1 out of 20 children do not have XX or XY. 1 out of 20 children do not have XX or XY. Everyone expresses gender more complexly Everyone expresses gender more complexly Some people have gender identities that do not match their genetalia. Some people have gender identities that do not match their genetalia. Many societies have three genders. Many societies have three genders. 2) Gender is taken for granted and “essentialized.” We cannot even see how we participate in creating it. 2) Gender is taken for granted and “essentialized.” We cannot even see how we participate in creating it. 3) We have different expectations, different rules and different values for people in our society that is based on gender. 3) We have different expectations, different rules and different values for people in our society that is based on gender. We pressure people to perceive boys and girls as opposites. When they aren’t, we either ignore the transgressions or punish them. We pressure people to perceive boys and girls as opposites. When they aren’t, we either ignore the transgressions or punish them.

Gender as a Social Construction 4) Gender is a process, stratification system and structure; 4) Gender is a process, stratification system and structure; Process = day to day interactions reinforce gender as opposites. For examples, conversations, rituals of daily life, sayings, etc Process = day to day interactions reinforce gender as opposites. For examples, conversations, rituals of daily life, sayings, etc Stratification = Men as a group have more status and power than women as a group. Women are treated as “other,” and compared to men. Stratification = Men as a group have more status and power than women as a group. Women are treated as “other,” and compared to men. Structure = Gender divides work in the home and economic production. It legitimates those in authority and organizes sexuality and emotional life. Structure = Gender divides work in the home and economic production. It legitimates those in authority and organizes sexuality and emotional life.

Gender as a Social Construction 5) What is necessary for society’s perpetuation? 5) What is necessary for society’s perpetuation? Rules for allocating goods Rules for allocating goods Assigned responsibility for children and others who can’t care for themselves Assigned responsibility for children and others who can’t care for themselves Common values and the transmission of them. Common values and the transmission of them. Legitimate leadership. Legitimate leadership. Expression of the above through arts, music, stories, etc. Expression of the above through arts, music, stories, etc. What social categories influence the way the above exist? What social categories influence the way the above exist?

Gender as a Social Construction 6) Gender is an achieved status: Children learn to walk, talk and gesture in concert with their status. Indeed, we can tell the difference by such social markers (show picture) 6) Gender is an achieved status: Children learn to walk, talk and gesture in concert with their status. Indeed, we can tell the difference by such social markers (show picture) 7) Given that for us, gender means opposite, think of the consequences of this for success in the workplace. 7) Given that for us, gender means opposite, think of the consequences of this for success in the workplace.

Gender as a Social Construction 8) What is work? 8) What is work? Any activity that creates goods and services for one’s own use or for exchange or pay. There is paid work (market); coerced work (slavery) and domestic work. Any activity that creates goods and services for one’s own use or for exchange or pay. There is paid work (market); coerced work (slavery) and domestic work.

Gender as a Social Construction 9) Industrialization reduced work to pay. Why? 9) Industrialization reduced work to pay. Why? 10) Most domestic work is devalued or invisible. 10) Most domestic work is devalued or invisible. For example: babysitter versus lawnwork. Also, domestic work not included in the economy For example: babysitter versus lawnwork. Also, domestic work not included in the economy

Gender as a Social Construction 11) How does our conception of gender affect work? 11) How does our conception of gender affect work? Products created for different tasks Products created for different tasks Expectations for different jobs. Expectations for different jobs. Value for the tasks done: for example, is it truly more valuable to work outside than inside? Value for the tasks done: for example, is it truly more valuable to work outside than inside? Gender displays both men and women create to control the workplace. Gender displays both men and women create to control the workplace.