Lastly, gender can be argued to be a product of culture. There are many cultural explanations for the social construction of gender and the views surrounding it differ between cultures and over time. Therefore, the way males and females are treated and approached differ from society to society. As masculinity and femininity will continue to evolve in culture as time goes on.
In past centuries such as the 18th century, gender constructs were much more rigid. However, today they are more flexible as people are given the ability to customise their genders in whatever way they wish. According to Ortner (1974) in the past the masculine and feminine gender construct was universally absolute for everyone in society. This meaning that everyone was …show more content…
Cultures such as Polyandry in the Himalayas where one woman has several husbands is the norm and these women are expected to perform feminine gender roles such as sexual and domestic labor to be a good wife (Berreman 2009). Traditions such as this have lasted for centuries. This portrays how men have been socialised into a dominating nature, whereas women are socialised into the passive mothering role and accepting many husbands. Women are given the mothering/fertility role, while men are encouraged to take charge of hunting, portraying the diverse gender …show more content…
For example females can adopt masculinity and males can adopt femininity (Mathieu 1978). In the 21st century this is not seen as such a taboo as it was in the 18th century, now men and women are given equal rights and opportunities. According to MacCormack (1980), both men and women are described as “mediators” between socialising children and domesticating. This portrays how femininity and masculinity are seen as both necessary for the socialisation of children and the domestic aspect of family life. For example this is highlighted in the Mont Hagen area of Papua New Guinea, where similar feminine and masculine qualities are given to both men and women equally such as child rearing. On the other hand this is the case as the Hageners use gender categories to separate men and women. Male represents prestige and female represents inadequateness. Thus, although men and women are given similar duties and qualities attached to their gender roles men are seen as superior to women (McCormack 1980). Culture reinforces the idea that gender is socially constructed, as gender differences in societies differ due to tradition and male and female are regarded differently depending on
In past centuries such as the 18th century, gender constructs were much more rigid. However, today they are more flexible as people are given the ability to customise their genders in whatever way they wish. According to Ortner (1974) in the past the masculine and feminine gender construct was universally absolute for everyone in society. This meaning that everyone was …show more content…
Cultures such as Polyandry in the Himalayas where one woman has several husbands is the norm and these women are expected to perform feminine gender roles such as sexual and domestic labor to be a good wife (Berreman 2009). Traditions such as this have lasted for centuries. This portrays how men have been socialised into a dominating nature, whereas women are socialised into the passive mothering role and accepting many husbands. Women are given the mothering/fertility role, while men are encouraged to take charge of hunting, portraying the diverse gender …show more content…
For example females can adopt masculinity and males can adopt femininity (Mathieu 1978). In the 21st century this is not seen as such a taboo as it was in the 18th century, now men and women are given equal rights and opportunities. According to MacCormack (1980), both men and women are described as “mediators” between socialising children and domesticating. This portrays how femininity and masculinity are seen as both necessary for the socialisation of children and the domestic aspect of family life. For example this is highlighted in the Mont Hagen area of Papua New Guinea, where similar feminine and masculine qualities are given to both men and women equally such as child rearing. On the other hand this is the case as the Hageners use gender categories to separate men and women. Male represents prestige and female represents inadequateness. Thus, although men and women are given similar duties and qualities attached to their gender roles men are seen as superior to women (McCormack 1980). Culture reinforces the idea that gender is socially constructed, as gender differences in societies differ due to tradition and male and female are regarded differently depending on