Essay 1: The Social Construction Approach
The rules that govern men and women’s societal roles often associate each gender with certain characteristics that have become intrinsic to that gender over the years. Men have often been considered to be superior and women inferior. Women are coupled with the traditional roles as mother, nurturers and caregivers; this can be as a result of social construction. The gender difference and gender inequalities that exist within society are often believed to be as a result of social construction. What is social construction? This paper will examine how gender roles are socially constructed and as result create gender inequalities and gender difference. Firstly, this paper will examine the definition of social …show more content…
Carol Vance defines social construction as not natural, but rather the “fluid and changeable” product of human action and history (Vance, 29). Vance explores how sexuality and gender are socially constructed. She rejects the essentialism theory on sexuality and gender because that theory characterizes sexuality and gender as natural and having to do with genetics (Vance, 30). To say something is socially constructed is to say highlight the importance that humans play in its creation. The intersection of culture and society ideals and constructed that create a reality that seem to be stable; over the years these ideals becomes intrinsic (Vance 30). Feminism uses social construction theory to further their movement, because with the ability to change the societal opinions then they are able to achieve their goals. Sex is socially constructed because it is a way of classifying how a male/female is supposed to act and the sexual roles that are to be played by both genders. Gender is the host of social and cultural meanings assigned to a person because of their perceived biology, which means that it based on the views on the intersection of societal and cultural …show more content…
Furth explores the construction of gender and sex in sixteenth and seventeenth century china. He notes that gender is cultural and social representation of the “sexed body” (Furth 22). Through his exploration of the Chinese culture he discusses how there was a shift in the social acceptable of homosexuality and gender disobedience. With Furth example of the Ming, it shows how male to female change was not welcomed in their society politically, this was considered a moral panics (Furth 27). Based on Furth’s, example of how men were more considered a social danger as oppose to women, I believe is because of the societal portrayal of men as being tough and strong. Over time, those ideal are normalized and anything that does not adhere to those view is often considered abnormal. Continuously within society those ideal become entrenched. Furth stated that female to male change was more accepting because they didn’t believe that the female change was due to sexual desire (Furth 28). It is evidenced that has the cultural and social values change, so does the principles of what is normal and
The rules that govern men and women’s societal roles often associate each gender with certain characteristics that have become intrinsic to that gender over the years. Men have often been considered to be superior and women inferior. Women are coupled with the traditional roles as mother, nurturers and caregivers; this can be as a result of social construction. The gender difference and gender inequalities that exist within society are often believed to be as a result of social construction. What is social construction? This paper will examine how gender roles are socially constructed and as result create gender inequalities and gender difference. Firstly, this paper will examine the definition of social …show more content…
Carol Vance defines social construction as not natural, but rather the “fluid and changeable” product of human action and history (Vance, 29). Vance explores how sexuality and gender are socially constructed. She rejects the essentialism theory on sexuality and gender because that theory characterizes sexuality and gender as natural and having to do with genetics (Vance, 30). To say something is socially constructed is to say highlight the importance that humans play in its creation. The intersection of culture and society ideals and constructed that create a reality that seem to be stable; over the years these ideals becomes intrinsic (Vance 30). Feminism uses social construction theory to further their movement, because with the ability to change the societal opinions then they are able to achieve their goals. Sex is socially constructed because it is a way of classifying how a male/female is supposed to act and the sexual roles that are to be played by both genders. Gender is the host of social and cultural meanings assigned to a person because of their perceived biology, which means that it based on the views on the intersection of societal and cultural …show more content…
Furth explores the construction of gender and sex in sixteenth and seventeenth century china. He notes that gender is cultural and social representation of the “sexed body” (Furth 22). Through his exploration of the Chinese culture he discusses how there was a shift in the social acceptable of homosexuality and gender disobedience. With Furth example of the Ming, it shows how male to female change was not welcomed in their society politically, this was considered a moral panics (Furth 27). Based on Furth’s, example of how men were more considered a social danger as oppose to women, I believe is because of the societal portrayal of men as being tough and strong. Over time, those ideal are normalized and anything that does not adhere to those view is often considered abnormal. Continuously within society those ideal become entrenched. Furth stated that female to male change was more accepting because they didn’t believe that the female change was due to sexual desire (Furth 28). It is evidenced that has the cultural and social values change, so does the principles of what is normal and