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Gender Studies Lecture 2

The document discusses the social construction of gender, explaining that there are no essential masculine or feminine behaviors and that gender is influenced by social and historical processes. It covers topics like social constructionism, queer theory, how sex may also be socially influenced, debates around masculinity and feminism, and the interplay between nature and culture in gender development. The overall argument is that while biology plays a role, gender is primarily a social construct that is dynamic and context-dependent.

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345 views18 pages

Gender Studies Lecture 2

The document discusses the social construction of gender, explaining that there are no essential masculine or feminine behaviors and that gender is influenced by social and historical processes. It covers topics like social constructionism, queer theory, how sex may also be socially influenced, debates around masculinity and feminism, and the interplay between nature and culture in gender development. The overall argument is that while biology plays a role, gender is primarily a social construct that is dynamic and context-dependent.

Uploaded by

anon_116484471
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Lecture Two

Social Construction of Gender

Amna Baig
Historicizing Construction
 Seymour Papert coined the term “constructionism”
 The social construction framework explains that
there is no essential, universally distinct character
that is masculine or feminine- behaviors are
influenced by a range of factors including class,
religion, age, body shape etc.
 Social institutes and knowledge are created by actors
within the system rather than having any inherent
truth on their own.
 Essentialism = Objects have properties that are
essential to them
Historicizing Construction
 Social Constructionism is a theory of
sociology that examines the development of
jointly constructed understandings of the
world. It assumes that understanding,
significance and meaning are not developed
separately with in the individual but in
coordination with other human beings.

Amna Baig
Historicizing Construction
 What does it aim to do?
1) Focus is to uncover ways in which
individuals participate in construction of their
perceived reality
2) Looks at the ways in which social
phenomenon are created, institutionalized and
made into reality

Amna Baig
Historicizing Construction
 Elements of the Theory
1) Rationalize their experiences by creating a model
of the social world and how it functions
2) Language is the most essential system through
which humans construct reality

Amna Baig
Historicizing Construction
 In opposition to essentialism which believes
in inherent biological differences – Human
Choices
 On going – Dynamic Process – Must be
reproduced
 Must be constantly reaffirmed in order to
persist

Amna Baig
Historicizing Construction
 Impact on Gender
1) Gender is socially constructed and highly
contingent on social and historical processes
2) Ian Hacking: “Legitimate biological basis
for gender may exists but some of the
perfections about it are socially constructed”

Amna Baig
Historicizing Construction
 Social constructionism accepts that there is an
objective reality but when central facts are
misinterpreted, misunderstandings arise.
 It places great emphasis on everyday
interactions between people and how they use
language to construct their reality

Amna Baig
Problematizing the category of Sex:
Queer Theory
 Queer Theory:
“An approach to literary and cultural study
that rejects traditional category of gender and
sexual orientation”
 Teresa de Lauretis coined the phrase Queer
Theory - Judith Butlers book 1990
 Contextual meaning of Queer:
1) Homosexuality
2) Out of the ordinary, not normal
Problematizing the category of Sex:
Queer Theory
 Identities are not fixed, specially individual
sexual orientations - Blurring boundaries between
straight and gay
 Push for visibility and celebration of
anomalies - Validates those who were previously thought
to be sexual outlaws
 Questions/Challenges the established gender
norms – Homosexuals are wrong because of their failure
to perform established heterosexual gender norms which are
considered ‘Central’
Is Sex socially determined too?
 Misconception:
1) Gender is socially constructed and Sex is
biologically determined
2) Sex has only two categories : M & F
 Sex is not just genital but has social
influences too.
 Sex is not just based on one single trait but is
a large collection of different characteristics
Is Sex socially determined too?
 Quite possible to have some traits of other
Sex – breast, facial hair, 5 alpha reductase
deficiency M  F (gender consistency)
 Problem lies in the way we view these traits –
categorization into F & M
Masculinity and Feminism
 Masculinity
Attributes, roles and behaviors associated
with men – Social + Biological – Physical
strength, economic independency, courage, assertiveness.
 Exhibited by both men and women
 Traits vary according to culture, location and
context
Masculinity and Feminism
 Concept of superiority over not just
femininity but also other gendered categories
– Gays and household husbands are considered
‘subordinate’
 Hegemonic designs – Patriarchy in our society, Sole
breadwinners – Upper hand due to economic reasons
 Feminist stance - Masculinity and Femininity
are societal euphemisms for male dominance
and female subordination – Est. norms
Masculinity and Feminism
 Lines between Men and Women are now
blurring
 Masculinity has become more feminized
1) Structural changes – Work force
2) Ideological changes – Equality
Nature vs Culture: A debate in
Gender Development
 Nature
Hereditary determined – Physiological
differences  Hormones + Genes
 Culture
1) Physical characteristics maybe biological
but Gender is socially determined
2) Values, beliefs are all environmentally
influenced – Appropriate and inappropriate
behaviors
Nature vs Culture: A debate in
Gender Development
3) Social-learning theory argues that gender roles
develop as children:
 receive rewards/punishments for gender role

behaviors
 watch and imitate the behaviors of others

4) Cognitive-developmental theory argues that


children develop gender schemas
Nature vs Culture: A debate in
Gender Development
 Third School of Though
Both Nature and Culture combine to create
identities and influence development – Height
influenced by environment (malnutrition),
though a genetic phenomenon but at the same
time genes cannot be altered
 Peer groups and Media also influence Gender
development

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