Gender

12 February 2008

On Gender and Social Constructs

Sexuality and Gender are aspects of humanity which have always been largely intertwined and inevitably associated with each other . While sexuality relates to individuals ' biological functions and revolves around human beings ' innate propensities for desire and attraction and gender is conversely cultural and political in that it reflects roles division of labor , and perhaps stereotypes ascribed to every individual - both contribute to the shaping of every man and woman 's behavior ideology , and esentially : identity . This relationship between gender and sexuality , and

its significant contribution , or perhaps , intrusion to our lives in terms of how we define meanings and engage in courses of actions , is highlighted and given necessary regard in various articles in Henslin 's Down to Earth Sociology

Barrie Thorne and Zella Luria 's Sexuality and Gender in Children 's Daily Worlds (p . 180 ) for one , relates how societal constructs of sex and gender are confined in the binary - to 'male ' and 'female ' and to their distinctive equivalents , masculinity and femininity - and how these constructs necessarily affect and influence young men and women to follow a sexual script ' early on in childhood . The premise isn 't particularly surprising , but it theless raises major concerns regarding the behavior we subscribe to simply because society deems it 'normal

Deborah Tannen 's But What Do You Mean (p . 192 ) follows the same tone and line of concern as Sexuality and Gender ' in its attempt to highlight social meanings and constructs . Tannen delves into the reality of men and women blessed or fraught with their own share of meanings , and how these ultimately contribute to the effectivity or ineffectivity of communication on the part of both sexes . This much is evident in people 's relationships with the opposite sex , and the simple manner by which we converse with others on a daily basis

Finally , Sidney Katz ' The Importance Of Being Beautiful (p . 341 touches on what the title already aptly connotes on beauty , and its apparent widespread importance in society . While this particular reality ceases to surprise the rest of us , it exists , perhaps unfortunately , as an evident beacon of mankind 's superficiality , and as a truth which prevails , ever naggingly , in society and social status or stratification . Our view of what is beautiful ' and ugly ' dictates the way we relate to individuals and circumstances , and our concept of what should be regarded as aesthetically appealing exists in an unsurprising uniformity , as force fed by television , commercial ads magazines , and practically the whole of mass media and society

I believe the stereotypes associated with gender and sexuality , as well as the meanings and constructs afforded behind every seemingly normal occurence is deeply entrenched in society and won 't simply be altered because people are suddenly aware of its nature , anytime soon . There exists a constant struggle to rise above the set of standards and obligations ascribed to constructs and meanings created by society People should learn to not only break free from these...