Gender and identity Flashcards
why is gender argued to be most significant aspect of identity?
- whether you are male or female it will have an effect on how others see you
- gender identity is something that’s fluid and always changing
- the way women are seen in the media and expectations around their appearance, roles have changed in recent-years.
-however, male identities are also changing in society, with expectations of masculinity
what does gender as a social construct relate to?
gender as a social construct relates to the nature/nurture debate. some argue that gender is based on biological differences between males/females most sociologists argue that gender is a social construct
gender as a social construct - biological view - Wilson aruges?
wilson argues that the need to reproduce requires men to be more promiscuous and literally ‘spread the seed’, but women have to nurture one child and stay faithful to the father of their child to ensure his help in upbringing.
gender as a social construct - functionalists view - Parsons argues?
Parsons argues that females have an expressive role in the family - reinforced by socialisation.
- males have an instrumental role in the family - the breadwinner, protector
- this is also natural, based on their physical strength, but also reinforced through socialisation.
- these roles are functional for family and society
- but, most sociologists argue that gender identities are socially constructed and learned through socialisation.
LINK –> mead tchambuli tribe –> rather learned than biologically determined
the social construction of gender identities - what do feminists argue?
feminists argue that gender identity is socially constructed by the patriarchy.
- this means the male dominated society creates and reinforces stereotypes of how males and females should be.
- it’s not only the family that contributes to social construction of gender
the social construction of gender identities - what agencies of socialisation reinforce stereotypical expectations of gender roles? - Hey
eg. peer group regulate acceptable behaviour for girls + boys at a young age
- Hey studied friendship groups among teenage girls and looked at the power of the female peer group has over girls behaviour, and how the norms of the female peer group are rooted in patriarchy and expectations of how girls should be.
the social construction of gender identities - what did Mac an Ghail explore?
Mac an Ghail explored how boys learn to be men in their peer groups at schools, policing their own sexuality. Gender power, based on hyper-masculinity was the main source of identity for the ‘macho-lads’ identified by Mac an Ghail how valued the 3 F’s - Fighting, football, f**king
what does Ann Oakley argue?
feminist who argues that gender roles are socially constructed through socialisation. she explains how children are socialised into their gender roles by their families in 4 ways.
Ann Oakely - what are the 4 ways children are socialised into their gender roles by families?
- Manipulation - encouraging behaviour that is seen as stereotypically acceptable for child’s gender + discouraging behaviour that isn’t the norm
eg. laughing if boy gets muddy, but discouraging girl from doing anything that would involve getting muddy - Canalisation - involves parent channeling their child’s interests into toys, games, and activities that are considered the norm for their gender
eg. encouraging girls to plat with dolls + boys with football - Verbal appellation - refers to giving children nicknames or pet names that reinforce gender expectation
eg. girls - ‘little angle’ or ‘princess’ and boys - ‘little monster’ or ‘solider’ - Different activities - parents encourage children to participate in activities around home that reinforce stereotypes eg. girl helping mum cook, boy helping dad clean car
how are female identities changing? what does ‘laddishness’ refer to, what did Jackson find?
‘laddishness’ refers to a form of masculine behaviour which revolves around sportiness, or not wanting to make an effort at school
Jackson found that some girls or ladettes also spent time drinking, swearing, and smoking
how are female identities changing? - what does Descombe argue?
descombe argues that there is an increase in female risk-taking behaviour, which is seen as ladette culture, where young women want to be seen as anything but stereotype of a women
how are female identities changing? - what does Connell argue?
Connell argues they’re a range of masculine identities available, but hegemonic masculinity is the most common identity strongly reinforced
- other forms of masculinity he identifies is subordinate masculinity –> links to homosexual males
- also marginalised masculinity –> links to unemployed men not accepting ‘real’ masculinity
how are male identities changing? Mac an Chail - crisis of masculinity
the ‘crisis of masculinity’ term used by Mac an Ghail to explain how working class feel insecure in society, which means there is a loss of the ‘bread-winner’ identity due to the decline of traditional male occupations which include manufacturing and mining.
how are male identities changing? - what did Canaan research into
Canaan researched working class men who were employed + long term unemployed. When she asked them ‘whats the most important thing about a man?’ the man who had jobs gave predictable responses relating to hyper-masculine behaviour, whereas the unemployed men said that having a job was he most important thing + felt emasculated due to their unemployment.
