Is gender still an important source of identity

Question 1

Is gender still an important source of identity?

What are the three Summary points of this question?

Answer 1

1. Gender identities are becoming much more FLUID amongst men and women with an increase in choice available to them. Combined with this it the levels of acceptance of diversity and choice of identity. We have less constraints on the creation of an identity than in the past.
2. However, the changes noted should not be exaggerated and many gender identities that boys/girls create are still based upon stereotypical notions of masculinity/femininity. Gender roles have also not changed in a dramatic fashion – Women still earn less than men, women still do more housework and childcare than men. The majority of women still conform to hegemonic ideas of femininity.
3. Whilst there have been changes, gender identities are still heavily constrained by hegemonic ideals through gender-role socialisation within the family, education and media and we are a long way from having a ‘pick and mix’ gender identity.

Question 2

What are the three main views of Radical Feminists on the question “Is Gender still an important source of Identity?

Answer 2

1. Our identity is determined by our gender. This gender identity is single (it predominates over other sources of identity) and fixed (it does not change over time)
2. Men have historically been able to use their physical and social power to define female identities in opposition to male identities. Gender differences are exploited by men for their benefit in a number of ways
3. We are taught our gender identities through gender role socialisation, during which agents of socialisation transmit patriarchal ideology and teach us what identities are suitable for our gender:
   Family
   School
   Mass Media

Question 3

From the Socialisation main view of Radical Feminists on the question “Is Gender still an important source of Identity?”

List the three Socialisation areas and provide information on each one.

Answer 3

Family
 Gender role socialisation begins in the family; girls and boys observe their parents and model their behaviour on them
 Oakley (1972): parents use different language for boys and girls, dress them differently, give them different toys and encourage different types of activities

School
 The formal and hidden curriculum reinforce gender role stereotypes
 Skelton (2002): gender stereotypes were created and maintained in primary school through different language, stories that portrayed gender stereotypes and different treatment.

Mass media
 The media reinforce gender stereotypes by representing men and women in different ways
 Tuchman (1978): women are symbolically annihilated in the media, where they are excluded, condemned and trivialised.

Question 4

Gender Theorists (yes it is still important). List the first main points on this topic

Answer 4

1. Men also suffer from having limited, stereotyped identities available to them.
2. Connell (2002) argues that some forms of masculinity are more dominant and have more status than others.
3. The most dominant is called hegemonic masculinity.
4. Boys are socialised into hegemonic masculinity that stresses toughness, aggression, competition and hierarchy.
5. Those who do not conform and try to form alternative (subordinate) masculine identities are punished.