The Social Construction of Gender Relations

Question 1

Social constructionist perspective of gender relations helps us to understand how gender become…

Answer 1

…defined as well as how it changes over time

Question 2

Social constructionists highlight that definitions vary over…

Answer 2

…time & place, over the life course, vary within a culture + given time

Question 3

• Hides the problem of dominant and power
• Fails to go beyond ideas of biology
• Ignores the fluidity of gender over time and place
• Cannot account for variations
  Hides that gender is situational

Answer 3

critiques from a social constructionist against understanding of gender based on socially determined sex roles

Question 4

Gender goes beyond biology & role assignment and includes (from a social construction perspective)…(3)

Answer 4

…identity (activities one does), interaction (relational), & institution.

Question 5

from a SC perspective, Gender relations always reflects…

Answer 5

…power, and power is not experienced equally among all.

Question 6

power is not experienced equally among all and is a feature of…

Answer 6

…social stratification

Question 7

At the heart of understanding gender relations from a feminist perspective is understanding…

Answer 7

…relationships of power

Question 8

the patriarchal system is defined as a system of power distribution. What three aspects is power tied to? (3):

Answer 8

Power as a resource
Power as domination
Power as empowerment

Question 9

• 19th/20th centuries
• associated with the women’s suffrage movement
• Highlighted that women and men are biologically different but still equal
• Emphasize equal rights for men and women

Answer 9

first wave of feminism

Question 10

The 1960s-1980s focused on issues of equality and discrimination

Associated with the women’s liberation movement

Fought for fewer restrictions on women’s choices and behaviours “the personal is political”

Introduced ideas of intersectionality

Development of liberal feminism, Marxist-socialist feminism, & radical feminism

Answer 10

second wave of feminism

Question 11

builds on ideas of intersectionality

Involved a very academic study of feminism

Incorporates elements of queer theory, postmodernism, post-colonialism (more global in focus)

Answer 11

third wave feminism

Question 12

A classical liberal feminist idea is based on issues of civic participation in the public realm, property ownership

classic liberalism/equality focused on market & economic participation

Female discrimination can be overcome by giving girls better role models and a reallocation of exchange of power

Answer 12

liberal feminism

Question 13

focus on the social position of women and their relation to the resources of production

Highlight work conditions, access to work, the production and distribution of products

women are given the responsibility for social reproduction (gendered division of labour) because of their child-caring role at home

Answer 13

Marxist Feminism

Question 14

Emerged from mainstream liberal feminism in the 1960s-1970s

Believe that women’s liberal is key to reforming all institutions, e.g. family, marriage, work, religion, education etc. as these institutions exist, there will never be equality or equity

Call for a revolutionary change of all institutions, including the institution of gender

Answer 14

Radical Feminism

Question 15

Includes more public expressions of feminism

Highlights issues that were considered resolved,
E.g the gendered wage gap, sexual abuse, female representations

Skeptical of the use of the term feminism

Further highlights intersectionism

Answer 15

Fourth Wave Feminism

Question 16

Raewyn Connell’s theories of masculinities emerged in the 1970s in response to…

Answer 16

…feminist theories that suggested that women assume male roles achieve equality

Question 17

Connell identified three additional categories of masculinities that, emerge “under” the hegemonic form

Answer 17

1. complicit (don’t necessary fit into hegemonic, but they desire to fit)
2. subordinated
3. marginalized

Question 18

suggests that one’s position in the world determines what the deem to be real and true

Answer 18

Standpoint theories