Examine the Extent to Which Gender Is Socially Constructed
Gender differences are biologically constructed. We are born either as male or female. Without going any further these statements appear normal and one can take the view that this is the general assumption. What then is sex? Is there a difference between sex and gender? Distinctions between sex and gender have been made by social scientists from the feminist movement of 1970’s, when feminists argued that the traditional views of masculinity and femininity often led to the disempowerment of women. Ann Oakley (1972) in particular, set the stage for the socialization explorations of gender identity (Abbott 2005).
Since this latter part of the 19th century, the common distinction made by sociologists is that sex is derived from the biological differences between men and women - chromosome make up, internal and external genitals and reproductive organs amongst others. Gender, however, refers to the socially constructed characteristics of masculinity and femininity, characteristics that are defined by different societies and cultures in different ways. In contrast, there are arguments proposing that gender differences are based on biological sex and result from biological factors – we naturally show characteristics of masculinity and femininity. These different views are often referred to as the nature v nurture debate (Marsh et al 2009, Lippa 2005 and Abbott 2005)
Here we will look at some of the biological explanations in support of the assumption that gender differences are biologically determined before moving on to the sociological explorations of the social construction of gender, and the limitations of both views. We will also look at the gender differences across cultures and the influence of the mass media in shaping our society.
Biological sex differences have often been used to explain the ‘natural’ differences in roles employed by men and women - men are naturally the breadwinners and the women nurture and take care of the family. The
Since this latter part of the 19th century, the common distinction made by sociologists is that sex is derived from the biological differences between men and women - chromosome make up, internal and external genitals and reproductive organs amongst others. Gender, however, refers to the socially constructed characteristics of masculinity and femininity, characteristics that are defined by different societies and cultures in different ways. In contrast, there are arguments proposing that gender differences are based on biological sex and result from biological factors – we naturally show characteristics of masculinity and femininity. These different views are often referred to as the nature v nurture debate (Marsh et al 2009, Lippa 2005 and Abbott 2005)
Here we will look at some of the biological explanations in support of the assumption that gender differences are biologically determined before moving on to the sociological explorations of the social construction of gender, and the limitations of both views. We will also look at the gender differences across cultures and the influence of the mass media in shaping our society.
Biological sex differences have often been used to explain the ‘natural’ differences in roles employed by men and women - men are naturally the breadwinners and the women nurture and take care of the family. The
References: Abbott, P., Wallace, C. and Tyler, M. (2005) An Introduction to Sociology: Feminist Perspectives. London: Routledge. Bilton, T., Bonnett, K., Jones, P., Lawson, T., Skinner, D., Stanworth, M. and Webster, A. (2002) Introductory Sociology. Basingstoke: Macmillan. Lippa, R.A. (2005) Gender, Nature, and Nurture. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. Macionis, J. and Plummer, K. (2005) Sociology: A Global Introduction. Harlow: Pearson. Marsh, I., Keating, M., Punch, S. and Harden, J. (2009) Sociology: Making Sense of Society. Harlow:Pearson.