3.3.5

Gender

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The Relationship of Identity to Gender

Gender, although socially constructed, plays an important role in the construction of identity.

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Gender

  • Gender plays an important role in the construction of identity and whether people see themselves as masculine or feminine can influence the way we think about ourselves.
  • Gender, itself, is the socially constructed cultural differences between the two biological sexes of male and female, so impacts on both how people view themselves and how other view them.
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Gender as a source of identity

  • People can choose the exact details of their gender identities (how they view themselves, and others see them, in terms of their gender roles and biological sex) with both males and females adopting a range of identities.
    • Examples of gender identities include traditional femininity, tomboys, macho men and caring and sensitive ‘new men’.
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Conformity

  • The choice of gender identity isn’t unlimited because agencies of socialisation frequently promote socially approved forms of masculine and feminine behaviour to which many people feel they must conform.
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Gender stereotypes and hegemonies

  • Agencies of socialisation create and encourage people towards gender stereotypes (or hegemonic identities) which make it difficult for people to assert alternative gender identities.
  • Hegemonic identities represent the ‘typical’ or ‘ideal’ gender characteristics.
  • These are the ones that most men and women feel compelled by social pressures to conform to (e.g. tough men and demure women).
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Feminists

  • Feminists emphasise the ways these processes reproduce and reinforce patriarchal culture, making it difficult for either men or women to construct gender identities that differ from the hegemonic stereotypes.

The Social Construction of Hegemonic Gender Identities

Oakley identifies four processes in which family life teaches about gender socialisation.

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Oakley's four processes

  • Oakley identifies four processes in which family life teaches about gender socialisation:
    • Manipulation.
    • Canalisation.
    • Verbal appellations.
    • Differential activity exposure.
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Manipulation

  • Manipulation refers to the way in which boys and girls are manipulated to adopt gender-appropriate behaviour.
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Canalisation

  • Canalisation is the way boys and girls are directed towards different toys and games.
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Verbal appellations

  • Verbal appellations refers to the way boys and girls are rebuked for behaviour which is appropriate for their gender.
    • E.g. ‘brave boy,’ ‘sweet girl'.
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Differential activity exposure

  • Differential activity exposure is the way in which boys and girls are encouraged to engage in separate activities, related to specific gender roles and role models.
    • E.g. Mum baking, Dad doing DIY.

Jump to other topics

1Theory & Methods

2Education with Methods in Context

3Option 1: Culture & Identity

4Option 1: Families & Households

5Option 1: Health

6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare

7Option 2: Beliefs in Society

8Option 2: Global Development

9Option 2: The Media

10Crime & Deviance

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