3.3.5
Gender
The Relationship of Identity to Gender
The Relationship of Identity to Gender
Gender, although socially constructed, plays an important role in the construction of identity.
Gender
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.
Gender as a source of identity
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’.
Conformity
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.
Gender stereotypes and hegemonies
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).
Feminists
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
The Social Construction of Hegemonic Gender Identities
Oakley identifies four processes in which family life teaches about gender socialisation.
1Theory & Methods
1.1Sociological Theories
1.2Sociological Methods
2Education with Methods in Context
2.1Role & Function of the Education System
2.2Educational Achievement
2.3Relationships & Processes Within Schools
3Option 1: Culture & Identity
3.1Conceptions of Culture
3.2Identity & Socialisation
3.3Social Identity
3.4Production, Consumption & Globalisation
4Option 1: Families & Households
4.1Families & Households
4.2Changing Patterns
4.3The Symmetrical Family
4.4Children & Childhood
5Option 1: Health
5.1Social Constructions
5.2Social Distribution of Healthcare
5.3Provision & Access to Healthcare
5.4Mental Health
6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare
6.1Poverty & Wealth
7Option 2: Beliefs in Society
7.1Ideology, Science & Religion
7.2Religious Movements
7.3Society & Religion
8Option 2: Global Development
8.1Development, Underdevelopment & Global Inequality
8.2Globalisation & Global Organisations
8.3Aid, Trade, Industrialisation, Urbanisation
9Option 2: The Media
9.1Contemporary Media
9.2Media Representations
10Crime & Deviance
10.1Crime & Society
10.2Social Distribution of Crime
Jump to other topics
1Theory & Methods
1.1Sociological Theories
1.2Sociological Methods
2Education with Methods in Context
2.1Role & Function of the Education System
2.2Educational Achievement
2.3Relationships & Processes Within Schools
3Option 1: Culture & Identity
3.1Conceptions of Culture
3.2Identity & Socialisation
3.3Social Identity
3.4Production, Consumption & Globalisation
4Option 1: Families & Households
4.1Families & Households
4.2Changing Patterns
4.3The Symmetrical Family
4.4Children & Childhood
5Option 1: Health
5.1Social Constructions
5.2Social Distribution of Healthcare
5.3Provision & Access to Healthcare
5.4Mental Health
6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare
6.1Poverty & Wealth
7Option 2: Beliefs in Society
7.1Ideology, Science & Religion
7.2Religious Movements
7.3Society & Religion
8Option 2: Global Development
8.1Development, Underdevelopment & Global Inequality
8.2Globalisation & Global Organisations
8.3Aid, Trade, Industrialisation, Urbanisation
9Option 2: The Media
9.1Contemporary Media
9.2Media Representations
10Crime & Deviance
10.1Crime & Society
10.2Social Distribution of Crime
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