Changing Gender Identities
Sociology: AQA A Level, topic 3.3.6
Changing Gender Identities
More males and females are adopting gender identities that combine elements of both genders. These gender identities are continuing to change for a number of reasons and are different for both sexes.
Changing female identities
- There are an increasing number of strong, independent and successful women in all spheres of life.
- Woman are experiencing growing success and equality, such as outperforming males in education and in many areas of the labour market, thus, reducing traditional stereotypes.
- There are now a wider range of roles available for women.
Changing female identities cont.
- There is growing convergence (similarity) between masculine and feminine identities.
- Females are taking on certain aspects of laddish masculine culture, so-called ‘ladettes’.
- More women are choosing to remain single and to not have children.
Changing male identities
- Mac an Ghaill argue for a crisis in masculinity, where men’s dominant position as the family breadwinner and decision-maker is threatened by the rise of women’s equality and their independent incomes.
‘New men’
- ‘New men’ and other gender identities are on the rise.
- Men feel more comfortable being more caring and emotional as well as contributing more to once traditional female roles such as housework and childcare.
Male appearance
- Male bodies are now more likely to be used as sex objects in advertising.
- Previously this was confined to female bodies.
- Similarly, men are becoming more concerned with dress, appearance and personal grooming.
‘Mosaic identities’
- Men are now more likely to create ‘mosaic identities’ where they cherry-pick elements of both masculine and feminine identities that appeal to them, making men’s identities more fluid and diverse as a result.