3.3.6

Changing Gender Identities

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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

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.

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

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’

  • ‘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 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’

‘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.
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Theory & Methods

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Education with Methods in Context

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Option 1: Culture & Identity

4

Option 1: Families & Households

5

Option 1: Health

6

Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare

7

Option 2: Beliefs in Society

8

Option 2: Global Development

9

Option 2: The Media

10

Crime & Deviance

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