Social Construction Of Gender And Gender Identity (Essay Sample)

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Social Construction of Gender and Gender Identity
Gender refers to the social, cultural and behavioural attribute of being male or female. Gender behaviours were traditionally viewed as having developed exclusively from biological formation and gender assignment was done based on the appearance of genitalia at birth. Once gender was assigned, babies were named and dressed according the gender and grew up conforming to the predetermined gender (Lorber et al. 277). Gender is now viewed as a socially and culturally defined attribute rather than a biological attribute. A new born baby is born without gender but rather the sex attribute. Gender identification begins when a baby is defined as either a boy or a girl.
Gender identity and sexuality is a complex concept. Femininity and masculinity is not apparent and may differ from an individual to another. It may also differ due to differences in situation. Gender behaviours are largely influenced by a wide array of factors such as sexual preference, institutional demands, religion, class, age, race, culture, body shape and class. However, it is rare to have uncertainties like these since there is a general acceptance in perceiving gender. Dress code, social conduct and behavioural patterns are used to identify gender. (Baron et al. 17).
Biological makeup and genes play a great role in gender identity but they are not necessarily the identifying factors. Gender identity usually conforms to the anatomical makeup but not always. At birth, hormone levels are usually the same as far as gender identity is concerned. Thus gender identity is developed from birth and can be defined as the categorising of an individual as either male or female. Gender is referred to as a social construction since it is created through socially defined aspects. Particular traits and behaviour are ascribed to a particular gender by the society based on sex. As an individual interacts socially with the environment, they learn to conduct themselves based on a particular gender as defined by the society.
Gender roles refer to the expectations about a particular gender held by individuals or groups. They are the roles ascribed to men and women based on their sex. The interaction between an individual and the surrounding social environment is the guiding factor on the type of behaviour expected for a particular gender. Traditionally, gender roles were distinct and well defined. Women were believed to be more nurturing and emotional than men, hence led to the predetermined feminine gender role that women should be nurturing and emotional. With this believe, women could portray the feminine gender by nurturing, this could be achieved by working at home and taking care of the family rather than working outside. Men were assumed to be leaders. Traditionally, the masculine gender expected men to portray leadership skills such as providing for the family and making important family decisions.
The gender stereotypes introduced during childhood becomes embedded in our lives and affect us throughout. Since most leadership positions are held by men, women do not expect to achieve them hence do bother to pursue them. Gender stereotypic believes affect women in their career and that is why very few women engage in technical skills such as computer programming. They affect men in a similar way as very few men engage in careers such as nursing believed to be a woman’s profession.
In a heterosexual relationship, traditionally a man is expected to be the breadwinner of the family. These gender roles still hold in some places, but they have experienced some significant changes in the 21st century. Financial decisions in a family can now be made by women and both men and women work to provide for the family.
In same sex relationships, there is a general controversy on how gender roles are defined in the relationship. This is because there are no predetermined behavioural roles in same sex relationships. There is a general misconception that the individual with more feminine attributes, assumes the ‘women’ roles in same sex relationship. This is normally not the case because despite sex, some people exhibit more feminine or masculine attributes than others. A gay man may show more feminine qualities in a relationship but this does not necessarily make him a woman in the relationship. They are both men in the relationship and can assume any roles based on what one is good at (Sandberg 113).
Gender differences are inborn while others are acquired socially. Boys are more likely to be aggressive compared to girls. While girls socialise on bases of personality, boys socialise on bases of activities. These traits are inb...