Judith Lorber's Concept of "Doing Gender"

  Judith Lorber's Concept of "Doing Gender"

## Judith Lorber's Concept of "Doing Gender"

Judith Lorber is a prominent sociologist who has significantly contributed to the understanding of gender as a social construct. Her concept of "doing gender" is pivotal in examining how gender is not merely an identity or role but an active, ongoing process that individuals engage in through everyday interactions.

****Understanding "Doing Gender"

The concept of "doing gender" was originally articulated by Candace West and Don H. Zimmerman in their seminal 1987 article, which Lorber later expanded upon. They argue that gender is a routine accomplishment embedded in social interactions, meaning that it is something people actively perform rather than simply possess. This performance is shaped by societal norms and expectations regarding what it means to be male or female.

Key points about "doing gender" include:

- **Routine Accomplishment**: Gender is not a static attribute; it is continuously enacted in daily life. Individuals engage in behaviors, expressions, and interactions that align with societal expectations of their assigned gender.

- **Social Context**: The performance of gender varies depending on the social context, including factors such as time, place, and the people present. For instance, a person may behave differently in a professional setting compared to a casual gathering with friends.

- **Interactional Work**: "Doing gender" involves a complex set of activities that are socially guided. Individuals navigate their interactions with an awareness of how their behaviors may be perceived as masculine or feminine. This includes everything from language use to body language and attire.

- **Accountability**: Individuals are held accountable for their gender performances by others in society. This means that deviations from expected gender norms can lead to social sanctions or disapproval, reinforcing the importance of conforming to these roles.

****Gender as a Social Construct

Lorber emphasizes that gender is fundamentally a social institution that shapes various aspects of social life. It organizes expectations for behavior and roles within families, workplaces, and broader societal structures. By framing gender as socially constructed, Lorber challenges the notion that biological differences dictate gender roles. Instead, she posits that these roles are created and maintained through social interactions and cultural norms.

This perspective aligns with the idea that:

- **Gender Roles are Learned**: From an early age, individuals learn what behaviors are considered appropriate for their gender through family upbringing, education, and media representations. These learned behaviors become ingrained as part of one's identity.

- **Performance Reinforces Gender Norms**: As individuals "do gender," they not only express their identities but also reinforce the existing gender norms within society. For example, when men engage in traditionally masculine activities or women in nurturing roles, they contribute to the perpetuation of these stereotypes.

- **Fluidity and Change**: While traditional notions of masculinity and femininity are deeply entrenched, Lorber acknowledges that societal changes—such as increased visibility of LGBTQ+ identities—challenge these binary constructs. The emergence of non-binary and fluid gender identities highlights the evolving nature of how gender is understood and performed.

In summary, Judith Lorber's concept of "doing gender" underscores the idea that gender is an active process shaped by social interactions rather than a fixed characteristic. This perspective invites critical examination of how societal norms influence individual behavior and highlights the potential for change in understanding and performing gender within various contexts. By recognizing the performative nature of gender, sociologists can better analyze the complexities surrounding identity, power dynamics, and social structures related to gender in contemporary society.

Citations:

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Lorber

[2] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1749431.The_Social_Construction_of_Gender

[3] https://www.gla.ac.uk/0t4/crcees/files/summerschool/readings/WestZimmerman_1987_DoingGender.pdf

[4] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0891243287001002002

[5] https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontosociology/chapter/chapter12-gender-sex-and-sexuality/

[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_construction_of_gender

[7] https://www.academia.edu/110759225/The_Social_Construction_of_Gender

[8] https://sociology.morrisville.edu/readings/SOCI101/SOS28-Lorber-NightToHisDay.pdf