Social Construction of Gender

 Social Construction of Gender

Unit I:Social Construction of Gender

• Sex, and social construction of gender

• Gender as routine accomplishment in everyday interaction

• Gender as social structure

• Sex roles and gender division of labour

Required readings

Little, William and Ron McGivern (2013) "The difference between sex and gender,"

Introduction to Sociology – 1st Canadian Edition, British Columbia: OpenStax College,

Chapter 12.

West, C., & Zimmerman, D. H. (1987) "Doing gender," Gender & Society, 1(2), 125–151.

Lorber, Judith (1994) " 'Night to his day': the social construction of gender," Paradoxes or

Gender, Yale University Press pp. 13-36.

Marini, Margaret Mooney (1990) "Sex and gender: what do we know?" Sociological Forum, vol.

5(1), pp. 95-120.

Unit I on the **Social Construction of Gender** explores how gender is shaped, maintained, and experienced through social interactions and societal structures. Let’s go over the key topics and readings in this unit:

### 1. **Sex and the Social Construction of Gender**

   - **Sex** refers to biological differences (e.g., chromosomes, hormones, reproductive organs) that categorize humans as male or female.

   - **Gender**, in contrast, is socially constructed, meaning that the expectations, behaviors, and roles associated with being male or female are created by society rather than dictated by biology.

   - The required reading by **William Little and Ron McGivern** in *Introduction to Sociology* explains this distinction between sex and gender. The chapter delves into how societies have different cultural expectations for people based on their gender and how these expectations shape identity and social roles.

### 2. **Gender as Routine Accomplishment in Everyday Interaction**

   - The idea that gender is something we "do" rather than something we inherently "are" is captured in the work of **West and Zimmerman** (1987) in their paper "Doing Gender."

   - According to them, gender is not simply a personal identity but a routine accomplishment that individuals perform in everyday social interactions. This performance is guided by societal norms and expectations about what is considered masculine or feminine.

   - For example, in conversation, physical appearance, or work settings, people adjust their behavior to align with their society’s gender expectations, even if unconsciously.

   - This reading emphasizes that gender is a constant process, not a fixed state.

### 3. **Gender as Social Structure**

   - **Judith Lorber’s** (1994) essay “Night to His Day” in *Paradoxes of Gender* presents the idea that gender is a fundamental social structure that organizes nearly all areas of social life.

   - Lorber explains that from birth, individuals are classified into gender categories (male/female) that come with specific roles, rights, and duties. These classifications then influence how they are treated, what opportunities are available, and how they perceive themselves.

   - By viewing gender as a social structure, we can see how it shapes not only individual identities but also institutions like family, education, and the economy.

### 4. **Sex Roles and Gender Division of Labor**

   - This topic addresses how societies assign different roles to individuals based on their sex, often leading to a gender division of labor. This means men and women are expected to perform different tasks and fulfill different responsibilities in both domestic and professional settings.

   - **Marini’s** (1990) paper "Sex and Gender: What Do We Know?" explores the concept of sex roles and examines how these roles are socially constructed to justify the gendered division of labor. Marini highlights how these sex roles have historically placed men in the public sphere (e.g., paid labor) and women in the private sphere (e.g., household work).

   - This division reinforces traditional gender norms and contributes to the persistence of gender inequality in society.

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### Key Takeaways:

- **Social Construction of Gender**: Gender is not an inherent biological trait but a set of socially created norms and expectations that individuals learn and perform.

- **Doing Gender**: Gender is continuously enacted through daily behaviors and interactions, shaping how individuals conform to or resist societal norms.

- **Gender as Social Structure**: Gender is embedded in societal institutions and affects every aspect of life, including work, family, and politics.

- **Gender Division of Labor**: Societal norms assign different roles to men and women, often reinforcing inequality by relegating women to unpaid or undervalued labor.

These readings provide a foundational understanding of how sociologists analyze gender not as a static identity but as a dynamic and socially constructed category that influences all aspects of life.