Gender
GenderSOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF GENDER
Today�s society plays a very important role in the construction of gender. Gender
is a type of issue that has raised many question over the years in defining and debating if
both male and female are equal. Today gender is constructed in four different ways. The
first way gender is defined is by the family in which a child is raised. Second is the society
in which a child interacts; makes friends and enemies. The third is our school system and
our board of education. And the last but not least is our own self conscious. Each of the
above four ways have a unique way of molding and helping an individual define his/her
gender.
Lets take the first one in perspective. The family is a very important factor in
defining our gender. Our gender starts to define as soon as we are born. If a boy is born
in a family, the family members would buy toys like monster trucks, race cars, action hero
and toys that inspire a male behavior. As oppose to if a girl is born, the family members
would buy dolls, and cute dresses, and stuffed bears. They would inspire her to behave
soft and kind like a female should behave. Parents would allow their sons to stay out late
and be little more liberal on them. And they would not allow their daughter to stay our
late and be a little strict. Dads would expect their sons to help him in the garage or any
other project around the house and moms expect their daughters to help them in kitchen.
All of these characteristics are not unusual or our of ordinary, this has been the tradition
for hundreds of ears and as far as I can see it will still remain the same.
Society is a social factors that has many ways in which its mold a individual and
defines his/her gender. Society includes your friends, mentors, enemies, and our
co-workers and significant others. If you are a boy you usually hand around with guys,
playing football, basketball and other sports. A boy is expected to have �Machoness�
inside him when he grows up. If you are a girl, you would usually hang around girls,
playing indoor games, watching soaps, and going shopping every now and them. A
society expect a boy to be the solid figure in a family. A man who can earn the bread for
the family and women to take care of kids and the house. Jobs out in our society defines
gender. Men are usually factory workers, electricians, mechanics, carpenters, farmers, or
army men. The bottom line is, that a man is expected to have jobs that require more
physical ability then jobs then women has. If we look back 20-30 years ago, not many
women had jobs or financial responsibility. Today almost every women has a job and
contributes toward their family�s income. But the jobs that they have can define gender.
For example most female jobs include, nurse, clerks, teacher, maid, baby sitter, and others.
But the point is that female oriented jobs are less physical and have more emotional ties to
it then male jobs.
The third factor that constructs gender is school and the educational system. This
factor usually contributes during a teen year and in college or other educational system. In
schools and colleges athletic department defines gender in the most obvious ways. For
example it is very highly unlikely to see a football team with female player/players in it.
Yes, there are sports which has both male and female teams like tennis, soccer, basketball,
baseball/softball. But male teams get more publicity and are backed up with a richer
financial budget them female team. Homosexuality is highly discouraged in school and
those who are homosexual are looked down and made fun of and neglected.
The last but the most critical factor that construct or gender role is our self
conscious and the sense of being accepted. Ever since you are little child you have been
molding yourself to become what the your family and society expects you to be. When
you grow old you know exactly what defines masculinity and femanity. If you are a male
then you know that a single step toward femanity would be disliked by the family and
society members. For example even though you had the slightest desire to put make up
on or try female clothing you probably would not do it, jut because you know you would
be laughed at. And not only that some people might just ask question your gender role. I
am not saying all males do what they are expected to do and all females do what they are
expected to do. For example there are men who cross dress, who are professional nurses,
there men who stay home and take care of kids and cooking while the women earn the
bread and finances. But those male a are not necessarily looked upon as role model and
ideals. They are not exactly what is expected out of a usual men and somehow our self
conscious tell us not to be like them. You won�t see very many women acting like men
either. For example you won�t see as many women wrestler as men, a women driving big
motorcycles or women doing �Macho� activities. Their self conscious reminds them not
to act like men do womanly jobs like take care of house and family. Most men and
women know and think that if they don�t act or behave to their expectations they will
looked down upon and possibly neglected by their family and society. To avoid losing
friends and family most male and female construct their own role in their life.
The conclusion of this essay is that there are four prime factors that construct
gender role in today�s society. They include our family, society, educational systems and
self conscious. There are other cultural products that effect the gender within these four
categories. For example the notion that women are physically and weaker then men and
that they are much more emotional then men are. I think no one should be judged on what
there gender. The word �Gender� should be used less and less and individuals should be
judged on their accomplishment and work rather then gender. Society have been defining
and constructing gender for many years. But in 20th century we should all construct
gender not according to what one can do and what not, but what mental qualities they
have. We should define men as courageous and ambitious. Male gender should be define
as father, son, and a leader, instead of someone who are physically stronger then women.
Female gender should be define as mothers, sister and others who are caring, loving and
care taking, instead of weak individuals.