It is of paramount importance to first distinguish between gender and sex. Gender is basically that inner feeling of being either male or female, while sex can be defined as the groupings of species of living things in two categories that are often perceived to be genetically or biologically composed. In nearly every social phenomenal, gender differences are seen to exist from the time of birth where gender expectations could in a major way influence girls and boy's treatment. Psychologists say that gender expectations could somewhat commence before birth with the expected baby’s parents, friends and relatives picking out clothes for the expected baby and even decorating the baby’s room. From birth, girls are handled more tenderly as compared to boys. Additionally, boys are perceived to be rough and therefore are given more independence while girls are cuddled passionately and are watched as they make any movement, they expected to be sweet. A person’s gender is complex and is not particularly limited to biological sex but rather characterized by appearance, movement and speech among others. Therefore gender is socially constructed.
Major sociological theories have given their own views in regards to gender and the reason why gender inequalities predominantly exist. Many of these theories argue that men as instrumental figures in the society fill instrumental roles while women are perceived to fill expressive roles, this coexistence is however beneficial to the society at large. Psychologists have differentiated gender from sex in order to allow further studies on the influences of sexuality that outline vividly the differences between social and psychological aspects.
In these recent times, research on gender issues has suggested that all social interactions as well as institutions perpetrating these interaction are somewhat gendered. Theoretically, gender awareness has largely altered theories of sociology and triggered existence of the new paradigm of feminism (Browne, 2011).The empirical side of view suggests that gender awareness has immensely contributed to innovative research strategies and also enhanced emergence of new topics in sociological inquiry.
BASIC SOCIOLOGICAL CONCEPTS
Typically, societies are structured in a way that their stability is able to form stable patterns which enhance the formation and running of social interaction. Status is equally important in organizing social interaction. Status is actually that position an individual holds that will act as the determinant in the way he or she will be treated or defined. We as human beings acquire statuses in various ways such as, through our own efforts, by achievement or possibly through acknowledgment. Status set is a number of statuses comprising of daughter, mother, employee, patient, attorney and passenger (Ballantine, 2012). The most ascribed statuses are race, social class and gender. There are two types of statuses one is the high-prestige statuses and the other is the low-prestige statuses. Giving by example, in the United States for instance, a physician assumes a higher rank than a secretary. Societies normally categorize their members by status then further rank the formed statuses in a fashionable way that creates social stratification (Marchbank, 2007). To date, almost in all societies’ male status have been ranked higher as compared to the female statuses.
A role is basically that expected behavior which is associated with a status. Usually, roles are performed in accordance with social norms perceived as rules to guide people’s conduct indefinite situations. Males and females, fathers and mothers, daughters and sons are all statuses in general but with different motives roles accrued to them. A father’s status has expected roles of being the head of the family acting as a breadwinner, home technology expert, decision maker and disciplinarian in the family. A mother’s role on the other hand involves, nurturing, love, availability, homemaking and self-sacrifice. Though the society has visibly assigned particular duties to fathers and mothers, it adjusts accordingly in times of a quick social change.
Key Concepts for the Sociology of Gender
Key aspects of social structure roles and statuses help us organize our livelihoods in predictable and consistent ways. In the course of time, normal behavior tends to become rigid and in such situations freedom of action is outwardly compromised (Rahman, 2010). This rigidity of the definitions is attributed to the development of stereotypes which suggests that people occupying a similar status commonly share a number of traits. Generally, women are perceived to have unreliable and unpredictable emotions since they possess intense hormones that stimulate emotional eruption.
Sexism
Sexism is predominantly propagated by systems which suggest that suggest domination of men in social structure is what leads to oppression of women. Sexism draws a thick line between gender roles, beliefs and biological suitability that make men the guardians of written and interpreted gender roles. This concept is strongly backed by beliefs which suggest that gender equality and societal dominance can never coexist in a mediocre society and are therefore rendered unrealistic and doomed to failure.
Functionalism
Functionalism can be defined as a macro sociological perception predominantly based on societal setup which comprises of interdependent sections that contribute to the running, management and functioning of the society. Basically, functionalism seeks to determine societal elements and the functions they play in shaping people’s livelihoods. Functionalists are the perpetrators of this structuring and among their roles are to basically outline causes of disruptive social balance and change. Functionalists majorly emphasis on forming a consensus that could integrate values surrounding marriage, gender roles and family restructuring.
Preindustrial Society
Preindustrial societies are presuming that social equilibrium is achieved through allocating different tasks and roles for women and men. Back in the days, men would hunt and gather food while women would remain at home cook and look after their children as they wait for their husbands to return from the woods. Children on the other hand assisted their parents in domestic and agricultural activities. Throughout the globe, this functional division of labour acted as a norm that by and large observed by everyone (Giddens, 2010). Women were moreover dependent on men for their livelihoods, men therefore were an icon of hope, trust and this pattern placed men in an important position.
Conflict Theory
Social Conflict Theory which is also referred to as macrosociological perspective in regards to conflict theory is symbolic since it reflects on functionality of social order. Karl Marks (1818-1883) states that based on assumption conflict theory assumes that the social order is generally a stage where dominance and struggles for power are coherent. These struggles emerge as a result of differences between social classes that compete for very scarce resources such as dominance, land, natural materials and factories. With only a few men ruling, capitalization is seen to thrive in a class-based system. Through extracting a lot of profit, the dominant class maintains its dominance of class over the subsidiary class.
Friedrich Eagles (1820-1895) was a collaborator of Marx who exercised these basics to family and gender roles. In his study, he suggests that prehistoric societies were underrated because they lacked surplus food to feed their people and as a result, there were no private properties (Williams, 2010). Engels argument suggested that the husband’s supremacy is whatsoever not questionable.
Gender and the Family
Majorly, social theory is seen to focus more on functions of the social placement of the family which thrive among people and families that have a different economic status. People born into wealthy families tend to carry that name, wealth and fortunes. Endogamy which can be defined as intermarriages of same social class posit that wealth and other precious fortunes are kept within a few hands of the influential families. Also, it is argued that those born into poor families possess that status and carry it along in their lives due to lack of talent and luck.
Symbolic Interaction
Also known as ‘the interactionist perspective’, symbolic interaction is a major subject of social interaction particularly at the micro level. Symbolic interactionists basically explain ways in which social interaction is influential to people and how progressive it is in the society. Herbert Blumer (1900-1987) who came up with the word ‘symbolic interaction’ argued that respond to the meaning of the world rather than the world around them (Andersen, 2006). Generally, people interact in accordance with the way in which they perceive situations.
Social Construction of Reality
Cultural norms are influential since they offer general guidelines for methods and means of people’s livelihoods. Interaction is generally a determinant of performance roles. Cultural roles shape people’s lives and the way in which people view life. Social construction of reality mitigates trends in life that entirely affect people and it is suggested that when social interaction occurs, many people tend to formulate their perspective on the matter at hand.
Feminist Sociological Theory
Feminist theoretical standpoint in sociological majorly impact on the course with significant impact on mankind. Alongside bridging micro-macro gap, feminist sociological theory illuminates societal biases in the broader society. This perspective enhanced by feminism is co-joined with conflict theory and similarly accepted by both the oppressed and the privileged. Unlike the conflict theory, feminists focus majorly on women and their capability of amassing numerous resources from assorted sources. Works of feminists empowers women greatly through initiatives and avenues as a way to establish and enhance their ambitions and foster their dreams.
As a way to empower women this initiative lessens the gap of unequal power between men and women and to end the notion that men can entirely rule women (Chafetz, 2006). For instance corporate women have a desire to achieve more in life and get promoted into managerial positions focusing on women's rights, at the same time these women want to maintain their personal integrity.
Linking Gender, Race and Class
The interest of feminist in sociology is to draw attention to issues faced by the oppressed in the society who are going through hardships. It is over analyzing the situation that hit issues of gender biases, race and social class among oppression of the people that this initiative was started. It is among African American feminists that gender-race-class linkage began. It dates back in the 1960s when initiatives were started in need to determine and understand links within the oppressions in a way to determine the differences and similarities in women. In addition, other sites of oppression in relation to age, disability, sexual orientation and religion are being identified to end this menace.
Work and Occupation
As frequently debated, the differences between women and men entirely involve occupations. It varies on job accordance when a woman seeks a position and depending on her social class and marital status she is bonded to secure the position. In the United States for instance, the statistics of the current labor force illustrate that women’s changing role is growing steadily from 32 million which is 43.3% of the female population to 69 million suggested to be 59.1% a fraction of the female population. It is also seen that women make $17,000 less than men do on average. From the analysis, it is seen that generally women concentrate more on miner jobs that are less prestigious that are lower paying while men tend to go for more professional jobs that are well paid. There is a possible explanation with the privileges white men have in well paying jobs than white women (Brym, 2010). It is argued that black men especially in managerial positions receive quite a number of job leads; this to a great extent is advantageous to them.
Education
Educational attainment has for a long time been the cutting edge in social and class attainment in the society. Women have not had the privilege to enjoy social and radical exercises in the society because for a long time their voices have not been heard. This injustice is moreover unfair and judgmental to a large extent especially when gauging social interactive status of women in the society. Men in the tradition set up have had the biggest privilege of attaining education over women.
In these recent years, organizations and other initiatives have created forums in which women are getting educated on the importance of having a good education and the need to change their archaic lives. These initiatives have had receptions and from the recent statistics, women have greatly enrolled in institutions of higher learning although their numbers don’t equal those of men. At lower levels of education particularly at the primary level, girls do not perform as well as boys especially in sciences and maths. Studies have shown that girls have much anxiety when learning maths and as a result, they end up developing a phobia in maths.
Sexism
Sexism can well be defined as discrimination against people that are biased on gender and sex. It is the belief that one sex is better and more superior to the other men and women are different. In a simpler term it can be defined as hatred of women (misogyny) or men (misandry). Sexist beliefs are a reflection of societal decay where a certain sex can dominate over the other. There have been forums and initiatives seeking to end the belief and misconception of a certain sex appearing better than the other. This has been possible through engaging all people together in various participations such as sports and other social forums. Though faced with challenges, these involvements of women have brought about cohesion, respect and consideration of women in the society (Beck, 2012).
As much as the notion of dominance of the male sex is prevalent in our world today, it is worthwhile to consider important life aspects that could bring all of us together and create cohesion. In this 21 century, gender biases have been overcome through intersection of sociological connections between race, gender and social class.
References
Browne, K. (2011). An introduction to sociology. Cambridge, UK: Polity Press.
Ballantine, J. H., & Roberts, K. A. (2012). Our social world: Introduction to sociology. Los Angeles: Sage.
Marchbank, J., & Letherby, G. (2007). Introduction to gender: Social science perspectives. Harlow: Pearson Longman.
Rahman, M., & Jackson, S. (2010). Gender and sexuality: Sociological approaches. Cambridge: Polity.
Giddens, A., & Sutton, P. W. (2010). Sociology: Introductory readings. Cambridge: Polity.
Williams, C. L., & Dellinger, K. (2010). Gender and sexuality in the workplace. Bingley: Emerald.
Andersen, M. L., & Taylor, H. F. (2006). Sociology: Understanding a diverse society. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.
Chafetz, J. S. (2006). Handbook of the sociology of gender. New York: Springer.
Brym, R. J., & Lie, J. (2010). Sociology: Your compass for a new world, the brief edition. Belmont, California: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Beck, L. (2012). Cultural sociology: An introduction. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley- Blackwell.
