We learn what masculinity and femininity means from a young age and are expected to adhere to these roles from childhood to adulthood. Although, these natural roles do not include non-binary and genderfluid individuals, when discussing traditional roles, it can be agreed that men and women perform complementary roles. Tradition is constantly changing in society with each new generation, this allows for minority groups to have the opportunity for acceptance. Gender is a varying social construct with continuously changing
According to Maltz and Borker (1982) girls tend to engage in pairs or small groups, they construct an intimate friendship, loyalty, equality and support, whereas males choose to work in larger and hierarchically organized groups. Regarding power and dominance, we know that women in a patriarchal system have a low social status and position, it is noticeable the social inequalities between males and females, in my opinion, this triggers off problems due to the unequal hierarchical statuses and gender roles held nowadays in society. However, I sometimes wonder, is language sexist? According to Holmes and Meryerhoff, it is realized that there is a specific “language” that is used by men and women. For example, the words beautiful and handsome, what if I employ the word beautiful for men?
Although societies differ in the specific task they assign to the two sexes (male and female), all societies allocate adult roles on the basis of sex and anticipate this allocation in the socialization of their children. Not only are boys and girls expected to acquire sex-specific self-concepts and personality attributes, to be masculine or feminine as defined by that particular culture (Barry, Bacon and Child, 1957. P.354). The process by which by which a society thus transmutes male and female into masculine and feminine is known as the process of sex
This is to say that these social constructs, while affiliated with particular genders, can be utilized by speakers as they see fit. Language and Gender The language of men and women often, there are obvious differences between the language typically used by women and those used by men. The different words used by men and women are obviously a part of their culture and of a biological difference between them. Moreover ,there is no determine explanation whether we are talking about the differences biologically or culturally. In past years, many people have expressed various opinions on the terms "sex" and "gender", although in ordinary usage these terms overlap.
Gender is the cultural meaning a sexed body assumes. It is not something fixed by nature. “All gender is, by definition, unnatural” (Simone de Beauvoir, 1984, p.160) However in my understanding what Beauvoir means by this is that the roles we associate with women are not directly given to them during birth, but instead are socially constructed. Furthermore, the construction of gender refers to how cultures take the framework set up by biology (sex) and adds meaning to it. Judith Butler on the other hand suggested that both are socially constructed.
In all societies, be that as it may, a few people don 't relate to a few (or all) of the parts of gender that are appointed to their biological sex. In spite of the fact that the arrangement of gender identity is not totally comprehended, many components have been recommended as affecting its development. Biological elements that may impact gender identity incorporate pre-and post-natal hormone levels and hereditary cosmetics. Social components incorporate thoughts with respect to gender parts passed on by family, power figures, broad communications, and other persuasive individuals in a child 's life. Children are formed and shaped by the general population encompassing them, who they attempt to impersonate and take after.
In contrast, when the gender was unknown, the female participants interacted more significantly with the baby than the male participants. In addition, to determine the sex of the baby, participants justified it in terms of physical abilities. For instance, ‘it’s a boy because he’s got a strong grip’ or ‘it’s a girl because she’s softer’. This study showed the basic gender stereotype of how men are considered strong and tough whereas women are often appear to be
Attention is brought to the fact that the natural given body can 'put on ' different genders as it is socially constructed. However, it is regularly assumed that the sexed body must generate a certain gender identity that is the performance of gender is assigned to reflect the biological sex and is restricted by it. It seems then that if the ‘inner truth ' of gender is fabricated and gender is only inscribed on the surface of bodies that it can only be produced as the effects of a stable identity. Butler places some focus on how persons 'act ' in ways that draw attention to the construction of heterosexual identities that presents individuals as essential ' and natural '. She goes on to suggest that gender is a form of parody and some genders are more parodic than others; in highlighting the disjunction between the body of the performer and gender being performed she reveals the imitative structure of all gender.Forced heterosexuality is an important concept in Butler’s work where the ‘natural division of men and women is based on the regulation of sexuality within the boundaries of heterosexuality.
Global Perspectives of Masculinity Connell, (2005) noted that, to understand masculinity, we must start by understanding the gender system, in which masculinities are defined. a. “Role theory” is a theory of society based on the power of custom and social conformity. People learn their roles, in the course of growing up, and then perform them under social pressure. “Sex role” theory explains gender patterns by appealing to the social customs that define proper behaviour for women and for men.
Gender socialisation is explained as the process in which society influences its members to internalise attitudes and expectations based on gender, which refers to being either masculine or feminine. Even before the birth of a baby names for girls and boys are looked up. They are given titles, are called things like ‘pretty girl’ or ‘strong boy’ in order to give off the stereotypical way in which society has conditioned us to think (Lamanna, 2015). In the following essay we will look at gender socialisation in depth and its function in society, the micro level of the family and the bigger picture of our diverse county South Africa, we will look at ways in which it has changed and how gender identity is slowly changing in society at large. 1.