Do We Learn Our Gender

2173 words 9 pages
Show More
Do we learn our gender?
This essay will look at the question of whether we learn our gender. It will begin by looking at the sociological meaning and interpretations of gender and how this is important. Following the discussion of how socialization plays a vital role in the argument of if we do learn our gender or not. Further to this it shall look at how gender roles have changed, comparing in particular pre-1960 to the modern day and also what key factors played crucial roles in this change. Throughout this essay the work and views of different sociologists will be relied upon in order to provide a detailed discussion in the analysis of the question.
Firstly to understand the question the meaning of gender has to be depicted. The …show more content…

It is important to look back in history to see how and if we learn our gender. If we do learn our gender then how comes today we are confronted with such a distorted and increasingly difficult to define male and female gender role? One of the most important periods to look at would be the 1970’s. This time saw a substantial change and difference to that of the typical pre-1960’s sociologist views. Prior to this it was typically seen that women were to be the carers and the men were to be the providers. Many things contributed to the abolishment of this traditional view, largely due to the acts of the women’s liberation movement. Throughout the 1960-70’s protest, petitions and strikes were held in order to gain women equal rights and bring them more freedom. In 1970 the Equal Pay Act made it illegal to pay women less than men for the same work, in 1971 four thousand women took part in the first women’s liberation march in London, following this in 1975 The Sex Discrimination Act made it illegal to discriminate against women in places of work, education and training. All of which were largely influenced by the women’s movement. These events brought equality between women and men and started to dissolve the discrimination put upon their heads. In relation to the question of whether we learn our gender these facts relate to the argument of whether we depict our gender ourselves, without external compulsion. Shown by the way that women were

Related

  • Gender Theory
    1527 words | 7 pages

    Abstract Gender Theory The textbook identifies four approaches to gender development: biological, interpersonal, cultural, and critical. Define each theory. Then answer the following question: which of the theoretical approaches to gender do you find the most valid? Be sure to include at least two examples from your own experience as well as two scholarly sources to back up your claim. Gender plays a signifigant roles in our every day lives. Gender determines whether….

    Show More
  • Gender Socialization Among Children
    2497 words | 10 pages

    In our society, there are norms of what is considered to be feminine and what is to be considered masculine, but how are these norms constructed? Through the use of toys, books, and clothing, children are socialized into their “appropriate” gender. These objects provide influence over behavior and appearance, showing boys and girls what is appropriate for each gender. After some investigation it was found that the toys, books, and clothing that children use not only foster the norms of gender….

    Show More
  • Single Sex High Schools
    2303 words | 10 pages

    2013 Abstract Our educational system is broken. It is struggling today not just because of the problems of undisciplined children, the pressure from legislators to raise test scores, the lack of funds, parents fears for their children’s safety, overwhelmed teachers; it is also struggling because we are graduating children that do not have the tools necessary to fill out an employment application. Single-sex high schools The single-sex format creates opportunities that do not exist in the….

    Show More
  • Dancing Skeletons: Life and Death in West Africa
    1385 words | 6 pages

    material items, our breakthroughs in medicine, our employment opportunities, etc. These are just some of the things the United States has to offer, but the United States also has a downfall to all of the “good” things in life: we think our way of life is better than everyone else’s, and we often judge other countries, especially Africa, for their way of living. We often ask the questions, “What if we go to help them?” or “How can we help them?” when the real question is: “What can we learn from them”….

    Show More
  • Gender Equality
    2182 words | 9 pages

    Gender Equality between Pros and Cons Who has not heard about “Gender Equality”? Among the mushrooming current issues or topics, there is always demand for open spaces. Actually, it is really a good thing and also a kind of proof that shows a particular result after a period of time, the way of considering something, or opinions of people nowadays become more and more open-minded, willing to consider ideas and opinions that are new or different to be their own. Even, most of the time, you may see….

    Show More
  • Contrast and Comparison of Single-Sex School and Co-Ed School
    2905 words | 12 pages

    schools and co-ed schools to universities. This structure is designed to formulate people’s knowledge one step at a time according to their levels. School is one of the most important stages of educational system in our lives where we are trained to absorb basic knowledge and prepare for our future. Often times, schools are divided into single-sex schools, where only boys or girls study, and co-ed schools, where boys and girls study together. This choice demands….

    Show More
  • Cultutral Gender Roles
    1300 words | 6 pages

    Cultural Gender Roles In most cultures, boys and girls are treated very differently. Despite the differences of gender, upbringing creates gender behavior, including aggression and gentility; societal stereotypes of gender, and most importantly, gender-based discrimination. Throughout history and in all cultures the roles of males and females vary. Relating to the article "Girl" written by Jamaica Kincaid at a time when women's roles were to work in the home. By examining gender roles, then….

    Show More
  • Student-Centered Activities for Teaching Vocabulary
    3583 words | 15 pages

    and to raise their awareness of logical connections between words from different languages. So how can we make vocabulary activities more appealing and effective for the learner? Some of the steps we as future teachers should follow are the following: 1. Include more interactive reading in class. Reading by itself is a very useful tool, but it doesn’t have to be the dull and annoying activity we all know. Teachers should work on implementing reading exercises in class and try to make students develop….

    Show More
  • Gender Inequality
    1132 words | 5 pages

    Gender Inequality In The Home Remains An Issue In Family Life. Gender inqualities often stem from social structures that have instiutionalized conceptions of gender differences. Gender inequality has been around for centuries. In many family homes, their lives evolve around gender roles. The responibilties in the family are allocated to their sex (gender). There are certain tasks which are usually allocated to males and females. Some see this division as biologolical differences between the….

    Show More
  • Gender Roles
    2055 words | 9 pages

    Gender Roles Children learn from their parents and society the conception of "feminine" and "masculine." Much about these conceptions is not biological at all but cultural. The way we tend to think about men and women and their gender roles in society constitute the prevailing paradigm that influences out thinking. Riane Eisler points out that the prevailing paradigm makes it difficult for us to analyze properly the roles of men and women in prehistory "we have a cultural bias that we bring….

    Show More

Popular Essays