Social Construction of Gender

There are many examples of the different traits and attributes that males and females are socialized to accept as their own in society. Female children, for the most part are encouraged to be cooperative, compassionate, caring, and nurturing; largely in preparation for roles as wife and mother. Male children, in contrast, are socialized toward independence, assertiveness, competition, and achievement; they are often expected to suppress their emotions and feelings, especially ones that are tender or relate to vulne

. . .
of behavioral norms. Culture tends to divide the sexes, on the basis of gender, into distinct categories whose members are assumed to share particular abilities and personality traits. Gender is a structural feature of society more than an inherent concept, just like social class. Gender traits û attributed or acquired û permeate every interaction between men and women in both formal and informal and intimate and professional environments. Although the pattern in contemporary society is toward a greater form of egalitarianism than in the past, this pattern is not universal. Women, in the main, are still socialized toward undertaking the so-called ôdependentö roles of wives and mothers, while men are socialized toward regarding themselves as more independent and less nurturing than women. These patterns of socializing gender are important in that they effect the ways in which males and females perceive themselves and construct their external affects. For instance, conversational style (men talk; women listen) is one external affect of gender differences. Even so, some patterns of behavior associated with gender roles and duties in U.S. society are changing toward a more egalitarian form. A report from the National Study of
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
, According Pearce, Mexican American, Margaret AtwoodÆs, Marge PiercyÆs, Jamaica KincaidÆs, Tuesdayö Kincaid, Boy Code, Changing Workforce, Kornblum Julian, social construction, social construction gender, values norms beliefs, construction gender, values norms, norms beliefs, gender roles, associated gender, males females, contemporary society, roles norms, real boys, norms beliefs society, social institutions workplace, gender roles norms,
Approximate Word count = 2050
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)

More Essays on Social Construction of Gender