The Social Construction of Gender

““The Social Construction of The Social Construction of Gender”Gender”

By: Judith Lorber

Judith LorberJudith Lorber

• “Gender is so pervasive in our society that

we assume it is bred in our genes. […] gender

is constantly created and re-created out of

human interaction, out of social life, and is

the texture and order of that social life.”

“Everyone ‘does gender’ without thinking about it.”

• Q-How do you, personally, “do gender?” • Q-What kind of clothes are you wearing right

now? Why? • Q-Are you wearing makeup? Why or why

not?

“The process of gendering and its outcome are

legitimated by religion, law, science, and the

society’s entire set of values.”

“[Gender inequality] is not the result of sex,

procreation, physiology, anatomy, hormones or

genetic predisposition.”

• Q-What are some specific examples of how religion, law, science and societal values perpetuate gender norms?

“As a process, gender creates the social differences that define “woman” and “man.” In social

interaction throughout their lives, individuals learn what is expected, see what is expected, act

and react in expected ways, and thus simultaneously construct and maintain gender

order.” “Political power, control of scarce resources and violence uphold the gendered social order in the

face of resistance and rebellion.”

• Q- Can you think of a time that you decided against or for something because you thought it was expected of people of your gender?

“Gendered norms and expectations are enforced through

informal sanctions of gender-inappropriate behavior by peers

and by formal punishment or threat of punishment by those in

authority should behavior deviate too far from socially

imposed standards for women and men.”

• Q-Can you think of a personal experience that evidences her

claim?

“Gender inequality […] has social functions and social history. It is produced and maintained by identifiable social processes and built into the

general social structure and individual identities deliberately and purposefully.[…]The continuing purpose of gender as a modern social institution

is to construct women as a group to be the subordinates of men as a group.”

• Q-In what ways does the engineered social construction of “female” benefit men?

“Most people go along with their society’s prescriptions for those of their

status because the norms and expectations get built into their sense of

worth and identity as [the way we] think, the way we hear and speak,

the way we fantasy and the way we feel.”

• Q-Would you be able to not “do” your prescribed gender role and feel

the same way about yourself?

How are gender roles perpetuated?

Toys

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-CU040Hqbas

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