Essentialism vs. Social Constructionism

Essentialism

-the category into which an object is placed is based on its innate, inherent qualities. 1: Sex -Most people would argue that there are two sexes. The distinguishing feature between the sexes is in the genitalia. That is, a man has a penis. A female has a vagina. An individual can belong to only one and it has to be the right one. 2: Race -In the United States, we have the category of "Latino." Placement in the Latino category depends on physical features such as skin tone, vocal accent, or hereditary features such as knowing that the parents are Latino.

Opposition of Social Constructionisms 2 sex divide

1. The male- has external and internal male reproductive part 2. The female- has external and internal female reproductive parts 3. The hermaphrodite- has the external and internal reproductive parts of both sexes 4. The mermaphrodite- has the external reproductive parts of males and some internal female reproductive parts 5. The fermaphrodite- has the external reproductive parts of females and some internal male reproductive parts.

ANSW: Because the details of reproductive parts is not socially meaningful for determining sex. What we really want to know is: is this someone that I treat like a male or someone that I treat like a female?

If it is true that, biologically, there are at least five sexes, why do we see the world as divided into only two sexes?

Social Constructionism

The category into which an object is placed is based on the meanings they have for members of society. 1. Sex: Some scientists have argued that there are actually between 5 and 14 sexes based on innate, physical traits. 2. Race: I am categorized as Latino. My parents are both of Mexican heritage. If lived in Mexico, would Mexicans refer to me as Latino? This is unlikely. The term Latino is almost exclusively unique to the United States.

Concept of Social Constructionism

The dimensions along which members of society choose to make distinctions depend on what these members find meaningful. #1: Race In many countries, individuals are not distinguished by skin color or skin tone. The most cited example of this is Brazil. Brazil has its distinctions and divisions but skin color is not one of them. #2: Crime A crime can be defined as a violation of a written code of behavior that is punishable by some government body. -Clearly, however, people do very "wrong" things that are not crimes such as spitting on someone's shoe or having automobile accidents.

Whiteness

The racial category of "white" as we know it has not always existed. 1. When the first U.S. Census was taken in 1790, the government was not interested in whether one was English or Irish. They only wanted to know whether you were a slave or non-slave. In other words, the government wanted to know, "Are you Black?" or "Are you white?." 2. Before independence, people did not see themselves as "white". People saw themselves as Irish or English or French. Then came the Constitutional Convention of 1787. During the convention, a dispute arose between slave states and free states over how to divide representation in the House of Representatives. -3/5th compromise.

Social Construction of a Category

Once a concept has been constituted, the next level of construction is the category. The distinctions within a concept are also social constructions, both in the creation of a category itself and in the definition of the category. -Made from what is socially meaningful to the members of society.

Social Construction of a Social Problem

Phenomena that members of society define as problems for society are socially constructed. 1. Why do we spend so much time being concerned with school shootings? For some reason, we find school shootings more significant. 2. Drunk driving had existed for the history of driving, but was never considered a social problem until MADD was founded in 1979. Again, it was the bringing of this phenomenon into our realm of awareness that created it as a social problem