Gender as a Social Construct

Evidence for gender as social construct

1. Hunters and Gatherers 2. Emergence of social surplus 3. changing and non-changing gender roles

2. Emergence of social surplus

In 1884, Frederick Engels wrote The Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State 1. Men controlled the production of agriculture 2. Agriculture created a social surplus 3. Men controlled the social surplus 4. Women were excluded from the social wealth 5. Created a patriarchal society and the repercussions are still felt today

Using material from your text, lectures, and your own experiences, discuss why sociologists argue that gender is socially constructed. INTRO PARAGRAPH

a. Gender roles in today's society are not set in stone b. Society and culture create gender roles i. These roles are considered ideal or appropriate to certain genders c. People are expected to fall into these roles according to their gender i. People who don't are viewed as outsiders and subject to prejudice d. The largest form of evidence of the fact that gender is socially constructed is that the social construct of gender has been changing from the beginning of mankind.

Using material from your text, lectures, and your own experiences, discuss why sociologists argue that gender is socially constructed. CONCLUSION

d. It is easy to see that Gender is a social construct by looking to the past and seeing that gender roles are ever changing. i. Before civilizations started hunter and gatherer societies ensure that men and womens roles were mostly equal ii. Once civilizations and the social surplus arose, men have solidified a superior gender roles to women iii. Although many gender roles are slowly changing, men remain on a socially constructed pedestal above women

1. hunters and gatherers

i. First societies were hunter gatherer ii. Men hunted, women gathered iii. Societies need both hunters and gatherers, making men and women mostly equals

3. changing and non-changing gender roles

i. There are two gender roles in todays society that are most prominent. 1. Men: Hegemonic Masculinity a. Men strive to achieve i. Achieved through submissal by women ii. Traits: aggressiveness, drive, control, strength, ambition, not valuing women 2. Women: Emphasized Femininity a. Oriented to obliging men's desired i. Traits: supportiveness, enthusiasm, and sexual attractiveness ii. Changing gender roles 1. In todays society blue is a male colour and pink is a female colour 2. 100 plus years ago this was reversed