Social Construction of Gender

An abstract: The Social Construction of Gender (1991) Judith Lorber

The Social Construction of Gender
Judith Lorber argues that gender is socially constructed. In fact we do our gender, like we do our race and our class as a function of a social system, society. Lober notes, “As a social institution, gender is one of the major ways that human beings organize their lives.”
The organization of gender for each individual begins with assignment to a sex category. The idea that gender is created by what is between an individual’s legs is bogus to this article. Furthermore, Lober argues that gender is not the result of “sex, procreation, physiology, anatomy, hormones, or genetic predispositions.” Instead, genitalia are only information to parents and society, to provide clues for gendering. In general, we are raised as boys or girls. Unless we rebel or resist gendered norms and expectations the system is perpetuated in each of us.
Our worlds are entirely social. Our experiences are greatly influenced by how we are socialized on the basis of gender. Our “thoughts, feelings, consciousness, relationships, skills- ways of being that we call feminine or masculine” are all shaped by the system that produces gender in all of us. In addition, the ills of this world as it relates to social stratification are directly linked to gender socialization. The dichotomization of race, class and gender where there is intersectionality and the “a, vs. not-a” principle, gender is ranked and women are socially dominated by men. In conclusion Lober’s point that gender is socialized allows for her reason that there is “room not only for modification, and variation by individuals and small groups but also for institutionalized change.” It’s even fixable.

Introduction

Hi! I'm Adam-Scott. I was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. I graduated from West Orange High School in 2008. I expect to graduate from UCF in 2012. This is my second year at the University of Central Florida and my major is Interdisciplinary Studies (Humanities, Behavioral and Social Sciences, Non-Profit Management). My scholastic goal is to understand the human condition, so that one day I can make a contribution to the human experience. Understanding the plight of women directly plays into these goals
Currently, I work for a non-profit organization called, Higher Expectations. It is a mentoring program for children of incarcerated parents. My activism experience begins here. I have also worked for a congressional campaign as a canvasser during the 2008 election season. Activism is one of my dearest passions as a human on this planet; it is also a component of my scholastic goals. That's why I want to learn non profit management. I hope to work for an agency for victims. I know it sounds cliché’ but I really want to make a difference.
Last year, I took Sex Roles in Modern Society, a sociology course. My eyes were opened to feminism and the struggles of women. I was not very versed in women’s history or women’s studies and that’s one of the reasons I am taking this course. It is important to me to understand the experience of all people in our society. I heard somewhere that if you understand the struggle of women, you can understand the struggles of all people. I hope that is true. If there is one thing common about life on earth, it is definitely struggle. Last semester, I took an Introduction to Black Studies and my perspective was broadened a little more. It is amazing to understand the power of resistance, struggle, oppression, and pursuit of equality among people. In that class I found myself extra interested in the gender section of the course. The extra layer of oppression related to the identity of being a woman is an interesting topic to discuss.
I am very interested in Women's Studies and I hope that my perspective and understanding of the human condition continues to grow throughout this course. I am curious to understand and learn about the experience, struggles, and contributions of women. As an advocate for women, I ascribe to a belief system where women and men are equal. I believe that the gendering of our society has limited men to men's work and male position and women to women's work and female positions in society. However, gender and humanity is not that black and white. These limitations and expectations of society are unfair, prejudiced, and immoral. Women and men deserve equal pay for an equal day's work and we should not be condemned to a patriarchal society. I hope that studying in this course will help me become an agent of change for these injustices.


Ps: I have read, understood, and agreed to the course syllabus.