Yorgenys Torres

Feb 13,2018

Gender 101

Gender As A Social Construction

 

The social construction of gender is a theory in feminism, philosophy and sociology about the origin of gender difference between men and women. According to this view, society and culture create gender roles, and these roles are prescribed as ideal or appropriate behavior for a person of that specific sex. Supporters of this theory argue that the differences in behavior between men and women are due to the fact of social conventions. Where others believe that behavior is influenced by universal biological factors to different degrees, with social conventions having a major effect on gendered behavior.

The beginnings of the social constructionist movement within psychology are related to the criticism of the objectivism that was assumed by positivist concepts of knowledge. Along with the most popular variations of the social constructionist theories within the gender role theory. Which was considered by Alsop, Fitzsimons and Lennon in 2002 as an early form of social constructionism. The focus on power and hierarchy shows the inspiration starting from a Marxist framework, which was used for instance by materialist feminism, and Foucault’s writings on discourse.

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