Gender and Sociology

Paper Summary:

This paper explores how man defines himself in terms of gender. Several theories of gender identification are presented, each within its own particular field. The author gives examples of the biological basis of gender, the psychological basis, cultural perspectives, and socially constructed theories. Additionally, the main character from "Six Degrees of Separation" is used as an example of gender identity through social constructs. The paper concludes that gender is continuously defined through a lifetime of experiences.

Outline

Biological Arguments Gender
Psychological Theories of Gender
Cross Cultural Perspective and Gender Identity
Socially Constructed Gender Theories and Gender as a Social Institution
Six Degrees of Separation

From the Paper:

"Kimmel suggests that gender is not something that someone is born with but rather is a social institution that people create as a result of interaction, beliefs and values. Gender is an institution that people either widely accept as one way or another. Within any given society there are cultural norms that people identify with and that help shape their behaviors, values and beliefs. Gender differences thus can be easily created as an institution and can be representative of inequality when that inequality is supported or constructed by society at large (Kimmel, 2000). Kimmel suggests that inequalities are created as norms and arise within relationships, within families and even in the workplace or any other environment in which people work intimately (Kimmel, 2000). "

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