Gender Inequality

It was interesting to question and investigate gender inequality since it is a part of social order that people thoughtlessly take for granted in many ways.

In terms of debating whether gender is a result of nature or nurture, I agree with both because one element is not solely responsible. Men and women definitely possess varying levels of hormones, and testosterone is key in male's tendency for aggression. Men and women also possess differences in genetics and brain psychology. These innate differences in body chemistry should not be ignored, but the role of culture and gender socialization, or the earning of male and female typed roles through social agents must also be considered. Sociologists argue that both gender and sex are socially constructed and they define "social construction of gender" as the learning of gender roles through socialization and interaction with others. This is demonstrated in adult's conversations and interactions with newborn babies, so the forces of culture are present from day one.

Further evidence of the power of socialization lies in Margaret Mead's study of different tribes in New Guinea, which I found fascinating. In one society, the Arapesh society, both males and females were passive, gentle, unaggressive, and emotionally receptive and responsive to the needs of others. In another society, the Mundugumor society, both males nad females were aggressive, suspicious, and cruel towards children. Last, in the Tchambuli society, gender roles were reversed from those we expect in the United States. Women held positions of dominance while men engaged in petty, catty, and competitive rivalries. I can't even imagine this reversal and I can't help but laugh thinking about it! I think this is very strong evidence of the power of gender socialization and norms.

Continuing, I am pleased to learn the pay gap is closing between men and women, but it should still be equalized. I am also please to learn that while gender typing still exists, it has declined and in fact, women outnumber men in law and medical school in 2010. Individuality and the freedom to pursue one's goals and interests in essential and should not be confined due to gender.

One area that is still lagging is housework. Strangely enough, this does not bother me too much, as long as the work is relatively equally distributed. For example, as a woman, I do not mind cleaning, but I expect the men in the house to take out the trash and cut the grass. Taking on a Functionalist point of view, I  think this gender order of a household serves as a function in a household operating smoothly and efficiently. However, in my future household, I would want to foster equality in terms of child-raising, cooking, and even cleaning responsibility, but especially child-raising and cooking because I think a child should have two present, involved, and interested parents, and everyone eats, so everyone should be capable of providing food for themselves, and not just a mother providing it for an entire family.

It is vital to continue to analyze why and how gender roles are constructed and how they affect society. I think this is especially important in promoting equality between two different, but equally worthy genders.


Couldn't resist posting this classic..women have come far. ;-)