The Sociology of Gender

The sociology of gender is one of the largest subfields within sociology  and features theory and research that critically interrogates the social construction of gender, how gender interacts with other social forces in society, and how gender relates to social structure overall. Sociologists within this subfield study a wide range of topics with a variety of research methods, including things like identity, social interaction, power and oppression, and the interaction of gender with other things like race, class, culture, religion, and sexuality, among others. The Difference Between Sex and Gender To understand the sociology of gender one must first understand how sociologists define gender and sex. Though male/female and man/woman are often conflated in the English language, they actually refer to two very different things: sex and gender. The former, sex, is understood by sociologists to be a biological categorization based on reproductive organs. Most people fall into the categories of male and female, however, some people are born with sex organs that do not clearly fit either category, and they are known as intersex. Either way, sex is a biological classification based on body parts. Gender, on the other hand, is a  social  classification based on ones identity, presentation of self, behavior, and interaction with others. Sociologists view gender as learned behavior and a culturally produced identity, and as such, it is a social category. The Social Construction of Gender That gender is a social construct becomes especially apparent when one compares how men and women behave across different cultures, and how in some cultures and societies, other genders exist too. In Western industrialized nations like the U.S., people tend to think of masculinity and femininity in dichotomous terms, viewing men and women as distinctly different and opposites. Other cultures, however, challenge this assumption and have less distinct views of masculinity and femininity. For example, historically there was a category of people in the Navajo culture called berdaches, who were anatomically normal men but who were defined as a third gender considered to fall between male and female. Berdaches married other ordinary men (not Berdaches), although neither was considered homosexual, as they would be in today’s Western culture. What this suggests is that we learn gender through the process of socialization. For many people, this process begins before they are even born, with parents selecting gendered names on the basis of the sex of a fetus, and by decorating the incoming babys room and selecting its toys and clothes in color-coded and gendered ways that reflect cultural expectations and stereotypes. Then, from infancy on, we are socialized by family, educators, religious leaders, peer groups, and the wider community, who teach us what is expected from us in terms of appearance and behavior based on whether they code us as a boy or a girl. Media and popular culture play important roles in teaching us gender too. One result of gender socialization is the formation of gender identity, which is one’s definition of oneself as a man or woman. Gender identity shapes how we think about others and ourselves and also influences our behaviors. For example, gender differences exist in the likelihood of drug and alcohol abuse, violent behavior, depression, and aggressive driving. Gender identity also has an especially strong effect on how we dress and present ourselves, and what we want our bodies to look like, as measured by normative standards. Major Sociological Theories of Gender Each major sociological framework has its own views and theories regarding gender and how it relates to other aspects of society. During the mid-twentieth century, functionalist theorists argued that men filled instrumental roles in society while women filled  expressive roles, which worked to the benefit of society. They viewed a gendered division of labor as important and necessary for the smooth functioning of a modern society. Further, this perspective suggests that our socialization into prescribed roles drives gender inequality by encouraging men and women to make different choices about family and work. For example, these theorists see wage inequalities as the result of choices women make, assuming they choose family roles that compete with their work roles, which renders them less valuable employees from the managerial standpoint. However, most sociologists now view this functionalist approach as outdated and sexist, and there is now plenty of scientific evidence to suggest that the wage gap is influenced by deeply ingrained gender biases rather than by choices men and women make about family-work balance. A popular and contemporary approach within the sociology of gender is influenced by symbolic interactionist  theory, which focuses on the micro-level everyday interactions that produce and challenge gender as we know it. Sociologists West and Zimmerman popularized this approach with their 1987 article on doing gender, which illustrated how gender is something that is produced through interaction between people, and as such is an interactional accomplishment. This approach highlights the instability and fluidity of gender and recognizes that since it is produced by people through interaction, it is fundamentally changeable. Within the sociology of gender, those inspired by conflict theory focus on how gender and assumptions and biases about gender differences lead to the empowerment of men, oppression of women, and the structural inequality of women relative to men. These sociologists see gendered power dynamics as built into the social structure, and thus manifested throughout all aspects of a patriarchal society. For example, from this viewpoint, wage inequalities that exist between men and women result from men’s historic power to devalue women’s work and benefit as a group from the services that women’s labor provides. Feminist theorists,  building on aspects of the three areas of theory described above, focus on the structural forces, values, world views, norms, and everyday behaviors that create inequality and injustice on the basis of gender. Importantly, they also focus on how these social forces can be changed to create a just and equal society in which no one is penalized for their gender. Updated by Nicki Lisa Cole, Ph.D.

Napoleon Crossing the Alps at Saint Bernard Pass, 1800

11/8/13 Napoleon Crossing the Alps at Saint Bernard Pass, 1800 The painting of Napoleon Crossing the Alps at Saint Bernard Pass is truly a magnificent and unique work of art for its time. It is an oil painting on canvas which was painted by JacquesLouis David. The work was first started in October of 1800 and completed just four months later in January of 18011. However, there were a total of five different versions of the painting created, with the last version being completed in 1805. All five versions are located at several different locations throughout Europe. The work was painted at the Chà ¢teau de Malmaison, which at the time was a government building just outside of Paris, France. The painting is approximately 8’6† in height and†¦show more content†¦After all, Napoleon was so pleased with it that he requested several other versions to be made. The painting does a great job of representing France’s new found power after the French Revolution and establishes a sense of authority and honor for the French people. I find the extensive detail and quality of the painting simply impressive. It is definitely a painting I would recommend other people see and read about. 3 Works Cited Page 1) http://www.debate.org/reference/napoleon-crossing-the-alps 2) http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/davids-napoleon-crossing-the-alps.html 3) http://www.napoleon.org/en/essential_napoleon/key_painting/files/482581.aspShow MoreRelated Jacques Louis David Essay2128 Words   |  9 Pagesfor a time at the end of the Reign of Terror. David emerged to become First Painter to the emperor and foremost recorder of Napoleonic events (e.g., Napoleon Crossing the Saint Bernard Pass, 1800; Coronation of Napoleon and Josephine, 1805–07; and The Distribution of the Eagles, 1810) and a sensitive portraitist (Mme Reacute;camier, 1800; Louvre). In this period David reached the height of his influence, but his painting, more than ever the embodiment of neoclassical theory, was again staticRead MoreThe Napoleon Complex2927 Words   |  12 Pagesmention Napoleon is the idea of a short, angry, and bossy little man who is aggressive to compensate for being little, in other words having a Napoleon Complex. Ironically the idea that Napoleon was a short man is false as he was average height for his size at the time. A more useful way to look at a Napoleon complex would be to describe it as, a person who is driven by a perceived handicap to overcompensate in other aspects, in their lives. With this definition, we get what Napo leons mentalityRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesin depth the defining phenomena of that epoch, which, as the essays demonstrate, very often connect in important ways with these and other major developments. The opening essays of this collection underscore the importance of including the late 1800s in what is best conceived as a â€Å"long† twentieth century. The 4 †¢ INTRODUCTION contributions by Jose Moya and Adam McKeown and Howard Spodek consider in nuanced detail key developments in transport and communication technologies, demographicRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pagesmajority wants. She adds that the three of you might get lucky while you are hiking out and meet someone who can help, maybe a hiker who knows more about Giardia or has extra watersterilization tablets. Then again, you might not be so lucky; you didnt pass anybody on the way in. Hiking out while you all have a bad case of Giardia might even be life threatening. Emilio agrees to go along with the majority decision, too. He wants to stay, but not by himself. Still, he isnt convinced by Juanitas reasons

Influences of Juran Trilogy free essay sample

Trilogy Nissan Motor Corp. redefined mass production and built its reputation around quality and reliability by paying attention to large and small details and following the Juran Trilogy applying the planning, Control and Improvement. Nissan builds a number of test vehicles and performs repeated running tests and simulated running tests to elevate production precision before they deliver a vehicle to the customer. To accurately respond to the markets needs, collect as many faulty parts from the field as possible. After validating the condition of each part, they attempt to replicate the problem and determine its cause. Finally, they carry out an analysis using the most reliable methods possible. Once the cause is determined, they begin specific countermeasures. Nissan Corp. achieves quality assurance through a two-stage test that includes test drives and local evaluation. There are four main phases to creating and supplying a vehicle: planning, development, production and marketing/sales. We will write a custom essay sample on Influences of Juran Trilogy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The main element that influences the quality in Nissan Corp is â€Å"Control â€Å". Quality Control is a commitment in their business plan, and Nissan is putting in a lot of focus and effort to meet that commitment. Influences from the Juran Trilogy has been implemented in the company’s curriculum such as planning and improvement. In Nissan Corp. the quality curriculum plan is to increase quality-control training for its entire worker, so in this way we can say that they are complying with the Juran trilogy by working on planning then development a control phase. The Center’s mission is to provide quality and design-based training to improve the capabilities of employees so that they are empowered to work from a customer first perspective. Nissan employees will learn from a curriculum of safety, design and quality control training to reinforce work methods and develop new work standards through benchmarking and continuous improvement processes. Also Nissan has been committed to set a global standard for the quality of the components from its suppliers base. Also in this curriculum Nissan Corporation has made progress to help ensure that the customers can have complete confidence in the quality, safety and reliability of their vehicles, and their initiatives build on those accomplishments. Continuous efforts to strengthen vehicle quality and safety, and to respond swiftly and thoroughly to the customers’ concerns, are driven by a core values and will always be a fundamental part of the company. One of Nissan goals is to set new, even higher standards for quality and customer responsiveness in both the factory and the market by continuing to put customers first in everything they do. Another elements of the Juran Trilogy on Nissan Corp, is the quality planning, by identifying internal and external costumers, determine costumer needs and develop product features which respond to customer needs, establishing goals for product features and developing a process to meet the product goals. In this way we can say that Nissan can prove than the process can meet the process goals under operating conditions. Works Cited Greimel, H. (2013, 3 18). Nissan shake-up aims to shore up quality, EVs.