Preview

Feminist Theory: Biological And Psychological Approaches To Gender

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
298 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Feminist Theory: Biological And Psychological Approaches To Gender
Feminist gender theory Biological and psychological approaches to gender have been extensively criticized by feminist researchers for their essentialist explanations of gender. According to feminist approaches, gender is socially and culturally defined, in that it is related to social, economic and cultural status, and power in society (Richardson, 2008). From a feminist point of view, female development is shaped and maintained by the socio-cultural context of patriarchy (Impett, Schooler, & Tolman, 2006). Theories state that gender is a socially constructed concept, and that there are distinct gender identities and gender roles (Hines, 2008). Feminist scholars are concerned with power relations in operation at both micro and macro levels,
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Masculinity In Frankenstein
    • 208 Words
    • 1 Page

    Masculinity In Frankenstein

    Throughout the progress of understanding human development, the notion of gender has commonly been the topic of discussion and debate when attempting to understand its foundation. While it is argued to be a societal and cultural manifestation, others suggest it is a biological…

    • 208 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Gender Schema Theory In The 1980s
    • 936 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Gender Schema Theory In The 1980s

    Gayle Rubin created the sex/gender system concept in the year 1975. She created this term to offer a new way of thinking about the difference between sex and gender. She defined the sex/gender system as “the set of arrangements by which a society transforms biological sexuality into products of human activity, and which these transformed sexual needs are satisfied” (WRWC, 2015). The sex/gender system has many explanations that attempt to address how our sex plays a role in how we learn gender. A few of these theories include: cognitive-developmental theory, social learning theory, gender schema theory, social interactions and gender roles, and lastly, performativity theory. In this essay I will explain how the sex/gender system is created and reinforced from the perspectives of feminist theorists.…

    • 936 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Girl By Aaron Devoor
    • 177 Words
    • 1 Page

    Girl By Aaron Devoor

    In today’s society, people tend to group one and an another into different categories according to their own social identity. An individual’s gender identity refers to which group where one belongs to. The attributes assigned to both males and females are different because of gender differences. In “Becoming members of Society: Learning the Social Meanings of Gender” by Aaron Devor, the author argues that factors such as beliefs and behaviors help differentiate the sexual identity of a person. In addition, Devor views sex as an instrument of determining gender. It is believed that there are only two types of sexes that exist. Which are male and female. On the other hand, “Girl”, by Jamaica Kincaid, the mother tries to forces prescribe behavior,…

    • 177 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Chapter 11: Biological And Anatomical Differences Between Men And Women
    • 4632 Words
    • 19 Pages

    Chapter 11: Biological And Anatomical Differences Between Men And Women

    Gender: the culturally and socially constructed differences between females and males found in the meanings, beliefs,…

    • 4632 Words
    • 19 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    econ 303 essay
    • 4769 Words
    • 22 Pages

    econ 303 essay

    Gender: the social identities attributed to women and men but it cannot be understood at the individual level alone.…

    • 4769 Words
    • 22 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Milk The Mouse Analysis
    • 1121 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Milk The Mouse Analysis

    Gender socialization, or the “patterns of behavior taught to children and adults in order to help them learn to behave as acceptable females or males,” begins strikingly early in life (Disch 1). While society as a whole is responsible for carrying out such socialization, many researchers believe that the strongest influence on gender role development seems to occur within the family setting, with parents passing on, both overtly and covertly, their own beliefs about gender (Witt 1). Because parents have the strongest initial influence and control over the early gender socialization their children undergo, they also have the potential to end the cycle of oppressive gender socialization most children experience from birth onward, and eventually…

    • 1121 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Evaluation Questions
    • 841 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Evaluation Questions

    That all social interaction is gendered and guided by status, positions, and roles. I have also learned that when the status and role of male and female become stereotyped it could result in sexism or discrimination. In order to prevent such, feminism is a worldwide movement to end sexism by empowering women. They include: liberal feminism, cultural feminism, socialist feminism, radical feminism, etc.…

    • 841 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    FInal Paper
    • 1441 Words
    • 4 Pages

    FInal Paper

    Gender inequality is shown through the generic labels that society has established, based on the individual being a man or a woman. The social role theory proposes that “gender roles in society, such as a provider or protector roles for men and child-rearing and caretaker roles for women, strongly foster certain emotions, behaviors, and traits that meet societal expectations for those roles,” (Bascom and Wilson 2013). A man is viewed as physically stronger than a woman, where as a woman as seen as more emotional and caring. “Expected…

    • 1441 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Outline Gender Roles In Society
    • 970 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Outline Gender Roles In Society

    A women’s life is centered around her reproductiveness and ability to be a caregiver. For example, there are significantly more women in elementary education than there are in higher education. In contrast, since men are unable to bare children, they have time after time been responsible for providing the necessary for the his family, while “their” women stay at home carrying over the children, maintaining a clean household, and being responsible for all their needs. Since men tend to be stronger and bigger than women, this ultimately has lead society to believe that men are more dominant than women; hence, women are often portrayed as weak and vulnerable. These biological characteristics translate to cultural myths about what a man or women can or cannot do; therefore, discriminating gender. This male dominance and privilege has contributed to the notion that men hold more power roles than women. In addition, being naturally more violent and at higher rates than women has contributed to the myth that men are better leaders. Today, men are in charge of significantly close to most if not all of the largest corporations. If a women happens to be part of the leading group of one of these corporations, it leads to question whether she has the position in order to increase diversity or because she deserves and worked hard to be there. It is is unfortunate that society promotes that women are simply not good enough for the…

    • 970 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Gender and the Early Years
    • 1475 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Gender and the Early Years

    From the minute babies are pushed out of a mother’s womb, or even an embryo in the third trimester, gender is a predominate factor in the way they are treated. Whether it’s with gifts (pink for a baby girl and blue for a baby boy,) or hypothesis about what this baby will grow up to be, oh this little one will be a nurse (referring to the delicate, nurturing three-day old female,) emphasis is greatly placed on the gender or sex of the child, creating cultural/gender norms and limitations. Gender rigidity is primarily produced in a child’s first years through advertising in toys or clothing, and forms limitations for gender roles later in life, such as jobs or behavioral mannerisms.…

    • 1475 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Four Sociological Perspectives
    • 1399 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Four Sociological Perspectives

    Feminist theories examine women’s social, economic, and political inequality (Benokraitis, 2015). Feminists agree that the inequality of gender is both in the workplace and at home. Although, they believe that women’s vulnerability plays a key role in gender inequality. “All feminists (female and male) agree on three general points: (1) men and women should be valued equally; (2) women should have more control over their lives; (3) political, economic, family, and other institutions can reduce gender inequality” (Benokraitis, 2015). Men and women can be feminist, and they believe that gender equality is crucial.…

    • 1399 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Gender In Childhood
    • 1241 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Gender In Childhood

    Gender identity has become a prominent topic in today’s society as people are becoming more aware of personal identity. Gender awareness is fundamental for self-assessment and predominant in our perception of others. Social pressures also influence gender as they create stereotypes that people are expected to follow. These societal definitions of male and female greatly impact childhood development as they create restrictions and regulatory mechanisms that guide conduct relating to one’s gender and sex throughout the course of life (Bussey and Bandura 1). Societal perceptions of gender play a fundamental role in childhood development; gender conceptions and roles are the product of a network of social influences operating on the basis of a…

    • 1241 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Gender Inequality In Australia
    • 1611 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Gender Inequality In Australia

    These differences create a social hierarchy, where men dominate women in all aspects of social and political life. Through patriarchal dominance in social and political arenas create a gender order, reproducing roles and stereotypes that reinforce the ideologies where being male is seen as superior to being female, which contributes to gender inequality faced by women in contemporary society. Through discussion, I have applied social theory to support and explain how gender is used a vice of social stratification, whereby women are subordinate to men in all social, political and economic structures and arenas. Moreover, through theoretical analysis, it is clear that patriarchal dominance on western culture creates a divide between the notions of what it means to be female and male, thus shaping and recreating gender inequality in contemporary…

    • 1611 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Feminist Theory
    • 359 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Feminist Theory

    The focus of this essay was on how the female body and the disabled body are seen as inferior in society. This reading really made me realize how we view disabled and female bodies in our society, and how we typically look the disabled so differently. I also thought about how often people so easily overlook the struggles that many disabled bodies have to deal with, like disabled women who want to have children or public facilities not having wheelchair access. It’s sad to recognize how most people see the disabled as inadequate and compensate for that by pitying them, rather than trying to treat them the same way as an able-bodied person. This essay made me think of one of my good friend’s older sister with Down syndrome, and how when we are out in public with her how many people stare at her because her disability is visible. I found it interesting how this essay talked about how the female body is seen as disabled and inferior to men’s: weak, soft, passive, etc. This essay sheds light on how our society has been trained to undervalue those whose bodies are considered abnormal.…

    • 359 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Stereotypes Of Women Today
    • 395 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Stereotypes Of Women Today

    Gender is defined as “the state of being male or female typically used with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones” (Connell). Society has attempted to define what a man or a woman should be which in turn is reflected in everyday life. Women are supposed to be emotional and they love to wear pink. Men are suppose to be masculine, wear blue, and are the head of the household. These are just some of the stereotypes that plague many of our cultures. These narrow-minded views that are embedded in us from early child development, lead to more detrimental issues that affect women today such as violence.…

    • 395 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics