Social Construction of Gender and Discrimination against LGBT People in America Society - Assignment Example

Assignment Response Question one: Social construction of gender and discrimination against LGBT people in America society Superiority perception of a single gender is what creates the social differences between genders. The superior nature of the male gender is evident in the changing trends in ward and Schooler (2005) indicates the takeover of the male gender in all sectors including the advisement scene with most of the media houses using the male body as a tool of advertisement (28). As a way of reducing the male dominancy in society, most feminist groups have embarked in programs whose aim is to bridge the gap between the two genders (Mendes 2011 p552). The injustices where gender related in that the black gender seemed to be oppressed by society more than the white gender (Crenshaw1990, 205). The feminist groups changed their tactical approach as a means of ensuring they voice their concerns. The social hierarchy places the males at the top while deeming the females as inferior. According to Mendes (2011 p 554) the male dominancy is changing as society has evolved and is ready to accommodate all the genders as equals. For instance Mendes states the “equal pay and sex Discrimination act” of 1975 in Britain as evidence of equal opportunities (554). The society classifies gender differently with others using the male- female classification while others embracing a third gender. Samoans among the Fa’afaine is an accepted third gender whose role among the gender was more typically interchangeable. The other communities that recognized the third gender includes the Indians who refer t them as Hijra and finally the Kotoi among the Thailand’s natives. The decades have seen the LGBT undergo a series of both modern and historical injustices. The unequal nature of the gender has been attributed to the social recognition of the Heterosexism. They range from their quest for citizenship in given states and their right to associate. The previous laws of the federal state ignored the existence of LGBT with even the police plying part in the intimidations and injustices. The modern injustices are performed by parents form transgendered persons as it is their duty to announce the gender of their children (Kessler, 1990 pp 4). The society uses the colonialism nature to reduce the dominance f the third party. The society creates the moral aspect which it considers the male and female genders to be the only acceptable gender. The stigma that surrounds the notion is what creates the injustice nature of the society in general. (400 words) Question two: Scientific Racism, Eugenics and racial categories Scientific racism was a tool used to prove the superiority of a given race while at the same time deeming other races as inferior in both genetic compositions. The discussion on the weaker race was the beginning of oppression with most theorists suggesting for different measures to eliminate the weaker race while advocating for the continuity of the stronger races. Among practices used to ensure controlled population included eugenics and neo- Malthusianism (Lopez, 1994, p59) .Eugenics is a practice that is practiced by different sectors with an aim of ensuring that those perceived to have weak traits are limited on how they reproduced. The aim was to control population with aim of creating a almost perfect society. According to Lopez (61) the British was afraid of the increasing foreign population and was forced to encourage birth among their natives. The idea was to aid the size of the British race to keep up with the pace and create a liberal society which was classified as perfect according to the British perception. At the time the British population faced a major challenge with the mortality rate being high. The fear of being overpowered forced the then hierarchy to formulate measures to balance between the races. According to Lopez (54) race is more of a human nature and their ability to interact with society and external environment. The existence of race is majorly encouraged the human ability to create differences and isolate a given concept in society. Stigma is a component use by many in society when referring t society. For instance Lopez describes the Mexican population to belong to various races and a result the Anglos considers it lack of identity (54). The historical injustices associated to race are what create a generational composition. The composition contributes to class structures with different races dominating the both ends of the societal hierarchy. Many immigrants into a given location suffer from impunity by the indigenous husbands. The notion created at these instances is that the husband is the only mode of survival (Crenshaw, 202). Stigmatization is an aspect that affects all the minorities’ race, culture and sexuality. The majority who are opposed to the practice by the other group may create negative characterization towards the groups and use general aspects to relate to the given group. The society provides for diversity but equality seems a difficult huddle to cross. The male dominancy is also an aspect in creating inequalities. (406 words) Question three: Three Pillars of White Supremacy and Heteropatriarchy The first pillar of white supremacy surrounds the notion of capitalism. The pillar also indicates the black race as subjective and related to slavery. They are seen as tools and property in which the white race uses them as a source of income or utilize them in achieving personal dreams and goals. The blacks are rated lowly in the hierarchy of races as the other races occupy the higher ranking (Smith 2006, p67). The second pillar of white supremacy is the orientalism logic. It gives the white population the idea that it is more civilized and modernized than other races (67). It creates an inferiority complex to the other races with the white race terming themselves as superior. The superior nation works at their level best to maintain this statue in society with the other races being forced to play second fiddle. The third pillar is colonialism, the logic advocates for supremacy of the white race by eliminating the other races. The logic ensures the white acquire resources that that other individuals owned as a way of empowering them and reducing the chances of the other races to regain their previous position. The notion allows foreign elements to evade indigenous set up and acquire rights either willingly of forceful over the indigenous properties. They force the indigenous population to follow a given set of rules and regulation (69). The three pillars give the white population supremacy over the rest of the population. In matters governance, those sitting at the higher hierarchy of power tend to use brutal and violent means ii maintaining their position in society. The society has to deal with the existence of a dominant force. The inferior group has no choice but play to their tone failure to do so may lead to consequences. The dominant party uses the three pillars in attaining more power and at the same maintain a given level of power. The threat posed by majority to the undermined population is exploited and the result is discrimination and unfair treatment. The dominancy also apply to other sectors including marriage where the females in the traditional set up will tend to feel ignored by the male dominated society. In most cases the oppressed tend to accept their new position and do little to improve the situation. The failure by other races to address the situation would result to continued impunity. Society creates a hierarchy in which humans occupy both lower and higher ends of the hierarchy. (412 words) References Crenshaw, k. (1990). Mapping the margin: Intersectionality, Identity, Politics and violence against women and color. Stanford law review, 4 Kessler, S.J.(1990). The Medical Construction of gender; Case management of intersexed Infants. Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 16. 11 pp 3- 27 Lopez, H. (1994). The social Construction of race. Harvard civil rights- Civil liberties law review,1 Mendes, K., (2011). The lady is a closet feminist!’ discourses of backlash and postfeminism in British and America newspapers. International Journal of Cultural Studies, 14 pp 150: 168 Smith, A. (2006).Heteropatriarchy and the three Pillars of white supremacy. Incite women of color against violence (eds). The Color of Violence: The Incite! Anthology pp 67-73. New York: South end press. Ward &Schooler.(2006). Average Joes: Men’s Relationships with Media, Real Bodies, And Sexuality. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 7. 1, 27–41 Read More