Sociology: gender, sex and sexuality - Essay Example

Sociology: gender, sex and sexuality Table of contents Introduction. 2. Hegemonic masculinity. 3. Patriarchy. 4. Social constructionism. 5. Conclusion. 1. The issue that inequality on the grounds of gender and sexuality continues to affect opportunities and choices for individuals and groups is very interesting. This issue is increasingly important in this age of variety of approaches concerning this sphere of human relations. Many people believe that gender doesn't influence opportunities and choices for individuals and groups today, but these people overlook such significant facts and features of human behaviour as harassment, feminism, gender discrimination and many others. Furthermore, some people underestimate the importance of this issue for our society development and don't pay appropriate attention to such facts or take them for granted. This paper will argue that inequality on the grounds of gender and sexuality influences opportunities and choices for individuals and groups, in spite of the visible equality of genders in our modern society. The paper will also discuss such sociological features as hegemonic masculinity, feminism as an attribute of the war of genders and guy revolution phenomenon. 2. Hegemonic masculinity is one of the most resistant stereotypes of sexual scripts today. There are historical and sociological causes of such phenomenon as hegemonic masculinity in modern society. Men traditionally have been the dominants of such important spheres of human life as economy, sport, politics, war conflicts and many others. "It is men, almost exclusively, who make the decisions that launch international aggression and civil wars. It is further true that men are responsible for most crimes of violence in private life" (1). In many cultures historically men are defenders and getters. Traditionally men also are associated with violence and superiority, and this gender script is very often developed with different cinema production. In our emancipated century men still have a lot of social privileges over women. There are still many traditionally masculine spheres of social life, such as some kinds of sports, politics and army. Employment practice also shows some kind of inequality on the grounds of gender - sometimes it is much harder for a woman to take some post than for a man. Hegemonic masculinity is also shown in such sociological phenomenon as harassment. As a rule, harassment objects are women, while harassment subjects are men: "Sexual harassment has a long past but a short history... Along with rape, wife beating, prostitution, and pornography, it is one of the ways in which male control of women's sexuality shapes women's experience" (2). Such kind of behaviour as sexual harassment is a very eloquent example of the inequality on the grounds of gender and sexuality; it directly affects opportunities and choices for women who are under the influence of men. 3. Patriarchy as a theoretical perspective has a very long history. "All fatherhood in heaven and on earth derives from God the Father (Eph. 3:15). He is the original pattern, the perfect example of fatherhood. If men are to rediscover their identity they will need to become reacquainted with the one who made them to be uniquely like himself" (4). So, the conception of patriarchy has biblical origin and asserts the power of men according to the examples of such biblical characters as Abraham, Jacob, David and Isaac. God delegated his power to men. So, God originated the style of relationship among people when a man, a family father, a man as a leader has prevalence over a woman. "Our culture may think it has outgrown the practice of male leadership, but this only proves the foolishness of the current wisdom. We should not be apologetic about patriarchy. To abandon God's plan is rebellion against God. Patriarchy is submission to God" (4). So, patriarchy has taken roots very deeply in our society, and we take for granted that men govern in politics, economy and in the family. Patriarchy is characteristic not only for ancient times, but today this theoretical perspective is also actual. Basically, our society is patriarchal, and men are in the head of it, in spite of numerous attempts of women to change the situation. So, the priority of men proves that inequality on the grounds of gender and sexuality continues to affect opportunities and choices for individuals and groups. 4. We can view a problem of gender and sexuality at the position of social constructionism as inequality on the grounds of gender and sexuality is socially constructed. Social constructionism "is an approach to psychology (and other bodies of knowledge) which focuses on meaning and power" (5). The power of men over women is socially determined and has historical origin. There are many meanings what "gender" and inequality of genders" is, but we know the construction of our society. Freud, as one of social constructionists, proved the importance of gender and sexuality for opportunities and choices for individuals and groups. He asserted that libido determines inequality on the grounds of gender and sexuality. 5. The paper has argued the issue that inequality on the grounds of gender and sexuality continues to affect opportunities and choices for individuals and groups. This view will become increasingly dominant in the coming century, because social relations are becoming more and more complicated, and it affects gender and sex relations. Finally, "Inequality between men and women results in lost opportunities and prevents mutual gain" (3). So, increased global cooperation and cultural understanding can result in improving gender connections and mutual respect among all people independent on their gender and sexual predilections. References 1. Male roles and masculinities in the perspective of a culture of peace. Expert group meeting (Oslo, 24-28 September 1997) (http://www.europrofem.org/02.info/22contri/2.04.en/4en.viol/46en_vio.htm) 2. Martin S. E. Sexual Harassment: The Link Joining Gender Stratification, Sexuality, and Women's Economic Status. Women's Studies. (http://www.dac.neu.edu/womens.studies/martin.htm) 3. Chapter 5: Counting the Cost of Gender Inequality. UNFPA. The State of World Population 2000. (www.unfpa.org/swp/2000/english/ch05.html) 4. Patriarchy: A Good Word for a Hopeful Trend. (http://www.patriarch.com/) 5. What is social constructionism (http://www.psy.dmu.ac.uk/michael/soc_con_disc.htm) Read More