Title: Sociology of Gender – The Other Sociologist
Headings: Sociology of Gender
Sociology of Gender
Gender
Social Construction of Gender
Masculinity
Femininity
Transgender and Intersex Australians
Gender Across Time and Place
“What stays constant is that women and men have to be distinguishable ” (my emphasis).
16th Century Europe
Wodaabe (Niger)
“Two Spirit” (Navajo Native American)
Female Husbands (Various African Cultures)
Kathoey (Thailand)
Studying Gender Sociologically
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Content: Gender is more fluid – it may or may not depend upon biological traits. More specifically, it is a concept that describes how societies determine and manage sex categories; the cultural meanings attached to men and women’s roles; and how individuals understand their identities including, but not limited to, being a man, woman, transgender, intersex, gender queer and other gender positions. Gender involves social norms, attitudes and activities that society deems more appropriate for one sex over another. Gender is also determined by what an individual feels and does. The sociology of gender examines how society influences our understandings and perception of differences between masculinity (what society deems appropriate behaviour for a “man”) and femininity (what society deems appropriate behaviour for a “woman”). We examine how this, in turn, influences identity and social practices. We pay special focus on the power relationships that follow from the established gender order in a given society, as well as how this changes over time. Sex and gender do not always align.