Title: The Sociology of Gender: Overview
Headings: The Sociology of Gender: Overview
The Sociology of Gender: Overview
Table of Contents
Sex/Gender Distinction
Social Construction of Gender
Masculinity and Femininity
Critiquing the Sex/Gender Binary
Queer Theory
Transgender
Intersectionality
Major Sociological Theories
Structural Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Feminist Theory
Symbolic Interactionism
About Astha Nain

Content: In an attempt to define women against the biologically deterministic ideas, feminists have created new boxes for women to fit in. That the definition of the term woman is supposedly fixed “operates as a policing force which generates and legitimises certain practices, experiences, etc. and curtails and delegitimises others (Nicholson, 1998). Besides the idea of a fixed biological binary sex has been debunked. Sex itself is believed to be a social construct and many of the differences observed in male and female bodies that were earlier attributed to sex have come to be seen as a result of social upbringing. Thus fourth-wave feminism is increasingly questioning the sex/gender binary. Queer Theory
Once the term queer was associated with homosexuals and had a strong homophobic undertone. But the term has been reclaimed by the LGBTQIA+ movement to refer to all individuals whose sexuality, gender identity, gender expression and bodies do not conform to dominant societal norms. Both feminism and queer theory are interdisciplinary studies that question the dominant understanding of gender by problematizing the relationship that exists between gender identity, anatomical sex and sexual orientation (Fineman, 2009). The queer movement worldwide has been arguing for gender fluidity and non-binary sexes to create a more inclusive, non-heteronormative world.