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Concept of masculinity
Concept of masculinity
Social construction of masculinity and femininity
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In the article "Dude You're a Fag: Adolescent Masculinity and the Fag discourse by C.J. Pascoe, she examines adolescent sexuality and masculinity in high school and the use of the word "Fag". The word fag is not only linked to homosexual boys, but an identity that can temporarily adhere to heterosexual boys as well (Pascoe 2005). Pascoe and her writings on sexuality published by sage publications touches on the concept of masculinity and femininity are learned behaviors, created and reinforced by surrounding social environment. I agree with Pascoe's analysis that gender is a socialization process in which society dictates to us what is considered feminine and what is considered masculine. For example, we learn at an early age the color pink
is associated with girls and the color blue is associated with boys. From this alone, we learn the concept of what is considered masculine and what is considered feminine. This concept is carried on with us throughout our adult lives and shapes our perspective in life. As we go through life, from birth to adolescence and beyond we learn more concepts which compound and lament concepts of masculinity and femininity. Another example of masculinity and feminity is how boys are taught to play with action figures like "GI Joe" and girls play with dolls like 'Barbie" Pascoe does mention in the article that the term "fag" is racialized and has different meanings for blacks and whites. I do disagree with her findings because the N word is squarely based on race and not gender. In my opinion the two are not equal in its
In the article “Dude You’re a Fag: Adolescent Homophobia” the author uses pathos and logos to convey the audience the main point of her article. Rhetorical modes such as exemplification and description are used. C.J. Pascoe is trying to argue that the word “fag” or “faggot is not mainly used as a homophobic slur within high school boys, but more commonly used to describe unmasculinity.
The teenage years are especially important in the establishment of social and cultural core principles that provide the base for further growth in the future. Sociologist C.J. Pascoe links her personal experience with scholarly research in her ethnography titled, Dude, You’re A Fag: Masculinity and Sexuality in High School. Pascoe’s year and a half study at a Northern California School known as River High School sheds light on how bullying, power, and sexual innuendos are all components in the makeup of social life in Americas public schools. Her analysis of these components through observational data research is centered around the subject of the challenges associated with masculinity as well as sexual inequality, and the refinement of gender
‘Dude, You’re a Fag’: Adolescent Masculinity and the Fag Discourse - C. J. Pascoe 2005
Aaron Devor’s essay “Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social Meanings of Gender” describes how despite popular belief, gender and sex are not directly related and how social norms affect individual’s choice of gender. Devor‘s main argument is that gender is not determined by genitalia, but instead by the individual's own choices. Michael Kimmel’s essay “Masculinity as Homophobia” claims that gender equality is a positive thing for males and that social norms force men to act a certain way. Kimmel’s main argument is that men are always having to protect their masculinity in order to prevent themselves from appearing weak. Both authors present compelling arguments for both gender equality and for how social norms influence individuals’ gender choice. However, the two authors approach the same topic in different ways. Kimmel takes a more laid-back approach to the topic by using simple words and a conversational tone that relates to the casual gender sociologist. Devor writes a more sophisticated essay using complex terms and a more formal tone that relates to the serious sociologist that research gender studies.
Gender is not about the biological differences between men and women but rather the behavioral, cultural and psychological traits typically associated with one sex. Gender is socially constructed meaning it 's culturally specific, it 's learned and shared through gender socialization. What it means to be a woman or man is going to differ based on the culture, geographical location, and time. What it meant to be a woman in the US in the 19th century is different than what it means to be a woman in the 21st century. As cultures evolve over time so are the ideals of what it means to be man or woman.
...ve begins generating rumors for male peers who do not qualify as a stereotypical male. For instance, Olive pretends to have sex with a male peer during a popular house party (Gluck, 2010). This imaginary hook-up benefits the male peer’s bullying dilemma. Again, gender policing occurs between men when masculinity is questioned (Kimmel, 2008). “One survey found that most Americans boys would be rather be punched in the face than called gay” (Kimmel, 2000, p.77). The gender police govern Olive’s and the male peer’s status in social standings. America’s obsession with sex disregards if a girl truly sleeps around.
“Boys will be boys, and girls will be girls”: few of our cultural mythologies seem as natural as this one. But in this exploration of the gender signals that traditionally tell what a “boy” or “girl” is supposed to look and act like, Aaron Devor shows how these signals are not “natural” at all but instead are cultural constructs. While the classic cues of masculinity—aggressive posture, self-confidence, a tough appearance—and the traditional signs of femininity—gentleness, passivity, strong nurturing instincts—are often considered “normal,” Devor explains that they are by no means biological or psychological necessities. Indeed, he suggests, they can be richly mixed and varied, or to paraphrase the old Kinks song “Lola,” “Boys can be girls and girls can be boys.” Devor is dean of social sciences at the University of Victoria and author of Gender Blending: Confronting the Limits of Duality (1989), from which this selection is excerpted, and FTM: Female-to-Male Transsexuals in Society (1997).
The human species is qualified as a man and women. Categorically, gender roles relative to the identifying role are characterized as being either masculine or feminine. In the article “Becoming Members Of Society: Learning The Social Meanings Of Gender by Aaron H. Devor, says that “children begin to settle into a gender identity between the age of eighteen months and two years (Devor 387). The intricate workings of the masculine and feminine gender roles are very multifaceted and at the same time, very delicate. They are intertwined into our personalities and give us our gender identities (Devor 390). Our society is maintained by social norms that as individuals, we are consciously unaware of but knowingly understand they are necessary to get along out in the public eye which is our “generalized other” and in our inner circle of family and friends which is our “significant others” (Devor 390). Our learned behaviors signify whether our gender
Holland, J., Ramazanoglu, C., Sharpe, S. & Thomson, R. (1998) The male in the head—young people, heterosexuality and power ,London, The Tufnell Press
The debate over homosexuality as nature or nurture dominates most topics about homosexuality. People often confuse the nature/nurture issue with the development of gay identity. In fact, the nature/nurture argument plays a small, insignificant role concerning gay youths (Walling 11). Homosexual identity is the view of the self as homosexual in association with romantic and sexual situations (Troiden 46) Many researchers have either discussed or created several models or theories concerning the development of homosexual identity. However, the most prominent is Troiden’s sociological four-stage model of homosexual identity formation. Dr. Richard R. Troiden desc...
It seems that the very existence of the term fag and the reason for its prevalence amongst adolescent boys is the fragility of masculinity. This seems to be solidified when Pascoe explains that the idea of being a fag goes beyond sexual identity and more with the association of masculine incompetence, weakness and femininity (Pascoe, 330). The fluidity of the term has allowed itself to become a powerful disciplinary mechanism in which boys heavily police themselves and others in order to avoid being attached to the term (Pascoe, 330). Even basic things like caring about one’s clothing, dancing, showing emotions or as Ben, one of the students at River High that Pascoe interviewed, says,
Gender refers to an individual's anatomical sex, or sexual assignment, and the cultural and social aspects of being male or female. An individual's personal sense of maleness or femaleness is his or her gender identity. Outward expression of gender identity, according to cultural and social expectations, is a gender role. Either gender may live out a gender but not a sex role, which is anatomically limited to one gender. Gender identity appears to form very early in life and is most likely irreversible by age four. Although the exact cause of gender identity remains unknown, biological, psychological, and social variables clearly influence the process. Genetics, prenatal and postnatal hormones, differences in the brain and the
Sex and gender are terms that are mixed up from day to day and seen as similarities rather than differences. Sex is what distinguishes people from being either male or female. It is the natural or biological variations between males and females (Browne, 1998). Some of these variations are genitals, body hair and internal and external organs. It is the make-up of chromosomes, men have one X and one Y chromosome and women have two X chromosomes, these are responsible for primary characteristics (Fulcher and Scott, 2003). Gender on the other hand refers to the sociological differences between male and female. This is teaching males and females to behave in various ways due to socialisation (Browne, 1998). Example: masculinity and femininity. Girls are supposed to show their femininity by being non-competitive, sensitive, dependent, attractive and placid. If and when some girls don’t succeed in keeping this image they will be referred to as a tomboy. On the other hand, boys show their masculinity through aggression, physical strength...
There is a biological difference between boys and girls. There are also social constructions involved. Sex makes you female or male by your biological characteristics. Gender is generally learned from our society. It is behaviors and traits and based on appropriateness for our sex, according to our society. Socially constructed throughout our lives, gender is also a result of sociocultural influences.
I never really thought a lot about gender. It was always a thought that came and left me at random times. Whenever a woman’s rights issue was brought up, I would shy away from the subject because I didn’t know too much about the subject and I believed everyone was equal. Furthermore, I had no idea that there were so many roles in today’s society. I usually thought there was just a man or a woman. Another example would be gay or lesbian. However, as I was growing up I was exposed to different types of roles and identities. Again, I didn’t dwell too much on the subject. Through my higher education experience I have learned so much about the history of men and women, as well as the roles they played. I learned gender is something we act out and