As defined by Merriam Webster, the term ideology refers to “a systematic body of concepts especially about human life or culture” (Ideology, definition 2a). In the socio-political realm, the term often refers to the reasoning or concepts supporting a political or cultural system that is beneficial to a ruling or powerful class. As a result of the more powerful class or race wanting to maintain the status quo and grasp on their power, this often leads to the oppression of their subordinate class or racial group. In a collection of texts previously analyzed for this class, Havel, Bonilla-Silva, and Stoltenberg all make pointed arguments concerning contemporary ideologies that are present in society. In each essay, the authors argue that these …show more content…
The author does not expressly mention the phrase “ideology” in the relevant excerpt, but he makes it very clear that is what is being addressed. The author is of the opinion that the ideas of gender and having a sex are a uniquely social construct and forces people to choose (Stoltenberg, 21). In particular, he believes that the idea of the male sex is particularly harmful. He even goes as far as to compare it to the ideology of the Aryan race (Stoltenberg, 22). By making this statement, he is making several key implications about his beliefs about ideology and its relation to society. First, he is indicating that this ideology is completely asinine falsehood that has no real scientific backing (despite males and females having different reproductive organs). Secondly, he is implying that differing traits of people mean they should be included into a socially-constructed group (Stoltenberg, 22). Third, he is associating the violence associated with creating and ensuring an “Aryan race” with the requirements for being a member of the male sex. Thus, he is implying that there is a certain amount of violence involved with the “male sex.” It is telling that he believes that “it is a political entity that flourishes only through acts of force and sexual terrorism” (Stoltenberg, 23). Finally, he is also making the assumption that this …show more content…
For example, all three of the authors would agree on how a socially-constructed ideology loses its credibility. In Havel’s case of the greengrocer, it reinforces that the ideology is socially constructed due to the hypothetical backlash that would be faced if he chooses not to participate in the system and “expose the emperor”. As Havel implies, the strength of a socially constructed ideology is also the weakness. If many people end up following the greengrocers’ lead in aggregate, then people begin to question the system and thus the ideology that governs the system. The same can be said for all three of the authors’ arguments on ideology, although to differing scales. It also follows from this that even though Stoltenberg does not mention the fable of the emperor’s “clothes”, the same message applies and he would also support that
Oppression is not always brought on in a violent and oppositional way, it can take on a peaceful and silent form; however regardless of the way oppression is introduced, it maintains the same characteristics of “imposing belief systems, values, laws and ways of ...
To begin, I think it is important to analyze the difference between “sex” and “gender”. Up until researching for this paper, I though that the two terms were interchangeable in meaning, rather, they are separate ideas that are connected. According to Mary K. Whelan, a Doctor of Anthropology focusing on gender studies, sex and gender are different. She states, “Western conflation of sex and gender can lead to the impression that biology, and not culture, is responsible for defining gender roles. This is clearly not the case.”. She continues with, “Gender, like kinship, does have a biological referent, but beyond a universal recognition of male and female "packages," different cultures have chosen to associate very different behaviors, interactions, and statuses with men and women. Gender categories are arbitrary constructions of culture, and consequently, gender-appropriate behaviors vary widely from culture to culture.” (23). Gender roles are completely defined by the culture each person lives in. While some may think that another culture is sexist, or dem...
The world is filled with many different types of societies and cultures. This is due to the fact that many people share dissimilar beliefs and ideas, as well as diverse ways of life. People lived under different circumstances and stipulations, therefore forming cultures and societies with ideas they formulated, themselves. These two factors, society and culture, are what motivate people to execute the things that they do. Many times, however, society and culture can cause downgrading effects to an assemblage if ever it is corrupt or prejudiced. Society and culture not only influences the emotions individuals have toward things like age differences, religion, power, and equality but also the actions they perform as a result.
Althusser, Louis. “Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses.” Contemproary Critical Theory. Dan Latimer (ed.). San Diego: Harcourt 1989.
Fielding, J., Christison, M., Harding, C., Meston, J., Smith, T., & Zook, D. (2009). Perspectives on ideology. Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford University Press.
It has been said that “Society has always defined for us what it means to be a man and what it means to be a woman, what a man should be like and what a woman should be like, and these traditional definitions of gender roles have limited and even harmed individuals”. The theme of sexual politics comes to mind for this quote. One can define sexual politics as the relationship of the sexes, male and female regarding power. Society’s definition of this can limit an individual in their gender role and restrain a person to not be themselves.
Ideological belief is the belief that the white race is superior and thus encouraged the spread of imperialism. Rudyard Kipling's 'The White Man's Burden' (Doc. 6) describes this. Kipling states, "Your new caught, sullen peoples / Half-devil and half-child." Kipling is calling non-whites inferior to whites and that they need to be controlled. This motive is also displayed
Ideology pertains to the notions and beliefs that direct our most common social practices (Fairclough, 2002, as cited in Nair & Talif, 2010). It is a social belief system “that is so rarely questioned that it becomes part of the shared practices that guide our everyday existence” (Bucholtz, as cited in Nair & Talif, 2010, p. 142). Social beliefs on gender roles are part of the society’s shared ideology. The concepts, ideas, beliefs about gender that children get from their parents, their teachers and their books, are so embedded in their system and go largely unquestioned as they grow up, that it affects their many decisions in life. This could be especially true for the impressionable young girls, who may get from their books (through the language they use, among other things), that they are inferior to boys and that there are many things that boys can do, but girls can’t, and so wouldn’t even attempt to achieve their full potentials.
...ialogue are enveloped in the great ‘ism’ constructs for which this extremely modern political theory is known (Hughes, Chp.3). And as the Constructivist sees social groups interacting within the world, he contributes to our understanding of the groups through the invention of identity. The Constructivists label groups of people with common interests and gives words with which to speak of rising ideas and philosophies.
Ideology is a system of beliefs that help to explain, shape, and judge the values of the world (Croteau, Hoynes, &, Milan, 2012). Roland Barthes ideology asks the audience to look at a piece of media or advertisement and accept the narrow view of society that is relayed in the media source; in other words, Barthes asks audiences to look for the denotation, connotation or the literal and sociological meanings associated with the media (Chandler, 2008). Barthes was also concerned with the analysis of myths associated with the media, or the true intentions behind the media (Chandler). The denotation, connotation, and myth of Barthes ideology as well as dominant and cultural war ideologies are evident in the famous Marlboro Man ads.
Society created the role of gender and created an emphasis on the differences between the two genders. Alma Gottlieb states: “biological inevitability of the sex organs comes to stand for a perceived inevitability of social roles, expectations, and meanings” (Gottlieb, 167). Sex is the scientific acknowledgment that men and women are biologically different; gender stems from society’s formation of roles assigned to each sex and the emphasis of the differences between the two sexes. The creation of meanings centers on the expectations of the roles each sex should fill; society creates cultural norms that perpetuate these creations. Gender blurs the lines between the differences created by nature and those created by society (Gottlieb, 168); gender is the cultural expectations of sexes, with meaning assigned to the diff...
While the terms “gender” and “sex” are often used interchangeably, the two words have significantly different definitions. One could argue that sex refers to biological essentialism and the idea that we are who we are because of our genetic material. On the other hand, gender is associated with the social constructionist theory, which argues that the way we are is dependent on our race, class, and sexuality. Because each person is different in their race, class, and sexuality, their gender becomes socially constructed. To argue that gender is not socially constructed would be to say that all people, for example, that are biologically female have the same goals. However, this cannot be true because within the sphere of being female, that individual person varies from the next in their race, class, and/or sexuality, each of which affect their goals and perspectives differently from their sister, friend, and neighbor. One’s gender identity refers to his or her perception of self as a male or female, as well as being masculine or feminine. Because masculinity and femininity are fluid, rather than static, they are dependent on the perspective of the beholder. A person’s perspective is often influenced by their surroundings as well as values with which they were raised, both of which are never identical between two people. Race, class, and sexuality are the underlying factors that influence perspectives and values, thus differentiating the understanding and portrayal of gender identity from one person to another.
To understand Smith’s essay, Smith feels it is important to be aware of her use of the word Ideology. For her the word has two different meanings “to mean not only a conscious system of meaning, e...
Gender and sexuality can be comprehended through social science. Social science is “the study of human society and of individual relationships in and to society” (free dictionary, 2009). The study of social science deals with different aspects of society such as politics, economics, and the social aspects of society. Gender identity is closely interlinked with social science as it is based on an identity of an individual in the society. Sexuality is “the condition of being characterized and distinguished by sex” (free dictionary, 2009). There are different gender identities such as male, female, gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual that exists all around the world. There is inequality in gender identities and dominance of a male regardless of which sexuality they fall under. The males are superior over the females and gays superior over the lesbians, however it different depending on the place and circumstances. This paper will look at the gender roles and stereotypes, social policy, and homosexuality from a modern and a traditional society perspective. The three different areas will be compared by the two different societies to understand how much changes has occurred and whether or not anything has really changed. In general a traditional society is more conservative where as a modern society is fundamentally liberal. This is to say that a traditional society lists certain roles depending on the gender and there are stereotypes that are connected with the genders. One must obey the one that is dominant and make decisions. On the other hand, a modern society is lenient, It accepts the individual’s identity and sexuality. There is no inequality and everyone in the society is to be seen as individuals not a part of a family unit...
“all ideology hails or interpellates concrete individuals as concrete subjects, by the functioning of the category of the subject”. (Althusser 160)