Gender

My second blog question is: To what extent has gender equality been achieved? What gender biases persist and why?

I think for this topic that first i should talk a little about the concept of gender.

Gender and a few ideas:

For this discussion I would like to point out that sex is in reference to human biology, that is the physical characteristics of a man or a women and gender is in reference to the social and cultural construction of masculinity and femininity. That is to say that gender is not just what sex a person is but rather the set of meanings that sexes assume, a female body produces feminine behaviours, a feminine identity.

From this we know that gender divides humans into two categories, male and female. What does it mean to be a man or a women, what roles do you have as a male or a female, how do you become masculine or feminine? We all probably realise that becoming our gender is largely influenced by socialisation... From birth we are treated a certain way depending on our sex... so a quesiton for everyone, In what ways do people begin marking a child’s gender after its birth?

When i think about this process of socialisation i consider my life... the way i was dressed a child in pretty pink dresses with ribbons in my hair and encouraged to dance, learn instruments and play with dolls. Obviously it has influenced the way i am now... still loving to wear dresses and look 'pretty'... its interesting to think about the ways we act out our gender. How do you ‘do’ gender?

Just a few starting thoughts, we cant really talk about gender equality without having an understanding about gender!! Next post I will address the topic of gender in culture.