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Bland's point that people who break with expectations are likely to receive constant negative reinforcement from the world is an important one to remember when considering the nature of gender identity and gender construction. The woman who, for example, doesn't shave under her arms, is likely to be the subject of uncomplimentary remarks from possible sexual partners, parents and siblings, co-workers, even bosses. This is despite the fact that not shaving under one's arms does no harm whatsoever -- other than violating social gender stereotypes. Having an extra bit of hair than most other people do should be a matter of concern to no one at all but the person herself -- except for the fact that this woman is violating a gender expectation.
This woman -- like the man who is a kindergarten teacher -- are considered to be members of suspect categories. This woman must be a lesbian! The man must be a pedophile! (And probably gay too!). Most cultures have fairly low tolerance for deviations from what are seen to be socially acceptable self-presentations when it comes to gender identity. True, Americans (and especially those in more liberal parts of the country like the West Coast and the Northeast) have more latitude in understanding -- and acting out -- gender identity than does, for example, a woman in Saudi Arabia.
If gender is socially constructed, then it is fungible. We could choose to construct gender in an entirely different way. Or we could use a different system of classification entirely -- make mathematical ability the most important criterion by which to sort people. Or political identity: We could engineer human identity so that everything...
But gender is so firmly fixed as a central category of identity that such a world is impossible to contemplate.
I end this paper with a question asked by Bland (1998): The question, then, is "If there was no such thing as gender, if we had no expectations of children biased by their sexual label, would gender specific behaviour disappear?" This to me is a fascinating question. My first impulse is to answer, "Yes -- of course differences remain because there is an element of gender that is based in biology, and biology will never be eliminated." But then I think, "No -- if we were all to be treated the same then gender would in fact disappear." But then I say, "Yes, differences would remain, because the human brain thrives on difference."
Or, as the French say, "Vive la difference!"
References
Bland.,J. (1998) About Gender: Social Learning Theory. http://www.gender.org.uk/about/02psycho/22_socln.h. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
Condry, J., Condry, S., (1976) Sex Differences: A study in the eye of the beholder. Child Development 47 (1976) 817 in Fausto Sterling, A., (1992) Myths of Gender, Biological Theories about Women and Men. New York: Basic Books.
Learning Gender Stereotypes, n.d. http://www.media- awareness.ca/english/resources/educational/lessons/secondary/gender_portrayal / gender_stereotypes.cfm
Ross, Michael W. (1983). Femininity, masculinity, and sexual orientation: Some cross-cultural comparisons. Journal of Homosexuality 9(1), 27-35.
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