Gender Norms Society and Sexuality

Gender is socially constructed. Whereas biological sex can be considered immutable in most cases, gender is mainly constructed to indicate role function and status. From birth, children are classified into the gender binary, as being male or female. Male children are socialized differently from female children, leading to distinct differences in the ways those children perceive themselves and are perceived by others. Whether through subtle or overt controls, gender norms are reinforced. Gender fluidity exists in few societies, and although gender fluidity has become more common in modern industrialized societies, there are still relatively strict gender norms and roles in place. Not performing according to prevailing gender roles and norms may be considered deviant behavior in the society.

Gender is fundamental to personal identity construction, and may also be integral to a culture's collective identity. Moreover, gender impacts social status, access to power, and access to resources. When women are systematically excluded from positions of power or participating in the political process, as they were until only a hundred years ago throughout most societies, gender becomes one of the most significant and immutable determinants of power and status. Gender continues to remain a problematic domain, as women struggle to achieve parity in political and economic spheres.

Structural functionalism suggests that resistance to gender equity comes from the belief that gender equity would be too disruptive to the social order ("The Sociology of Gender," n.d.). The theory of structural functionalism shows that social institutions are the fundamental elements of social order. Gender provides a convenient means by which to segregate people into binary classes. Women are prescribed roles such as childrearing and caregiving and operate mainly in the domestic and private sphere; whereas men assume roles in the public domain. Moreover, structural functionalism highlights the origin of gender roles and norms as providing structure and role clarity in complex societies. Changing gender roles and norms requires massive social change and upheaval, which is one of the reasons why resistance to change remains prevalent.

Conflict theory shows how gender inequity leads to a great number of societal ills including widespread social injustice. Within the conflict theory perspective, race, class, gender, and power are all entwined issues. Gender inequality is a root cause of social injustice, as systematically excluding half the population from having access to political and economic power has certain repercussions. Excluding women from having access to power means creating societies that are patriarchal in nature, and which serve the needs of men more than women.

Social learning theory shows how gender roles and norms are communicated via socialization and the process of learning. Parental and peer influences shape identity and behavior to conform to gender roles and norms. Media is another powerful agent of gender socialization, as media messages communicate gender norms. Social learning takes place in a number of ways, such as through observation and modeling. Punishment and reward systems help inculcate gender identity, as children experiment with different ways of expressing themselves. Boys who play with dolls might be chastised or humiliated, thereby reinforcing the prevailing gender norm. Similarly, heterosexuality because normative in societies that use systems of reward and punishment to enforce heterosexuality.