RESOURCE FILES Chapter 5 Building Identity: Socialization
Gender is a social role. Like other social roles, it implies a set of rights, expectations, obligations, and privileges commonly associated with that gender. In our society the gender dichotomyófemale versus maleóis a major way to organize everyday life and larger social institutions. Religious doctrines, for instance, frequently reinforce status and power differences between men and women. The traditional Judeo-Christian ideology incorporates beliefs that have historically given men special rights and privileges over women:
Other social institutions, too, afford different rights and privileges to men and women. The American political system long excluded women from the highest levels of decision making. Economic discrimination and exploitation, in terms of both access to certain careers and low wages, continues and is well documented. Family life has always been clearly delineated along gender lines, with men and women holding distinct and differently valued familial obligations. Many of these institutions are in the process of changing, however. The last decade has seen more women participating in the clergy, the paid labor force, and national politics. Marital and parental roles are slowly becoming more balanced. Yet even though our society is creeping toward gender equality, we have a lot of entrenched expectations to overcome.
David Newman and Rebecca Smith.
(Created October 7, 1999). Copyright Pine Forge Press. |
