Step 2: Conceptual Framework - This Step Is Worth 15% Of You

Step 2 Conceptual Frameworkthis Step Is Worth15of Your Course Grade

In Step 2, you will present the conceptual framework of your work by explaining which threshold concepts you are using to analyze the policy or media artifact you selected for this project. You must draw on at least two threshold concepts from the course. Your write-up should be approximately 2 to 2.5 pages double-spaced.

For each concept, start by explaining the concept as if to a classmate. Then, briefly discuss how the concept relates to your chosen policy or media artifact—specifically, why social construction of gender/sex, intersectionality, privilege and oppression, or feminist praxis is important when analyzing it. This explanation should incorporate ideas from at least two course readings, with proper citations including page numbers.

Paper For Above instruction

Analyzing the conceptual framework is a crucial step in critically engaging with gender-related policies or media artifacts. The use of threshold concepts such as the social construction of gender and intersectionality allows for a nuanced understanding of how gender and related identities are shaped and experienced in society. This step involves clearly defining each concept and demonstrating its relevance to the chosen subject, supported by scholarly sources.

The social construction of gender and sex refers to the idea that gender roles, identities, and expectations are not biologically determined but are constructed through social processes and cultural norms (Lorber, 1994). Applying this concept to a policy or media artifact reveals how representations or regulations reinforce or challenge socially constructed gender norms. For example, a media portrayal that stereotypes women as caregivers exemplifies this construction, which influences societal perceptions and individual identities (West & Zimmerman, 1987).

Intersectionality, a term coined by Crenshaw (1991), emphasizes that individuals experience social realities in multiple, overlapping ways based on race, class, gender, sexuality, and other identities. Analyzing artifacts through this lens uncovers how policies or media representations privilege certain groups while marginalizing others. For instance, a workplace policy might ostensibly promote gender equality but may overlook how race or class intersect with gender to produce different experiences of oppression or privilege (Cho, Crenshaw, & McCall, 2013).

Understanding these concepts helps illuminate the complexities of gendered experiences and the importance of feminist praxis—intentional strategies aimed at transforming gender inequalities—as a normative approach to critique and change policies or media representations. Applying feminist praxis involves actively challenging constructs of gender that sustain oppression and advocating for more inclusive, equitable alternatives.

By integrating these concepts into your analysis, you can critically evaluate how policies or media artifacts perpetuate or resist gender norms and inequalities. This approach fosters a deeper understanding of the societal functions of gender and informs strategies for social change grounded in feminist theory.

References

• Crenshaw, K. (1991). Mapping the margins: Intersectionality, identity politics, and violence against women of color. Stanford Law Review, 43(6), 1241–1299.
• Cho, S., Crenshaw, K., & McCall, L. (2013). Toward a field of intersectionality studies: Theory, applications, and praxis. Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 38(4), 785–810.
• Lorber, J. (1994). Night to his Day: The Social Construction of Gender. In R. West & E. Zimmerman (Eds.), Gender & Society (pp. 13–31).
• West, C., & Zimmerman, D. H. (1987). Doing Gender. Gender & Society, 1(2), 125–151.