Week 8: 250-Word Forum - Describe Your Gender Using At Least
Week 8 250 Word Forumdescribe Your Own Gender Using At Leasttwoof Thef
Week 8 250 word forum Describe your own gender using at least two of the frameworks in the textbooks. · How do the descriptions differ? · What does each framework highlight? · What does each overlook? Now that we are in our final week of class, how does your new learning about gender and communication apply to your personal, professional, and other interactions? Is there anything you were surprised to learn, or wish you had learned more about during our course?
Paper For Above instruction
In exploring personal gender identity through the lens of different frameworks, I found it enlightening to examine how these models shape our understanding of gender and influence our perceptions and interactions. Two prominent frameworks from the course materials—the biological and social constructionist frameworks—offer distinct perspectives on gender, each highlighting different aspects and overlooking others.
The biological framework emphasizes innate, physiological differences between males and females, such as chromosomes, hormonal profiles, and reproductive organs. This perspective tends to highlight the importance of biology in shaping gender identity and behavior, often framing gender differences as natural and predetermined. However, it overlooks the significant role that environment, culture, and individual experience play in gender development. This model also risks essentializing gender, leading to stereotypes and limiting individual expression based solely on biological factors.
Conversely, the social constructionist framework views gender as a product of social interactions, cultural norms, and individual interpretations. It emphasizes that gender roles, behaviors, and identities are largely learned and socialized over time, highlighting the fluidity and variability of gender across different societies and contexts. This perspective sheds light on how societal expectations shape gender expressions but may overlook the ways in which biological factors can influence behavior or reinforce gendered expectations subconsciously.
Understanding these frameworks has enhanced my awareness of how gender influences communication. Recognizing that gender is both biologically influenced and socially constructed enables me to approach interactions with greater sensitivity and openness. Professionally, this awareness encourages inclusive communication practices that recognize diverse gender identities beyond binary notions. Personally, it fosters empathy and reduces biases rooted in stereotypical beliefs.
Reflecting on my learning, I was surprised by how deeply social norms shape gender roles even in seemingly neutral settings. I wish I had delved further into how digital media and globalization impact contemporary gender identities, as these are increasingly relevant in our interconnected world. Overall, this course has deepened my understanding of gender as a complex interplay of biology and social influences, which I now apply to foster more respectful and understanding interactions across various aspects of life.
References
Connell, R. W. (2014). Gender role theory. In M. Kimmel, J. H. Aronson, & J. M. Murdock (Eds.), The gendered society (5th ed., pp. 23-45). Oxford University Press.
Lorber, J. (2010). The social construction of gender. In J. Lorber & S. Moore (Eds.), Gender for beginners (pp. 10–20). Routledge.
West, C., & Zimmermann, D. H. (1987). Doing gender. Gender & Society, 1(2), 125–151.
Butler, J. (1990). Gender trouble: Feminism and the subversion of identity. Routledge.
Fausto-Sterling, A. (2000). The myth of gender. The Sciences, 40(4), 20–24.
Katz, J. (1999). The gender of sexuality. Significance, 6(1), 46–60.
Hines, S. (2010). Transgender identities: Towards a social analysis. Sociology, 44(2), 336–352.
Ridgeway, C. L., & Correll, S. J. (2004). Unpacking the gender system: A theoretical perspective on gender beliefs and social relations. Gender & Society, 18(4), 510–531.
Kalra, V. S., & Hughes, J. (2020). Navigating gender identities in a digital age. Journal of Media & Cultural Studies, 34(4), 543–558.