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Irma Landin
Professor Corri Ditch
English 113A
23 September 2015

Socially Constructed Gender Norms in Society

After reading Becoming Members of Society: The Social meaning of Gender by Aaron
Devor and Night to His Day , The Social Construction of Gender by Judith Lorber, it has
made me acknowledge how society manipulates gender. These two authors argue about how
society being the parents and those who judge everyones gender roles manipulate the gender
roles. These two authors common point is about the social constructed gender norms we play in
society how men are dominant and women are submissive. Although gender roles have changed
over time, male and females still have certain behaviors that still exist today, such as inequalities
between men and women today. Females are considered to be the weaker sex not only mentally
but also physically. I wouldnt force my children to be something they are not just so society will
accept them.
Most Adults/Students always thought gender was the sex of a person which is not the
case. Gender is not biological, it is more Sociological. Gender has nothing to do with ones sex.
Gender is the performance of one being more masculine or feminine. Females can be masculine
and males can be feminine but in the worlds eye it doesnt seem to be the correct thing. Society
expects both men and women to follow their socially constructed gender norms. Men can dress
up as a women, but if they do society sees them as a nonconformist. In many cases some men do
consider themselves more feminine than masculine because they feel like their performance is

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more towards feminine. For example Bruce Jenner Olympic Winner. He lived 65 years of his
life not being comfortable with his own body. Jenner stated My brain is much more female than
it is male, its hard for people to understand but thats what my soul is. (ABC news). He meant
that being masculine was something he didnt feel comfortable with, but being more feminine
made him feel better inside and out. Society is not in favor of Jenner transitioning into a female
because society expects Jenner to be masculine since he was born a male. Gender is sometimes
easily determined by gestures, appearance, and characteristics. One can tell when someone is
female because they tend to use small hand gestures when they talk, have a higher voice, wear
pastel colors, etc.(Renzetti &Curran 77) While men are more serious, have deeper voices, dress
in darker colors, etc. For instance, if you see someone wearing a light pink dress and has long
hair you automatically think he/she is a female. Posture is another way to determine ones gender
because men tend to sit with their legs open and tend to slouch when they sit. While women sit
straight with their legs closed. Body postures demonstrate subordination through a minimizing
spatial use. (Devor 41)
Male/female and girls/boys have similar roles. Men are considered to be macho man
while women are referred to as the fragile ones. In Rethinking Womens Biology by Ruth
Hubbard it says In the 19th century, when women tried to get access to higher education,
scientist claimed we couldnt be educated because our brains are too small.(46). Women are
always being criticized because either they are not smart enough, strong enough, or capable of
doing things. Society also discriminates jobs. Women are only seen as seeking care of children,
working in offices, and being teachers etc. Society should recognize that women are capable of
accomplishing anything if they set their mind to it. Not only are women discriminated but also
males. Society sees mens working in construction and other manly jobs. If men decide to work

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as a nurse, it is considered to be something abnormal because society says being nurses is a

women job and not a mens job. Women and men shouldnt be judged by society just because
they want to do something unique.
Many parents manipulate gender such as not letting their boys play with dolls or not
letting them wear certain colors of clothes. Parents dress their girls with pastel colors while boys
wear darker colors. Some parents are against their boys wearing pink because its not a manly
color. Its fine for a girl to wear a light shade of blue, but not for a boy to wear pink. Boys and
girls have their own section of toys at the store because society doesnt want boy/girls playing
with the opposite sex toys. One can easily determine a boys and a girls toys. Boys tend to play
with trucks, cars, superheroes, and robots while they little girls play with dolls, kitchen centers,
makeup, and dress up. Society says that little boys are not allowed to play with dolls because
dolls are not considered to be masculine. However dolls, later in life will help the little boy
become a parent. It shouldnt be a bad thing if a little boy wants to play with dolls. Dolls are not
only made for girls but now they even have dolls for boys, Barbie Ken. Some parents say its not
bad for their son to play with dolls, where as other parents do. Society has to see that its not a
bad thing for boys to play or own a doll. If it doesnt matter to the parents, then why should it
matter to society? Society expects us all to be the same but it shouldnt be that way. Everyone
one should be unique in their own way.
I remember one of my friends told me I shouldnt be playing softball because it was
considered to be a masculine sport. She told me that I was a tomboy just because I played
softball. Softball is not considered a masculine sport in my opinion because thats why they have
baseball for males and softball for females. Many females play softball that doesnt mean they
are more masculine than feminine. Male and females are also critized by what sport they play or

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what sport they find interesting. Many will say that females shouldnt be playing sports because
females are not strong enough. If females want to play sports, society shouldnt stop them from
playing. It only should matter to the person not to no one else. Because the socially constructed
gender norms say that males must act masculine and females must act feminine it portrayed the
performances one chooses to act.
In the future, if my little boy wants to play with dolls I will let him. For me there is
nothing wrong with a little boy playing with dolls because I know it will benefit them in the
future. Playing with kitchen centers will help him learn how to cook and playing with dolls will
help him become a father. If he wants to go into the girl toy section to get a toy I will not stop
him. I will not force my children to be something theyre not. If I ever forced my kid to be
something theyre not, not only will I feel guilty but I would also be ruining their way of living
their life. I would introduce him/her to femininity/masculinity, but it will be their decision if
they want to be feminine or masculine. I will support their decision 100%.
Reading the two articles Becoming Member of Society: The Social Meanings of
Gender by Aaron Devor and Night to His Day: The Social Construction of Gender by Judith
Lorber, it has made me release how society manipulates the gender roles. The main idea after
reading these two articles is how society effects gender. It effects the children, parents, and
others. Gender roles have made a huge change over time but females and males still have certain
behaviors that still exist today. Many are judge by society by the way they dress, by their gender,
or by their race. We should all be equal in our own ways without feeling left out in the world.
Society needs to accept the fact that not everyone is going to be the same, everyone is different in
their own way. Gender plays a huge role in our everyday lives even if we are not aware of it.

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Works Cited
Bruce Jenner, Im a Woman, ABC News, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2015. Web. 29 Sept. 2015
Devor, Aaron, Becoming Members of Society: The Social Meaning of Gender Eds. Racheal
Groner and John F OHara. Composing Gender: A BedFord Spotlight Reader.
Boston:BedFord/St.Martins,2014. 35-43.Print.
Hubbard, Ruth, Rethinking Womens Biology Eds. Racheal Groner and John F OHara.
Composing Gender: A BedFord Spotlight Reader. Boston: BedFord/St.Martins, 2014.
46-2.Print.
Lorber, Judith, Night to his day: The Social Construction of Gender Eds. Racheal Groner and
John F OHara. Composing Gender: A BedFord Spotlight Reader. Boston:
BedFord/St.Martins, 2014.19-30.Print.