Contemporary Society

Running Head: CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY
Contemporary Society
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY
Topic - What makes your body particularly suited to manipulation as part of
a cultural performance in contemporary society?
It is the carcass of the society that the world is a highly gendered place because gender
plays a significant role in the everyday lives of people. Since the day a baby is born, he /she is
categorized and treated according to the biological distinction they are born with. However, the
biological difference has turned into gender differences. The terms ‘male ‘and ‘female’ have
transformed into ‘masculine ‘and ‘feminine’ and the division of has also been done according to
that1. Although the situation is not the same as it was in the early 90s, there are still some areas
where clear distinction based on gender is apparent. The gender difference is so all- present and
ubiquitous that it is often left unnoticed. A woman is the one to cook for the family and imposed
on the responsibility of child rearing.
When a woman grows up she stands in front of the mirror and contemplates to look
slimmer because the society has created a stereotype where the women are idealized in this
manner. It should also be acknowledged that gender differences not only piss off women. In
certain cases, men are also equally victimized. There is a difference between ‘sex ‘and ‘gender’
but both the terms have been mixed up2. It is surprising that ‘gender’ is a biological term which
has received more prominence in sociology. The biological differences have created a huge
sociological difference which is hard to bridge. Social and even cultural traits are denoted by
gender. While sex is a constant set of characteristics which cannot be changed, gender can be
1 Flintoff, Anne, Fiona Dowling, and Hayley Fitzgerald. "Working through whiteness, race and (anti) racism in
physical education teacher education." Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy 20, no. 5 (2015): 559-570.
2 Ajala, Taiwo. "Social construction of gender roles and women’s poverty in African societies: The case of the
Nigerian woman." International Journal of Gender and Women Studies4, no. 2 (2016): 1-10.

2CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY
changed and actively works as social phenomenon which creates diversity in various places.
According to the theory of biological determinism masculinity and femininity are the
consequences of hormonal differences and different physical structure but if it is seen from the
perspective of sociology, it has social dimensions and defines man and woman according to the
perspective of society and the social construction.
Behind the mask of biological differences caused by hormones, the cultural and social
distinctions are taking place in a broader way. The physical construction and appearance
determines the social role one is supposed to play. These roles are taught to both the male and
female child in house by their parents. The so called ‘girlish’ or ‘boy like’ activities are taught by
the parents or the surrounding society3. The learning part is taught at home and the outer society
justifies that. The male domination or patriarchy is seen in various parts of the society. The
conventionality of roles is still intact within society. In the contemporary society, gender roles
hide the inequality within the society. A woman as well as a man is supposed to dress, behave,
talk and walk in a manner that is acceptable in society by the members of the society. The
physical difference is supposed to be acknowledged because it creates the huge social difference.
There are few scholars which argue that even the distinction between male ad feel are highly
impacted by the social forces. It is not kept only as biological differences. It exceeds and reaches
the social barriers. Body and physical traits do shape the way an individual will be treated in the
society he /she dwells in.
Race and Gender on the other hand also put deep impact on the society and its
construction. Even in the contemporary society that is said be ‘ultra-modern ‘in itself still makes
3 Flintoff, Anne. "Playing the ‘Race’card? Black and minority ethnic students' experiences of physical education
teacher education." Sport, Education and Society 20, no. 2 (2015): 190-211.