Gender and Social Classes | Report

Running head: GENDER AND SOCIAL CLASS
GENDER AND SOCIAL CLASS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction
An array of features directed towards and distinguishing femininity and masculinity
depicts the concept of gender. Gender can potentially depict characteristics such as gender
identity, sex-based societal structures and biological sex. The concept of social class depicts
the aspect of social science with political influence concentrated on social stratification
models, where individuals are categorized with hierarchical societal groups, such as upper,
lower and middle. The purpose of the paper is to discuss regarding two sociological concepts,
gender and social class in relation to the associated theories and models. The theme was
chosen for demonstrating the influence of society in evolution and gap between these
conceptions such as inequality and division of groups. The paper will be concluded by
summarizing the main concepts encircling societal influence over gender and social-class.
Body 1: Gender
Meaning of Gender
In the past, the terminology of gender and sex was interchangeably used for depicting
the similar conception, however, with the evolution of concepts; the significant distinctions
have been identified which restricts the similarity of the terms. Gender can be considered
more than sex; it reflects the role amongst female and male in societal structure. Gender also
depicts the gender identity in the society (Momsen 2019). The distinction was recognized due
to the non-alignment between a specific sex and gender identity. Thus, gender reflects the
aspect of functions, roles and tasks associated with societal system and personal preferences.
The gender approach depicts the distinction between men’ and women’s interests
irrespective of similar environment and the process of portraying expressed feelings and
interaction. Gender approach also demonstrates the hierarchies and conventions prevalent in
the society based on established gender roles. The distinction between gender roles is also
based on the factors such as wealth, age and ethnic background (Lips 2020). Gender approach

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also depicts the way by which the gender relations, roles can change quickly as an outcome
of technological, economic and social trends.
Gender-Socially Constructed
Social construction in gender demonstrates the theory consisting of sociology,
feminism and masculinity in association with the mechanisms, corollaries and cultural origins
of the expression and gender perception. According to the social constructivists, gender does
not encircle specific truths; rather it is based upon the gender performance and social
expectations. There have been various debates and arguments around the conception of
gender being socially constructed. According to Judith Butler, the distinction between
genders of male and female demonstrates the internalized belief influenced by the societal
perception and norms (Haslanger 2017). Judith Butler believes social constructive
demonstrations frames the categories in gender. On the other hand, according to APA
(American Psychological Association), gender cannot be the product of social construction
due to the dependence of gender identity on inherent and internal sense of belief or self.
Gender Socialization
Gender socialization can be defined as the concept that emerges with birth, elevates
during the phase of adolescence and offers to the aspects of inequalities amongst
employment, education and income.
Femininity, Masculinity and socially acceptable characteristics:
Femininity and masculinity are the two terminologies used for depicting gender
identities rather than sex. Femininity and masculinity reflects the behavioural aspects and
characteristics despite of the sexual orientation. The traits or characteristics that distinguishes
masculinity and femininity are societal norms and expected behaviour associated with
specific sex orientation (Mehta and Dementieva 2017). Researchers have identified
significant differences between the female and male brain but a single most acceptable trait

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cannot be expected as it reflects a mixture of behavioural roles, preferences and beliefs. The
traits of femininity, which are socially acceptable involves empathy, sensitivity and humility.
The traits of masculinity that are socially acceptable involve, assertiveness, independence,
strength and courage with the association of power.
Gender Stratification:
Gender stratification was ignorant for a long period and it depicts the hierarchy of
division of categories amongst the societal structure based on gender roles. The relatively
newer concept was emerged with a feminist perspective within social science during 1970s
with the depiction of inequalities amongst men and women based on the aspects of privilege,
power and wealth. Gender stratification reflects an asymmetrical, hierarchical and uneven
categorization between women and men (Grusky 2019). Gender stratification can reflect the
unequal participation between the two sex, expected roles, sign of dominance and unequal
opportunities.
Gender inequality with gender regime:
The acknowledgment of the belief that women and men are not considered equal
which affects the living experiences of an individual or community is known as gender
inequality. The differences emerge through cultural norms and societal expectations. Gender
inequality can be considered as the product of social construction (Pickard 2019). Gender
regime is closely associated with gender inequality as it depicts the state of role of a specific
gender within a given institution that is governed by legislation, norms and expectations
constructed by society or community.

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Body 2: Social class:
Meaning of social class
Social class demonstrates the conception of social sciences and theory constructed for
modelling social stratification amongst people or community with the association of
hierarchical social categories such as lower, middle and upper class. The terminology of
social class was primarily introduced during 19th century for the replacement of the act rank
or order. The usage of the term has certainly changed the hierarchical projections of societies,
started with Western Europe post political and industrial revolutions of 18th century.
According to Karl Marx, the distinction between societal categories is based upon the
division of labour and technological reforms (Milios and Dimoulis 2018). The questioning of
Max Webber can depict the contemporary theory of social class, German sociologists
regarding the significance of social classes within the modern societies and political
development.
Social Division
Social division reflects the regular patterns of distinctiveness created in the societal
structure for reflecting social groups, differences with inequalities. Division within the
society have a number of negative impacts on the society (Della Porta et al. 2016). It leads to
inequality. People within the society have unequal shares of resources and rewards in the
society. Most common form of social divisions is class, race, mobility, ethnicity and gender.
Decriminalisation of Homosexuality:
Decriminalisation of homosexuality means liberalising the laws against
homosexuality. It means supporting the actions of homosexuality within the nation and
respecting the same. In the past homosexuality was considered as a crime. In the past times it
was stated that anything against the order of nature is a crime and having a relationship with

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the same gender was considered to be as something against the law of nature. Before the year
1967 gay men were sentenced up to two years in prison. Homosexuality was first legalized in
the year 1967. At first this issue was legalized for men over 21 years of age, then in the year
1994 it was reduced to above 18 years of age and n the year 2000 it was 16 years and above
(Lee and Ostergard 2017).
Gender Dysphoria:
Gender Dysphoria refers to the situation where people have identity issue and
discomfort with their natural gender and sex. This feeling causes them extreme distress. They
feel uncomfortable while getting regarded by the others as the allotted genders and want to
get rid of the gender characteristics associated with it. It influences the behaviour, dressing
sense and the self-image of the person (Zucker, Lawrence and Kreukels 2016). They start
cross-dressing themselves and star behaving like the opposite gender. Many people often
undergo a sex change surgery. The Equality and Human Rights Commission survey states
that 1% of the people from a sample of 10000 people show gender variance traits.
Feminists
In general terms feminism can be simply stated as the equality of sex. It states that
equal opportunities and facilities should be provided to both women and men at any given
time. Feminist simply refers to the person who supports this right of equality to women
(Kurzweil 2019). The term feminist was first used in the magazine Debow’s Review in the
year 1852.
The Equality Act 2010:
The Equality Act was enforced on 1st October 2010. This act brings together 116
different pieces of legislation into a single consolidated Act. The basic purpose of the act is to
provide equal opportunities to all and to protect the rights of every individual within the
society. It reduces unfair treatments. The act covers important areas like reducing sex

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discrimination, equal pay, equal employment, reduction of disability discrimination and
reducing inequality in races (Bryson 2017). The goals of this act are to some extent similar to
the Equal Treatment Directives. It protects the individual rights irrespective of caste, religion,
sex, orientation, disability and belief.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that Gender and Social Classes are two most important issues
within the society that requires major attention from the country administrators. The society
has evolved with time and has seen a number of changes in the evolution of gender issues and
social issues. In the past there was high level of inequality on the basis of caste, sex and
orientation. The women were not equally treated, being gay was crime and people with
disability never got a job. The evolution of time and various laws like the Equality Act 2010
has made it possible to reduce these issues and bring positivity and acceptability in the
society.

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References
Bryson, A., 2017. Pay equity after the Equality Act 2010: does sexual orientation still
matter?. Work, employment and society, 31(3), pp.483-500.
Della Porta, D., Silvasti, T., Hänninen, S. and Siisiäinen, M. eds., 2016. The new social
division: Making and unmaking precariousness. Springer.
Grusky, D., 2019. Social Stratification, Class, Race, and Gender in Sociological Perspective.
Routledge.
Haslanger, S., 2017. Gender and social construction. Applied ethics: A multicultural
approach, pp.299-307.
Kurzweil, E., 2019. Freudians and feminists. Routledge.
Lee, C. and Ostergard Jr, R.L., 2017. Measuring discrimination against LGBTQ people: A
cross-national analysis. Human Rights Quarterly, 39(1), pp.37-72.
Lips, H.M., 2020. Sex and gender: An introduction. Waveland Press.
Mehta, C.M. and Dementieva, Y., 2017. The contextual specificity of gender: Femininity and
masculinity in college students’ same-and other-gender peer contexts. Sex Roles, 76(9-10),
pp.604-614.
Milios, J. and Dimoulis, D., 2018. Karl Marx and the classics: An essay on value, crises and
the capitalist mode of production. Routledge.
Momsen, J., 2019. Gender and development. Routledge.
Pickard, S., 2019. Embodying the gender regime: Health, illness and disease across the life
course. In Ageing, the Body and the Gender Regime (pp. 1-23). Routledge.
Zucker, K.J., Lawrence, A.A. and Kreukels, B.P., 2016. Gender dysphoria in adults. Annual
Review of Clinical Psychology, 12, pp.217-247.

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