Sociology of Gender and Sexuality: Debates, Evidence, Theories, and Academic Arguments

This article discusses the debates, evidence, theories, and academic arguments in the sociology of gender and sexuality. It explores the issues of gender-based violence, gender pay gap, and inequality in the education system. The article highlights the theories of feminism, Marxism, and functionalism in interpreting and addressing these issues.

LC 560: Gender,
Sexuality and Society

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
1) Knowledge of the debates in the sociology of gender and sexuality.................................1
2) Evidence from everyday experiences of gender and sexuality in relation to academic
debates on the sociology of gender and sexuality..................................................................2
3) Theory to interpret and illuminate everyday experiences of social life and social structures
................................................................................................................................................3
4) Critical understanding of academic evidence and how it can be used to construct an
argument.................................................................................................................................4
5) Academic arguments in order to build understanding of gender and sexuality in society 5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
The concept of sociology of gender and sexuality is basically a prominent subfield of
sociology which is correlated with the conditions of individuals within a society on the basis of
their gender and sex (Bailey, 2020). Many shocking and interesting experience are faced every
day in context of gender and sexuality which comprises of gender based violence and its
consequences on society. Further, a high level of gender pay gaps is also seen in UK along with
gender inequality in the British education system which is quite shocking. The meaning of term
gender is basically referred to a socially constructed characteristics which divide individuals in
women and men based on their norms, relationship and roles. On the other hand, the term
sexuality is related and associated with all forms of sexual thoughts, feelings behaviours and
attraction of individuals towards other people. It has been observed that gender inequality in
various aspects of society is common from past and a traditional social issue. Thus, many
theorist has come up with various approaches and theories like Feminism, Marxism,
Functionalism and many more to overcome and mitigate these issues related with gender
inequality experienced in our society (Vignozzi and Reisman, 2020). But still high level of
gender pay gap, violence against women, and gender inequality in education system still prevails
and exists in our society. The current easy is thus, focused on critically discussing theorists based
on sociology of gender and sexuality which also comprise of its theoretical perspectives to
everyday experience of gender or sexuality.
1) Knowledge of the debates in the sociology of gender and sexuality
The current debates in sociology of gender and sexuality is all about the gender based
violence that exists in society along with issues of gender pay gaps in UK and Gender inequality
in the British education system. As per the information provided by the Levon, E., 2021, it has
been analysed that Gender based violence mainly comprises of violence against women and girls
that has been emerged as a global pandemic as affecting every 1 woman from 3 in one of the
phase of their lifetime. The main factors and reasons made out for violence based on gender
norms comprises of facts that current society is male dominant and social norms are in favour of
males which is inappropriate and gives rise to gender inequality Further, it has been experienced
that gender pay gaps in UK is also another vital sociology issues and debate in current context of
sociology of gender and sexuality (Davies and Kenneally, 2020). The issue of gender pay gap is
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mainly associated with the average difference that exists between the remuneration of a man and
woman who are working at a similar post. Beside this, a debate about the gender inequality in the
British education system is also commonly experience which is related with the context of
sociology of gender and sexuality. With respect to the information provided by Gina, 2021, it has
been analysed that the concept and issues of gender inequality in British education system is
mainly related with the way girls have been continuously discriminated in terms of various
aspects and opportunity as compared with their male counterparts. Thus, on the basis of above
discussion a summarisation can be made that gender based violence along with issues like gender
pay gap and gender inequality are common experience which are continuously seen and
prevailing within the society from traditional time in context of sociology of gender and
sexuality (Gaddini, 2020).
2) Evidence from everyday experiences of gender and sexuality in relation to academic debates
on the sociology of gender and sexuality
Many evidence are present in everyday experience of gender and sexuality in relation to
academic debates on the sociology of gender and sexuality reflecting about the gender based
violence, gender pay gap and inequality in education system. In most of the cases it has been
observed that males are aggressive and treated more powerful than women thus, there
unemotional behaviour and controlling nature is contributing to the issue of gender based
violence in a society where men are dominant (Gender-Based Violence (Violence Against
Women and Girls), 2019). The impact of gender based violence has led to issues of higher
gender equality in society along with leading acute and longer term health effects in women.
Physical injuries, disabilities, mild to severe mental and emotional disorder along with
gynaecological problems are some of the adverse impact of gender based violence (Farris and et.
al., 2020).
Beside this may evidence related with the issue of gender pay gaps are also present and
supported academic debates as it has been observed as per the view point of Wajdzik, M., 2020,
that in UK women are generally considered less productive and thus paid less than men thus, a
disparity and inequality among men and women is experienced in context with sociology of
gender and sexuality. As per the information provided by statistical department of UK, it has
been seen that Among full-time employees the gender pay gap in April 2020 was 7.4%, down
from 9.0% in April 2019 (Gender pay gap in the UK: 2020, 2020). And the gender pay gap
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among all employees was 15.5% in 2020, down from 17.4% in 2019. Thus, an analysis can be
made that the various act made by government of UK like equality act, 2010 and equal pay gap
after getting pressurised through feminist and many other theories the issue of gender pay gap is
reducing but still it exists in the society of UK (Joy, 2020).
Further, a number of debates and academic literature are also present which are creating
evidence for the issue of sociology in context of gender and sexuality which presents as the
imparity or discrimination in education. According to the view point of Rinaldo, R., 2020, this
disparity and inequality in British education system is regarded and considered as the major
impediment of the overall course of women and girls progression within the system of British
Education due to presence of high level of gender inequality in British society and education
system. This inequality and disparity towards girls and women implies and calls out for some
effective solution and theories to mitigate and overcome these issues of gender inequality to
ensure equal rights and educational opportunity to women in our society (Toft and Franklin,
2020).
3) Theory to interpret and illuminate everyday experiences of social life and social structures
A number of theorist has provided many vital approaches and theory to interpret and
highlight the everyday issues related with gender inequality and gender based violence which are
experienced in relation to sociology of gender and sexuality. The one of the main theory and
approach which has support role of women and equality for girls in society is Feminism theory
which highly and interpreted the issue of gender based violence, gender pay gap and inequality
in education system (Merten, Mlotshwa and Schwarz, 2020). The Feminist theory founded by
Mary Wollstonecraft' and improved by work and consideration of many feminist psychologists
like Jean Baker Miller who sought and worked for brining feminist analysis to previous
psychological theories along with many other theorist like Ealine Showlater who also describes
development of feminist theory through having a number of phases. Feminist theory plays a vital
role in interpreting the sociology aspects in context of gender and sexuality in society as it
attempts to describe and explain about the way how the gender system tends to work with
equality for women by giving well consideration to normative and ethical issues present with the
society.
Further, Marxism is an also a vital theory which support a more stable and equal form of
society which was named after Karl Marx who has given and created which is social, political
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and economic vital philosophy. An interoperation about the Marxism Theory can be made that
this theory aims at and describes the effect of capitalism on labour along with examine the
productivity and economic development which also argues and support worker revolution. Thus,
the main focus of Marxism theory is towards leading a sense of equality and overturning the
capitalism in favour of communism thus it also supported equality in pay to mitigate the
overcome the issue of gender pay gap in society (Dhoest, 2020). The another vital theory vital
theory which has supported improved social life and an equitable social structure is Functional
theory which provided an effective framework for creation of a more stable and positive
structure of society where there is no existence of gender pay gap or gender based violence. An
interpretation can be made out with respect to structural functionalism theory that society is a
complex system where it is essential and vitally needed that ever part works together to promote
a sense of stability and solidarity in society. Thus, an analysis can be made that the functionalist
theory plays a vital role in creating a sense of equality for women in society through emphasizing
in stability and solidarity which plays a vital role in mitigating and overcoming the issues of
gender pay gap, gender based violence along with inequality in education system which shape a
positive life structure and stable society as a whole (Lindley and et. al., 2020).
4) Critical understanding of academic evidence and how it can be used to construct an argument
Various academic evidence is provided by online articles and journal which supported
implication of Feminist theory, Marxism and functional theory to construct argument and
mitigate social issues in context of sociology of gender and sexuality. With respect to the
information provided by Korkmazer, B., De Ridder, S. and Van Bauwel, S., 2020, the Feminist
theory support a strong argument in favour of women through making attempts to describe the
equitable working of gender system which needs to be follow and based on consideration of
normative and ethical implication (Feminist Theory, 2021). Thus, a vital role is played by
Feminist theory in support an equitable society for women by the way of emphasising in equal
rights and opportunity where the society’s gender arrangements are tending to be more fair. The
feminist support equal rights for women by emphasis on issues of women having limited rights
due to men's flawed perception of women. Truth argued that if a woman of color can perform
tasks that were supposedly limited to men, then any woman of any color could perform those
same tasks (Bailey, 2020). Thus, feminist theory supports arguments for mitigating social issues
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like gender pay gap, gender based violence and inequity in education system through supporting
equal rights and opportunities for females.
The Marxism theory also sets a strong argument for mitigating social issues related with
sociology in context of gender and sexuality which explain conflicts in gender and also support
required change and modification for betterment. Marxism provides an effective explanation
about the uneven distribution of power and wealth seen in society which gives rises to issues like
gender pay gap and gender based violence (Vignozzi and Reisman, 2020). Further, it has been
seen that Marxism has had a profound impact on contemporary culture and modern communism
which support equal rights for all within a society based on modern socialist theories derive from
this theory. It has also had tremendous effect on academia, influencing disciplines from
economics to philosophy and literary history which support mitigation of issues like gender pay
gap and gender inequality in education system (Davies and Kenneally, 2020).
Apart from this, the Functionalism theory is also playing a vital support and favours
arguments which explains about the minimizing the conflicts and disparity in society through the
way of socialisation and ensuring an effective and equitable social control. Apart from this, an
implication could also be made out that functionalism theory supports and ensures equality in
society for all comprises of men and women through supporting complementary manner for
producing an overall stability and solidarity in the society. Beside this, Functionalism theory
argues an effective adaption of equitable social norms and ethical behaviour through overcoming
economic and social inequality through leading out positive social change which supports
equality in pay and whole structure of society (Gaddini, 2020).
5) Academic arguments in order to build understanding of gender and sexuality in society
An understanding has developed that gender and sexuality are the centrally important and
vital forces of a society which shape and structure the aspects and lives of every individual
within a society. The concept of gender and sexuality provides a way of looking at how social
norms and structure of power operates within a society which direct and significantly impacts the
lives of all individuals along with influencing the availability of opportunity for groups of men
and women in the society (Farris and et. al., 2020). An understanding have developed that in
society many sociological issues are present in context of gender and sexuality from traditional
times and still existing as well. The some of the common sociological issues experienced in
everyday life within a society comprises of gender based violence, gender pay gap and inequality
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in education system. It has been observed that society is male dominant where more power and
wealth is provided to men who sometime used to physically and mentally torture the women in
the society which is termed as gender based violence, this, gender based violence lead a negative
impact in health and mental state of women which leads to disparity and gender inequality in
society (Joy, 2020).
Further, it has been also seen that gender pay gap has also become a more vital issues that is
being experienced by women in their everyday lives in form of being less paid for their working
and services. Thus, it is also a vital aspect of our society in context of gender and sexuality where
women are treated less efficient and unproductive as compared to men. Above all this, gender
inequality in education system is the biggest threat and risk for society in current times as it
hampers equal growth and opportunity for women which is creating negative impact on the
overall mind-set and view point of society (Toft and Franklin, 2020). Thus, implication of many
theories like Feminist, Functionalism and Marxism has become more important and vital in
context of sociology of gender and sexuality to bring stability and equality within the society
where women have equal power and rights.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of above report, a conclusion can be made that gender and sexuality forms out a
vital aspect of very society which set out a base for life and social structure. It has been also
summarised that many sociological issues in context of gender and sexuality is also present in
every society which consists of gender based violence, gender pay gap and inequality in
education system which needs to be get rectified and mitigate. Thus, various theories are
emerged overtime to protect the right of women in society. A summarisation can be made that
feminist theory plays a vital role in bringing the equal rights and fair power for women in various
sector to overcome the issue of gender pay gap and inequality in education system. Further, the
Marxism theory emphasising on fair corporate power and leading equal pay for all employees
irrespective of their gender and social status. Finally, the feminism theory is also playing a vital
role in creating a more stable and solidarity structure of society where life of all individuals
contribute in a fair way and ensures equality in all aspects of society.
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REFERENCES
Books and journal
Bailey, R.C., 2020. “THAT’S WHY THEY DIDN’T CALL THE BOOK HADASSAH!”: THE
INTERSE (CT)/(X) IONALITY OF RACE/ETHNICITY, GENDER, AND
SEXUALITY IN THE BOOK OF ESTHER. The Bible, Gender, and Sexuality: Critical
Readings, p.167.
Davies, A.W. and Kenneally, N., 2020. Cripping the controversies: Ontario rights-based debates
in sexuality education. Sex Education, 20(4), pp.366-382.
Dhoest, A., 2020. Intersectional identifications: Ethnicity and sexuality among diasporic queer
women in Belgium. Ethnicities, 20(5), pp.1025-1043.
Farris, C. and et. al., 2020. Women in the New Taiwan: Gender Roles and Gender Consciousness
in a Changing Society: Gender Roles and Gender Consciousness in a Changing Society.
Routledge.
Gaddini, K., 2020. Practising Purity: How Single Evangelical Women Negotiate Sexuality.
In Intersecting Religion and Sexuality (pp. 103-121). Brill.
Joy, M., 2020. Gender and its Vicissitudes. Discourse Research and Religion: Disciplinary Use
and Interdisciplinary Dialogues, p.183.
Korkmazer, B., De Ridder, S. and Van Bauwel, S., 2020. Reporting on young people, sexuality,
and social media: a discourse theoretical analysis. Journal of Youth Studies, 23(3),
pp.323-339.
Levon, E., 2021. Sexuality as non-binary. The Routledge Handbook of Language, Gender, and
Sexuality.
Lindley, L.M. and et. al., 2020. Sexual fantasy across gender identity: a qualitative investigation
of differences between cisgender and non-binary people’s imagery. Sexual and
Relationship Therapy, pp.1-22.
Merten, S., Mlotshwa, L. and Schwarz, J., 2020. Youth, sexuality, gender, and health: dealing
with a social phenomenon.
Rinaldo, R., 2020. Islamizing Intimacies: Youth, Sexuality, and Gender in Contemporary
Indonesia by Nancy Smith-Hefner. Anthropological Quarterly, 93(2), pp.255-259.
Toft, A. and Franklin, A.M., 2020. Sexuality and gender identity in the lives of young disabled
LGBT+ persons: Initiating a dialogue. In Young, disabled and LGBT+ voices, identities
and intersections (pp. 3-12). Routledge.
Vignozzi, L. and Reisman, Y., 2020. Testosterone in women: are we closing the gender
gap?. Nature Reviews Urology, 17(2), pp.67-68.
Wajdzik, M., 2020. " He was a woman" and she was a man. Representations of gender identity
and sexuality in Orlando by Virginia Woolf and The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe
Hall.
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Online:
Feminist Theory. 2021. [Online] Available Through:< https://journals.sagepub.com/home/fty>.
Gender pay gap in the UK: 2020. 2020. [Online] Available Through:<
https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworking
hours/bulletins/genderpaygapintheuk/2020>.
Gender-Based Violence (Violence Against Women and Girls). 2019. [Online] Available
Through:< https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/socialsustainability/brief/violence-
against-women-and-girls>.
Gina. 2021. Gender Inequality in the British Education System. [Online] Available Through:<
http://www.gendertrust.org.uk/gender-inequality-in-the-british-education-system/ >.
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