Sociology Assignment on Gender by Raewyn Connell

Running head: SOCIOLOGY
Gender Studies
Name of the Student:
Name University:
Author Note

2
SOCIOLOGY
Raewyn Connell is an Australian sociologist who has contributed to the field of study
immensely. She has gained prominence through her works which concern gender relations.
Connell writes that ‘gender must be understood as a social structure. It is not an expression of
biology, nor a fixed dichotomy in human life or character. It is a pattern in our social
arrangements’ in her seminal ‘The Question of Gender’. The extract is from Connell’s work
which is about gender differences which exist in the society and the operation of gender itself.
According to her, society creates a construct while leading to social expectations and gender
roles. Connell states that gender is rooted in performativity and social expectations. According to
Connell, Gender is not entirely biological or fixed to human character or life. Sociologists
emphasize on the very fact that there is distinct difference between gender and sex, which is
biological.
Sex of a person refers to the attributes of a person which is restricted to the biological
attributes and are thus, classified as male or female. Whereas, on the other hand, gender refers to
attributes which are classified socially, psychologically as well as culturally. These attributes are
associated with femininity, masculinity or simply being male or female. The classification, in
addition gives rise to division and most often unequal treatment, in the society, based on gender
(Lindsey 2015). These different treatment are in connection with deeper and complex
understanding and perception of gender. Sex and gender is often poorly represented and thus,
Connell tries to make a distinction that the idea of gender, is defined as well as associated with,
by people with respect to the pre conceived notions.
Gender may not entirely depend on the biological traits of a person. Moreover, it is a
concept which defines how sex categories are determined by the society as well as meanings are
attached to them. There are many meanings which are attached to the roles of men and women,

3
SOCIOLOGY
which give rise to their gender identities. The sociology of gender intends to understand how
society influences the perception of gender and creates distinction between masculinity and
femininity. Masculinity, is what society deems as the behavior which is appropriated with the
roles of a man, whereas, on the other hand, femininity is referred to as the behavior. These even
influence and give rise to societal expectations, beliefs and practices which are related to gender
and identity.
Gender is socially constructed, which is similar to all social identities. Gender can be put
into cultural as well as historical focus. Gender roles can be defined in terms of the functions and
tasks which are performed and are perceived to be related with femininity and masculinity. The
gender roles have expanded along with industrialization. The gender roles were different before
the industrial era as the expectations with male and female workers prior to the era were very
much restricted to the pre conceived notions. Woman, is a process of becoming, ‘One is not
born, but rather becomes a woman (Butler 2011). No biological, psychological or economic fate
determines the figure that the human female presents in society’. Commenting on this statement
made by Beauvoir, Butter points out that becoming a woman is a process which is ongoing and
discursive.
Gender identity creates a binary of males and females, through which there are
associations made. A male, since childhood is taught, that the qualities which are to be associated
with masculinity are strong, independent, emotionally less sensitive. Whereas, females, on the
other hand are considered to be more emotionally sensitive, docile, dependent on the male
members of the family. They are taught to be conforming to the gender identity, which the
society creates for them, as males or females, respectively, based on their biological sex. The
toys with which children are made to be associated with are different, as boys are expected to