Topic > Critique of the social construction approach to gender

Social construction theory is based on assumptions gathered through various sources about the world around us. It is a theory built on the basis of historical norms and stories. Social construction theory is a debate in its own right that states that gender differences and gender inequality are rooted through assumptions, historical stories, cultures, beliefs, and teachings. It is not scientifically This theory suggests that society and its culture, traditions and norms play a huge role in defining gender roles, these gender roles are considered as the appropriate behavior for the specific gender. Gender norms are taught from birth and vary across space; Social institutions such as culture, religion, politics, mass media, and education contribute to formulating this perceived behavior. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay This approach is further elaborated in an article, “Introduction to Beyond the Natural Body” by Nelly Oudshoorn. “For thousands of years, the “single-sex model” dominated biomedical discourse, to the point that medical tests lacked anatomical nomenclature specific to women.” This quote focuses on the idea of ​​gender equality and the similarities between both genders. The only factor that sets them apart is the direction of their reproductive organs. The female body was considered similar to the male body and it was assumed that their organs functioned in the same way. This misconception was that female organs were described by the name of male organs; for example, the ovary was considered the female testicle. Terms like vagina, ovary, and clitoris were not used in that time period. The structure of the female body was conceived as an inferior model of the male body and lacked its own separate identity as a completely different gender. This demonstrates the backwardness in scientific methods and understanding of the human body. “Man is the measure of all things, and woman does not exist as an ontologically distinct category.” In ancient times women were not considered as competitive as men, their sex was not assigned a separate status and identity. Men were conceived as the perfect image of God's creation and the condition of women was analyzed and represented in comparison to that of men. This notion was a result of the patriarchal thinking that existed at that time. “By the end of the 19th century, medical scientists had extended sexualization to every imaginable part of the body: bones, blood vessels, hair cells, and the brain.” “Only the eye seems to have no sex.” From this period onwards medical scientists began to focus on the differences between the two sexes and contradicted the previous notion. Women's bodies were distinguished on the basis of their organs and functions not being identical to those of men. The role of their reproductive organs has given them a distinct identity. This change in the history of medicine changed the overall status of women in society by giving them an identity; although they were still considered inferior as this idea started the revolution for gender equality that is still present in today's society. To this day, biological determination is still a topic that separates differences in gender, social status and race. They are assumed as "the inevitable outcome of nature and biology". The same concept was described in the article "Snow Brown and the Seven Detergents" by Banu Subramaniam. This article describes a girl's efforts to fit into society's mold. In the process of self-transformation, 2000), 296-304