In this chapter, “Socialization and Gender Roles”, the author discusses the importance of gender in relation to various family structures. The chapter begins by designating the differences between sex, gender, gender identity, and gender roles. The Nature vs. Nurture debate is touched upon and is related to the concept of gender. Different theories are expressed for the explanation of gender roles including, Sociobiology, Social Learning Theory, Cognitive Development Theory, Symbolic Interaction Theory, and Feminist Theories.
I was extremely displeased with the section on Feminist Theories. This book describes ideas behind feminism incorrectly, and as a result of this, provides a false depiction of feminists to those who don’t know otherwise. The book accuses feminist perspectives of being “too narrow”. However, a huge part of current-wave feminism focuses on intersectionality, which incorporates race, class, sexual-orientation, religion, age, etc. into arguments that were previously solely about gender. Privileges are understood and talked about openly.
My question that I would pose to the class is this: Prior to reading this textbook’s interpretation of Feminist Theories on gender, what were your ideas about feminism? What did you think feminism stood for? Have these ideas changed after reading this book’s interpretation? How?
Katie Marcinko
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