Introduction to Gender Studies
The social status of every man or woman can be described by the term ‘gender’. These two different genders are significant in society. This is contrary to the traditional meaning of genders that were just either male or female.
Generally, gender refers to the socially constructed characteristics of women, men, girls and boys (World Health Organization: WHO). It includes norms, behaviors and roles associated with being a woman, man, girl or boy as well as relations between them. Gender is a social construct that varies across societies and over time – hence the great disparity between what we understand as different meanings of gender.
Gender inequality is when people are not treated equally due to their sex. This treatment may be caused by gender discrimination or sexism where one treats the other unequally just because he/she belongs to a certain sex. The difference might come from biology differences between males and females which leads to psychological dissimilarities among boys and girls but it could also result from cultural norms within any given community.
Accordingly, the development of gender studies was driven by an increasing awareness about how various aspects of human lives are influenced by gender. Gender studies has its roots in feminism movement during 1960s up to early 1970s which aimed at challenging established ideas concerning femininity masculinity as well other related issues such unequal pay for equal work; sexual harassment against women etcetera. Gender therefore should not only be conceived socially but also politically since power relations affect individuals based on their identification with specific genders (WHO). So, understanding both these meanings will help us broaden our knowledge about this concept called ‘gender’.
Over the years, perspectives on gender roles have changed a lot. In early discussions in gender studies, people were mainly interested in unveiling and criticizing oppressive structures that forced them into fixed positions according to their sex. However, this discipline has grown; now it acknowledges that genders can be diverse and changeable – even rejecting binary systems altogether.
Intersectionality recognizes that gender is just one part of a person’s identity among many others like race or class or sexuality etc., which all intersect with each other too! From this new viewpoint came revised definitions for what counts as masculine and feminine behavior (or any other kind). Instead we should respect everyone’s right to live their own truth about themselves.