by Michael Grantham

Created on: August 13, 2007

The concept of gender is often understood as a method by which to categorise an individual as either male or female. However this notion of identification is more related to the categorisation of males and females depending on their physical or biological sex, and is derived from more empirical science based disciplines (Jary & Jary, 2000, p.241). Fundamentally the concept of gender in today's society is an area of contest, and often refers to the divisions of power, or the social inequalities experienced by individuals as a result of their gender or biologically determined sex. The notions surrounding gender are described as being constructed through social norms, ideology, stereotypes, and historical re-enforcement. However the normative perception of gender is now often described as the foundation from which oppression, stratification, power divisions, stereotypes, gender roles, and occupational inequalities are each derived. Therefore in recognition of the issues surrounding gender, the purpose of this essay is to define the concept of gender and its affiliated concepts, and to examine the inequalities resulting from gender based ideologies with the impact this has on an individual. Furthermore, this paper also aims to analyse the importance of gender in identity and socialisation, its role within the family unit, and to examine how stereotypes and ideologies based on gender are re-enforced throughout contemporary society.

Gender exists as a complex factor in the identity of an individual, and essentially acts to decide how that individual will experience life, perceive reality, understand society and their role within it, and based on factors such as culture, ethnicity, and social norms, the gender of an individual will also determine how that individual should, and should not, act. Therefore, due to the variations in gender based expectations, the concept is suggested to be socially constructed, and primarily obtained by an individual through the process of socialisation. That is according to Jary & Jary (2000, p.568) "the process in which the culture of a society is transmitted to children: the modification from infancy of an individual's behaviour to conform to the demands of social life". Through this process the individual will obtain an understanding of the imposed expectations placed upon them corresponding to the social norms of that specific society. These expectations are often consistent with behaviours thought appropriate for either males or

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