Understanding the difference between biological determinism and social constructionism:
Gender differs in culture and personal circumstances, they shape the way men and women behave according to society’s norms and values, stereotypes bound to them.
Freud and parson theorized the biological determination of humans based on certain DNA, proteins, chromosomes, hereditary genes, etc. The BRUCE REIMER CASE ruled that social factors do not always override biological factors in determining gender.
Social constructionism means how gender roles are created by us in everyday lives. Margaret mead shows a distinction between men and women based on three societies:
- Both are cooperative
- Women were dominant, men were obedient
- Both were aggressive and ruthless.
Masculine and feminine roles are learnt and shaped in cultural socialization and not inborn; biological specific. Many factors such as education, social norms and values, images identification and traditions influence our thoughts.
Concept of women and men are subject to change over time. The society in which we live is more anatomy rather than destiny, the roles segregated for males and females in past are started to get fade. Society and culture can no doubt shape the beliefs and standards for a certain society however we can not ignore our fundamental biological nature.
Strong social constructionism tends to suggest that the natural world has a small role in the construction of scientific knowledge.
Patriarchy refers to a society dominated by men i.e. society, state and economy are characterised by systematic, institutionalised and pervasive gender oppression. The term means rule by the father, which means that the patriarchal society is based upon male domination.
Women lack knowledge of their history of struggle and achievement has been one of the major means of keeping them subordinate. The denial to women of their history has reinforced their acceptance of the ideology of patriarchy and has undermined the individual women’s sense of self-worth.
There is a need to adopt political ideas which have proved helpful to strengthen the position of women in society.
