SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION
SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION
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Gender and other social categories such as race and nationality are socially constructed. Social construction refers to anything which is an intended or unintended product of a social practice. Social constructionism is a theory referring to a concept in which there are many things which people “know” or take to be “reality” but which are at least partially, if not completely, socially situated.
Difference is socially constructed first through our senses and then through our judgments. Then this is followed by the support of other people around us and who have certain levels of influence in our lives. While looking at social construction of gender difference, we realize that people never internalize gender roles as they grow up. Rather, they tend to respond to changes that take place in the environment they live in and the various other people they interact with. As they grow up, children learn to categorize themselves by gender early on in life. This could be viewed in how they tend to perform activities which are either masculine or feminine in nature. Whereas boys carry out their various activities by use of physical strength and other skills, girls on the other hand present themselves as objects to be viewed and admired. Many factors particularly the environment affects gender development in children. ‘Being female is not “natural” and that it appears natural only through repeated performances of gender; these performances in turn, reproduce and define the traditional categories of sex and/or gender.’ (Judith Butler). According to a large number of sociologists, gender is socially constructed in the sense that it is mostly created by society other than it being completely natural especially now that gender values vary between and within societies.
Similarly, gender differences are as a result of effects of hormones, brains or genes of the various sexes. “Sex deals with what are often biological differences, while gender is about a socially constructed role. Therefore, labels ‘women’ and ‘man’ are about both biological and social differences.” Jorgensen, Bird, Andrea & Russell (1997) Pg 23. Gender roles do influence our lives, and there are quite a lot of evidence suggesting that ‘gender roles are culturally rather then biologically produced.’ “These processes create systems of ideas and practices about gender which vary across time and space. They also create gender divisions of labor, allocating women and men to different activities and responsibilities.” Bilton, Bonnett, Jones, Lawson, Skinner, Stanworth and Webster (2002) Pg 132. Studies have equally indicated that gender roles differ considerably as a result of cultures of particular societies. Primary and secondary socialization tend to influence the behaviors of girls and boys from an early age. ‘The roles themselves are made quite clear from the start; females are weak, more emotional and do not have strong sexual desires. Whereas, males are strong less emotional and have powerful sexual desires.’ Stephen Moore (1987). Parents tend to treat girls and boys differently in ways that influence their development.
Disability categories as part of socially constructed concept are defined according to middle class development norms. Disability is socially constructed in ways that range from social conditions thereby creating illnesses, injuries and poor physical functionalities in a human body or system. The said social conditions affect people’s bodies through creation or failure to prevent diseases or injuries. Much as disability is relative to a person’s physical, social and cultural environment, much disability is created by wars, violence associated with invasions, civil wars, terrorism causing not only physical injuries but also spread of diseases and lack of basic needs. Culture too does make a greater contribution to disability. Cused by majorly cultural stereotyping of people with disabilities, the selective stigmatization of physical and mental limitations and other differences.
In conclusion, social constructs are understood to be the by-products of human choices rather than laws.
