Research Focus and Observation Day Selection
I decided to conduct my participation observation on August 18, 2023, to explore how gender is manifested in everyday life. I specifically chose to conduct my observation study on this day because I had free time that could allow me to immerse myself in various interactions and settings. Throughout this study, I observed the guidelines provided in the instructions for this assignment by not engaging in anything illegal or situations that jeopardized my safety. Instead, I remained particularly attentive to how the individuals I interacted with engaged in gender-related behavior and how their behavior was impacted by institutions and social context.
Reflections on Gender Awareness During Observation
Paying attention to gender and gender-related activities throughout the research was eye-opening. I all of a sudden became acutely aware of how gender influences even the most mundane activities. In addition, my gender identity was brought to the forefront as I reflected on how I present myself and how others perceive me. This focus and awareness of gender allowed me to reflect on the complex interplay between social norms, institutional structures, and personal identity.
Sociological Analysis of Gender: Four Core Concepts
Doing Gender
The debate on gender and sex has engulfed the public’s imagination in Western countries for the better part of this century. At the center of this debate is the question of whether gender is an inherent characteristic of an acquired behavior (Comas-d’Argemir and Soronellas 320). Some people view gender as a form of stratification, while others regard it as a natural characteristic. Consequently, due to the interest of the public, sociologists such as West and Zimmerman have developed their theories on the concept of gender, most notably their concept titled ‘doing gender’ (Bragg et al. 101).
West and Zimmerman posit in their definition of the concept of ‘doing gender’ that gender is not an inherent characteristic but a set of actions and behaviors individuals engage in to conform to societal norms and express their identity (Bragg et al.111). Doing gender generally means people are not born with an assigned gender identity. Rather, they learn their gender identity and role as a result of socialization. This assertion by the duo was evident in my observation throughout the day. For example, from the coffee shop to the workplace, individuals unconsciously performed their genders through subtle things such as clothing choices, posture, and communication style.
In particular, I observed a man sitting with his legs spread while the woman next to him, despite wearing a pair of jeans, was seated with her legs crossed. This behavior was an example of how people adopt postures that conform to the societal expectations of masculine or feminine behavior. Further, my observation at the park gave me insights into how parents unconsciously socialize their children into performing gendered roles.
Specifically, by sociating certain toys, such as trucks with strength, and encouraging their sons to play with them, parents implicitly reinforce the idea that certain activities and behaviors are linked to the child’s assigned gender. This phenomenon is an illustration of how individuals not only perform gendered roles but also impart gender norms to generations through interactions and socialization.
Gender as a Process of Social Construction
Like other behaviors born out of socialization and interaction, gender is a social construct. This concept of gender being a social construct implies that society actively creates and reinforces gender expectations, norms, and roles (Rossi 1130). In essence, gender as a social construct means that it is a creation of an individual in a community based on subjective factors.
My observation confirmed this assumption as I witnessed how people conformed to appearance standards and clothes that aligned with traditional gender norms. For example, at the toy store, the various items available for sale were separated based on perceived gender norms. This practice reinforces the societal construction of appropriate play and interest. Specifically, the presence of action figures in the ‘boy section’ perpetuated the notion that certain behaviors are confined to boys.
The workplace dynamics further enhance the assertion that gender is a social construct. In particular, during my observation, I witnessed male colleagues interrupt their female counterparts. These interruptions the deeply ingrained gender-based power dynamics where men’s voice is given more weight compared to women’s. In addition, the unequal speaking opportunities allowed me to appreciate how society’s construction of gender affects opportunities and interactions within institutional settings.
Gender as a System of Social Stratification
The categorization of people based on factors such as wealth and others has existed for as long as humans could assign value to something. Consequently, stratification is characterized by the artificial categorization of people and inequality. Stratification is the classification of people based on subjective factors such as social status, ethnicity, and gender. Thus, the concept of gender as a form of social stratification underscores how gender interacts with other forms of social hierarchy to create power dynamics that favor one gender over others (Wang and Li 323).
My observations yielded specific examples of gender-based stratification. For example, in the workplace, the interruptions by male employees minimized the contributions of their female counterparts, which perpetuated a gendered hierarchy. This unequal allocation of speaking time was a clear demonstration that gender intertwines with other forms of social power, such as authority and influence.
Additionally, the separation of toys into gender-specific sections in the toy store provided insights into how consumerism reinforces gender-based inequality. By categorizing toys using this criterion, the toy store perpetuates that certain behaviors and actions are specific to a particular gender. While this may seem unharmful, it is part of the larger efforts of social stratification of opportunities and resources based on gender. The net result of this effort is the unequal treatment of people based on their physical characteristics rather than on other qualitative attributes.
Gender as an Institution Structuring Life
Gender as an institution is a concept that emphasizes gender structures in all aspects of life, including shaping individual identities and societal norms. My observation revealed how gender is institutionally embedded even in the most mundane activities of everyday practices (O’Connor 214). While conducting my observation at the coffee shop, I noted how gendered behavior is normalized in public spaces. In addition, people, without hesitation, unconsciously adhere to gendered body language and posture that is naturally influenced by societal expectations of how men and women should behave while in a public space.
Further, the interactions I witnessed at the park revealed how the institution of parenthood is a major contributor to gender norms. Knowingly or not, parents pass down these gender norms to their children, which reinforces the idea that certain activities are only appropriate for specific genders. This leads to the institution of gender norms, which are then passed on to generations, making it difficult to challenge them.
The experience of seeing firsthand how gender affects behavior allowed me to appreciate its interplay with other social factors to create gendered roles and society as I know it today. It also became clear that while a massive effort is being directed toward challenging traditional gender roles, it may never be completely undone because some practices, interactions, and institutions are deeply rooted.
Reflection: Can Gender Be Undone?
Consequently, upon the completion of the observation, I was left with the nagging question of whether gender could truly be undone. The West and Zimmerman’s concept of ‘doing gender’ holds that gender is a performance that people engage in consciously or not (Bragg et al. 111). This view was affirmed in the observation as I witnessed people effortlessly and without thought perform their gendered roles, indicating how deeply ingrained these roles are.
Despite efforts to challenge them, complete undoing remains elusive. This is in part due to the pervasive nature of gender roles in social structures. In addition, the role of gender in shaping individual identities makes its complete undoing an impossibility. Further, the mechanisms of gendered roles are deeply embedded in the cultural fabric, and the complete undoing of gender would require an overhaul of social and cultural practices, which is not possible.
The possibility of completely undoing gender roles is further complicated by the part played by parents in reinforcing gendered behavior. Patients perpetuate gender norms by directing their children to specific gender interests, a practice that they also learned from their parents. Thus, parents’ roles in shaping what is considered normal and acceptable make nonconformists to be perceived as rebels and attract social sanctions.
Finally, institutions such as workplaces, public spaces, and others such as retail stores continue to reinforce gendered behavior, complicating efforts aimed at dismantling this traditional norm. In an equal society, the categorization of people and the assignment of power based on these categories should be considered unacceptable. However, despite gender roles exhibiting similar characteristics, it is tolerated by a majority, making it virtually impossible to undo without the consent of society.
Conclusion
In conclusion, gender is a social construct that has affected interactions between people over the years and the power dynamics in such instructions. My observations confirmed some of the concepts on the topic that have come up in studies, such as gender, gender as a form of social stratification, and gender as an institution. As the concepts hold and the observation illustrates, people perform gender roles either consciously or unconsciously. In addition, they are passed down from generation to generation and represent the expected behavior. Due to these characteristics, gender roles cannot be undone despite massive efforts.
Works Cited
Bragg, Sara, et al. “‘More than boy, girl, male, female’: Exploring young people’s views on gender diversity within and beyond school contexts.” Trans Youth in Education. Routledge, 2020. 100-114.
Comas-d’Argemir, Dolors, and Montserrat Soronellas. “Men as Carers in Long-Term Caring: Doing Gender and Doing Kinship.” Journal of Family Issues, vol. 40, no. 3, 2018, pp. 315–339. Web.
O’Connor, Pat. “Why Is It So Difficult to Reduce Gender Inequality in Male-Dominated Higher Educational Organizations? A Feminist Institutional Perspective.” Interdisciplinary Science Reviews, vol. 45, no. 2, 2020, pp. 207–228. Web.
Rossi, Elisa. “The Social Construction of Gender in Medical Interactions: A Case for the Perpetuation of Stereotypes?” Health Communication, vol. 36, no. 9, 2020, pp. 1125–1135. Web.
Wang, Min, and Qiushui Li. “‘Re-Stratifying’ Women: Female Images in China’s State Media from the Perspective of Social Stratification (2011–2020).” Media, Culture & Society, 2023. Web.
Fieldnotes: August 18, 2023
- Coffee shop observation – Morning session.
- Noticed a male in a suit sitting with his legs wide open while taking up space.
- Observed a more reserved woman sitting with legs crossed and in a casual attire.
- The female and male in the café seemed aware of their posture suggesting efforts at conformity.
- Park Interaction – Midday.
- Overheard parents motivate their sons to play with toy trucks.
- Noted the absence of ‘girly’ toys nearby reinforcing the notion that certain activities are specific to a particular gender.
- Parents’ encouragement and insistence that their child play with specific toys reinforce gender roles illustrating gender preference and socialization.
- Workplace Dynamics – Afternoon
- In a meeting, I observed male colleagues continually interrupt their female counterparts.
- Female colleagues paused and deferred to their male counterparts implying the existence of gender-based power dynamics.
- The interruption was a manifestation of a lack of regard for female contribution and unequal participation.
- Toy Store Visit – Evening.
- Noted the classification of toys into boys’ and girls’ sections.
- The boy’s sections had toys with action figures and science kits while the girl’s section had kitchen and craft sets.
- This gender-based segregation reinforces traditional gender norms.
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