Guzman1

Juan, Guzman
Professor Beadle
English 115
October 2, 2016
Construction of Gender
It is well known that men are masculine, aggressive, strong, and do not show their
sensitivity because they are not supposed to be vulnerable to the emotions that are expressed to
them. On the other hand, women are always seen as more fragile, petite, weak and are constantly
criticized if they are not emotional or choose not to show sensitivity. These are the kinds of
stereotypes society has assigned us at birth. You are allowed to be only one of two things:
masculine or feminine. Society expects us to fit into a certain gender role. We are identified by
our clothing, body language, and personal items such as toys and belongings. You have no say in
what you want to be and whether the world sees who you truly are. Thus, making us not
responsible for who we really want to be in this social group we live in today. In which making
society, ultimately, have the final choice in determining whether you are male or female and if
you go against what is said, you are considered an outcast of the population.
Gender is also shaped through our choices in clothing and how we use apparel to
represent our genders. This isnt just shown in adults, but also enforced in all of our children. It is
common for us to justify whether babies are boys or girls just by looking at their outfits. Even at
a young age, baby boys and girls use different diapers to distinguish what they are as far as
gender. In the article From Women, Men, and Society by Claire Renzetti and Daniel Curran,
they mention that Girls diapers often have pink flowers on them; boys diapers are embellished

Guzman2

with sailboats or cars and trucks (Renzetti & Curran 77). Ive noticed that even during infancy it
is already common to differentiate boys and girls. Renzetti and Curran also bring up what boys
and girls wear. They pointed out how Boys are typically dressed in dark or primary colors, such
as red and blue. They wear overalls that are often decorated with sports, military, trucks and
heroes (Renzetti & Curran 77) and Girls dress in pastels, especially pink and yellow. Their
dresses and slacks sets are decorated with ruffles, bows, flowers and hearts (Renzetti & Curran
77).The authors explain that clothing usually provides a reliable clue for sex labeling. This
matters because it proves that society is responsible for shaping what gender we are. Justifying
that in the early years, boys and girls should already be exposed to the proper gender in which
society has constructed for them. In infant years, their brains are basically a sponge that soak up
every little thing they see or hear, they follow interactions based on what they witness. That can
make a difference in the gender they see themselves as in the upcoming years. The way we
approach one another with physical interactions and perception of others can determine whether
we are masculine or feminine.
Gestures and appearances are a big factor when judging whether an individual has a
masculine tone or feminine one. Women tend to have a great deal of differences when it comes to
speech and body postures compared to men. Making them get criticized by males and even their
own gender type because of what is expected out of them since they are part of that specific
group. In the article Becoming Members of Society: The Social Meanings of Gender by Aaron
Devor, he explains how women express their feminine side when it comes down to body posture
and speech. Devor states People appear feminine when they keep their arms closer to their
bodies, their legs closer together, and their torsos and heads less vertical (Devor 41). Showing
that posture signifies more than how you look, in this case determining that you are showing

Guzman3

signs of femininity just by your body appearance in ones perspective. Speech, as well, can tell a
lot, whether you have a feminine tone such as having your voice at a high frequency or
childlike (Devor 41) can quickly put you in the female category. As for men, its all about
whoever can be the most masculine. Showing that you are the toughest, most confident, and most
successful puts you under the category of being known as a masculine individual in other
peoples perspective. Devor writes that Masculine body postures tend to be expansive and
aggressive. People who hold their arms and hands in positions away from their bodies, and who
stand, sit or even lie with their legs apart show masculinity (Devor 52). This makes me think
that women who present these types of body postures get harassed by others, especially by their
own gender type because it is out of the ordinary for them to do such a thing. When they do so,
they get pointed out that what they are doing is a masculine feature, which explains again how
gender is constructed through society and what society says we have to go by or we get chastised
by them. We have been told what is right and wrong for masculine and feminine actions, but it is
coming from society itself and not allowing us to choose what gender we truly want to be and
allowing us to truly be ourselves.
Toys open peoples eyes for excitement and pleasure. Whether it being adults or boys and
girls they make everyone happy. In doing so it can also justify the gender of the individual that is
playing with the toys. In No Way My Boys Are Going to Be Like That: Parents Response to
Childrens Gender Nonconformity by Emily W. Kane can clarify more about gender
construction with toys. Kane proved that some parents wouldnt let their child play with a toy
that belongs to the opposite sex because it my change the gender perspective of the child. One
parent says Theres not many toys I wouldnt get him, except Barbies, I would try not to
encourage that (Kane 93). By putting filters on what they can and can not use makes not only

Guzman4

society guilty for constructing the proper gender but, the parents as well. They followed the
gender norms and want their children to follow in the same path as they did. This proves that not
only society encourages the separation of gender norms, but parents of their own child as well,
they do so because they do not want to feel ashamed or embarrassed because of what
expectations society has set for even their own children.
In my life I can say I have a supportive family that works with whatever gender I like to
acquire. They allowed me to play with both Barbies and action figures when I was younger,
separating me from the other individuals that didnt have the same opportunity as I did. Noticing
that even though I played with Barbies and even painted my sisters finger nails it did not change
how my parents viewed me. When I grew up and started to notice what was right and wrong my
dad was a little worried whether I would turn to the opposite gender and he started to see it as a
disappointment on his role as a masculine father, but I eventually started to do more masculine
activities because I would see my friends do things that were viewed as more appropriate for
my gender. You can say society had a big part in making me notice what was the right path to
follow for my gender. Helping me construct it and becoming masculine it made me realize why
my dad would act the way he would if I did not act like a man in the world we live in today
because of what other people might say to me and more importantly how he failed as a father in
raising a boy properly.
Gender construction is overall made up by society forcing men to be aggressive and
women to be submissive. Some do not get the chance to be who they want to be without society
telling them what is right from what is wrong. Gradually time has taken its course and slowly but
surely society is starting to except how you want to be identified as. Whether it is being

Guzman5

masculine, feminine, or even being a neutral gender it is starting to become acceptable in todays
society.

Guzman6

Work Cited
Devor, Aaron. Becoming Members of Society: The Social Meanings of Gender. Composing
Gender, edited by Rachael Groner and John F. OHara, 5Th Edition, Bedford/St. Martins,
2014, pg. 35-43.
Kane W. Emily. No Way My Boys Are Going to Be Like That: Parents Responses to
Childrens Gender Nonconformity. Composing Gender, edited by Rachael Groner and
John F. OHara, 5Th Edition, Bedford/ St. Martins, 2014, pg. 91-97.
Renzetti, Claire and Curran, Daniel. From Women, Men and Society. Composing Gender,
edited by Rachael Groner and John F. OHara, 5th Edition, Bedford/St. Martins, 2014,
pg.76-86.