Gender Construction

When people think of gender, it is usually about whether someone is male or female. However, in reality it is not as easy to discern between the two. In class we learned that gender is socially constructed along with race. In other words, the media tells society what it means, “to be a man” and what it means, “to be a woman.” Biologically, it is easy to differentiate from a man and women. In society, gender is imposed differently in different places, and what it means to be a man or women continually changes from time to time because people believe and interpret situations differently.

First, the old way of masculinity was a basic male gender role that had to be fulfilled and most people went along with it, while others were not happy. Now, they’re multiple masculinities. There are now competing ways of “being a man” in society. Thus, there is a hierarchy of masculinity, also known as hegemonic masculinity. The top is the dominant male who has the power and support. Yet even in the hegemonic masculinity, access to the ideal is racialized. Therefore, what a man can and cannot do depends on their race. Also, gender is not based on what you are, but by what you do. The media plays a vital part in translating these masculinities; for example, the media tells that black people walk like thugs. Lastly, gender is relevant to terrorism today because factors of masculinity and gender shame are reasons that predicted terrorists. In terrorists eyes it is reason for mass murder.

Television is a medium where many gender roles are displayed and embedded into the minds of audiences. When one watches a television show, for instance an action drama, the male is shown to be strong, aggressive, and independent. On the other hand, women are more likely to be seen graceful, elegant, and submissive. Yes, there are exceptions to this, but for the most part males are the dominant gender. In terms of different male races, there are many discrepancies.

Ethnic minorities did not reappear on television in the 1960’s, yet not all were equally portrayed. As minorities were given more roles, these roles were, for the most, on the lower end of masculinity. They were given minor or insignificant roles and they were also very stereotypical. The main problem, aside from under representing minorities, was that media chose to conceive the television world as middle to upper class prosperity. In other words, in relation to the majority of US population, programs depicted people in affluent situations. In addition, the media refused to deal with class and gender inequalities and the racial character of those inequalities. Consequently, by continuing to view these perspectives, it creates false impression of the real world outside of the television world. In the end, gender-role stereotypes will be kept.

Gender is not just biological, but a social construction. Masculinity has been socially constructed to form multiple forms of masculinity. Through the media, specifically the television, gender roles appear and become ingrained into society. All in all, American society is reaching a point where there is no fine line between what it means to “be a man or woman.”