Social Construction, Gender, Race, and Identity in Sociology

Social Construction

The process by which society collectively creates and maintains shared meanings, ideas, and practices. Example: The idea of 'money' has value because people agree it does, not because of the paper itself.

Status

A recognized social position that a person occupies in society. Types: Ascribed status: Given at birth (e.g., race, gender); Achieved status: Earned through effort (e.g., doctor, athlete). Example: Being a student or a parent.

Role

The expected behaviors associated with a particular status. Example: A teacher's role includes grading, lecturing, and guiding students.

Role Conflict

When expectations of two roles clash (e.g., student vs. employee).

Norms

Social rules or expectations that guide behavior. Types: Folkways: Everyday customs (e.g., saying 'thank you'); Mores: Strongly held norms with moral significance (e.g., don't cheat). Example: Standing in line instead of cutting.

The Presentation of Self (Goffman)

How people perform and control the impression they give to others. Example: Acting polite in class but relaxed with friends.

Symbolic Interactionism

A perspective focusing on how individuals interact through shared symbols and meanings. Example: A wedding ring symbolizes love and commitment.

Social Construction of Reality

The process by which people shape and are shaped by shared understandings of the world. Example: The concept of 'childhood' varies across cultures.

Sex

Biological traits (male, female, intersex).

Gender

Social and cultural meanings attached to being masculine or feminine.

Hegemonic Masculinity

Social construct of and ideal man (young children do this too) (something we learn naturally).

Socialization

The lifelong process of learning cultural norms, values, and behaviors.

Gender Socialization

Learning what behavior is appropriate for one's gender. Example: Boys being told not to cry; girls encouraged to be nurturing.

Gender Scripts

Expected patterns of behavior for men and women. Example: Men are expected to be assertive; women to be caring.

Gender Binary

The classification of gender into two distinct and opposite categories—male or female. Criticism: Excludes non-binary and gender-fluid identities.

Gendered Norms and Deviance

Norms dictate acceptable gender behavior; breaking them is seen as deviant. Example: A man wearing makeup may be viewed as violating gender norms.

Emphasized Femininity

The idealized form of femininity (e.g., nurturing, attractive, compliant).

Social Institutions

Organized patterns of beliefs and behavior that meet social needs (e.g., family, religion, education, economy, government). Example: The education system teaches skills and transmits culture.

No Biological Basis to Race

No gene determines what 'race' someone belongs to. Penguins and fruit flies have more genetic variation than humans across races. Race is not biological—it's a social construct.

Race as a Social Construct

Race exists socially and structurally, not genetically. Race signifies and symbolizes social conflicts and interests based on chosen human traits. Traits like skin color or hair texture are socially selected, not naturally defined.

Race

A group of people perceived to share physical traits and ancestry.

Racialization

The process of assigning racial identities and meanings to groups.

Racism

The belief that races possess unequal traits + the power to restrict opportunities.

Omi and Winant's Racial Formation Theory

Race signifies and symbolizes social conflicts using human bodies. Physical traits used to define race are socially and historically constructed. Racial categories are unstable and arbitrary.

Historical Roots of Race

17th century: Social divisions based on labor/class (slave vs. free). 18th century: Race emerges to justify slavery and inequality. Whiteness subdivided into Anglo-Saxon, Slavic, Mediterranean, Hebrew 'races.' U.S. citizenship limited to 'free White persons.'

Concept of Whiteness

Emerged in 18th century, reinforced by early American science and law. Flexible definition allowed exclusion of non-Whites. Whiteness normalized: White culture seen as the default. Nell Irvin Painter: 'White people rarely have to think about being white.'

Key Takeaway on Race

Race is not biological, but it's socially and structurally real—still a foundation of social power and inequality.

Consequences of Hegemonic Masculinity

Gender based violence.

Sexual Violence Reporting

1-3 teen girls report experiencing sexual violence.

Childhood Representation

Childhood was not segregated and sanitized (showing the good part only).

Erving Goffman

How you appear in your role; the presentation of self.