SOCI2410 - Styling Gender part 2
Overview of Course Content
Course Title: Sociology of Gender (SOCI2410)
Semester: Winter 2026
Session Date: Small group discussions began Wednesday, March 11.
Content of the Course
Key Materials:
Article by Barber on hairstyling and gender.
Clip from "Big Feminine Energy" (CBC, 2025).
Barber's Article Highlights
Experiences of Men at Shear Style:
A focus on what men derived from their interactions with hairstylists.
Concepts from Barber
Service Work:
Defined as tasks (e.g., hairstyling, nursing) framed within a gendered context.
Often entails emotional labour:
Description: Managing and displaying specific emotions to fulfill workplace expectations.
Citation: Barber (276).
Habitus:
Origin: A term coined by Pierre Bourdieu.
Definition: Refers to the social origins of personal preferences; incorporates ingrained habits and dispositions shaped through socialization.
Citation: Bourdieu (272).
Gender as Communication
Conceptualization of gender:
Gender functions as an embodied form of social communication.
It enables individuals to derive meaning through the various references cited repeatedly.
Impact of repetition:
Long-term transformation: Changes what is perceived as typical or understandable.
Function of parody and critique of societal norms.
Performativity
Key Note:
It is essential to keep the concept of performativity in mind while engaging with discussions about gender.
Group Discussion Topics (Next Class)
Discussion Questions:
Identification of ‘hyperfeminine’ styles or norms presented in the clip.
Examination of how hyperfemininity is enacted across different demographics (class, race, political orientation).
Analysis of the significance of genuineness versus parodic intention in the citation concerning hyperfemininity.
Upcoming Assignments
Next Class Date: Monday, March 16.
Required Reading: Chapter from "Still Straight" by Tony Silva.