Gender Issues Related To SocialEssay -conflict Approach

Theory Essay - 1,434 words

Gender Issues Related To Social-Conflict Approach Theory by [Students name] Sociology 1 Prof. Charles Levy June 03, 2008
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Dogpile Introduction Understanding gender issues from a sociological perspective is very important. In the modern world, gender
issues and gender roles are in so-called state of transition. It seems that the days when female and male spheres were clearly
defined and separate, are gone. The modern sociology and modern philosophy introduce new perspectives allowing young people to
grow up, seeing females in powerful social positions and roles that previous generations had little or no chance to get. However,
despite such great social changes in female and male roles, some people still have traditional role expectations and traditional
attitudes. The present paper undertakes an effort to examine gender issues in relation to social-conflict approach theory, through
which it will make exploration of both sides of these controversial issues, fostering critical thinking on gender and find out how men
historically have been considered more dominant than women in general. Before we proceed, it is important to define and explain the
basic concepts that will be used throughout the paper, namely, the social-conflict approach theory, gender issues, and gender.

From the perspective of Social-Conflict Approach Theory sociologists can examine how such important factors and aspects like
gender, race, ethnicity, age, and class are related to unequal distribution of power, money, education, and social prestige. Karl Marx,
W. E. B. Du Bois, Harriet Martineau, and Jane Addams made the most important contribution into the development of the theory
(Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson).

This theory developed mainly due to critique of the Structural-functional approach, according to which the society was treated as
stable structure, which ignored the inequalities of the gender, race, social class, and ethnicity, generating conflicts and tension. The
Social-Conflict Approach Theory, in its turn, treats society as "an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change." (Macionis
2005) In such a way, The Social-Conflict Approach Theory places high emphasis on conflict and inequality. This theory is widely used
to analyze the relationships and the nature of the ongoing conflicts between disadvantaged and dominant categories of people, such
as employees and employers, rich and poor, and men and women. It should be also mentioned that gender-conflict approach is,
obviously, the most important category of this conflict analysis, because it places a high emphasis on conflicts and inequality between
men and women. To a certain extent this approach is related to feminism, as far as feminist positions itself as the advocacy of social
equality for men and women. Now, after the explanation of the Social-Conflict Approach Theory it is important to define gender and
gender issues. Gender is not simply a category to which a person is assigned on the basis of his or her sex. Gender is related to a
persons sexual identity, especially when related to culture and/ or society.

Gender is related to social relations and social roles between men and women, including different responsibilities of men and women
in a given location or a given country. In contrast to sex of women and men, which is determined at a biological basis, gender roles
are socially constructed. Therefore, gender roles are subject to change with the lapse of time and can even vary significantly in
accordance with the social context and/ or geographic location (Sibyl Nelson). Biologically, men and women have many differences at
genetic level (for example, X and Y chromosomes). However, although these differences are obvious, there are other differences
that mostly result from traditional feminine-masculine and male-female characteristics. These differences are primarily based on
gender roles, and due to these differences men historically have been considered more dominant that women in general. The subject
at issue, namely, gender issues related to Social-Conflict Approach Theory, is very important because understanding why men
historically have been considered more dominant that women may help not only understand society and gender issues, but also may
help reduce social inequality.

The very establishment of male dominance over women is a continuous historic process what was formed both by men and women,
where the patriarchal family played the role of a basic unit of organization. Males were historically dominant in many aspects of life
(Gender political consequences 2004). Traditionally men enjoyed higher status and central roles. Men were the leaders of the
household, while women were responsible for cooking and education of their children. In hunter-gatherer societies the males had
more responsibility and their sureness of their dominant role (also sex role)
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