Social Constructionism And Biological Determinism

The ideology that gender is socially constructed is a view that has been present in a number of philosophical, sociological and psychological theories. This view shares an understanding that gender is a product of enculturation through a prescribed ideal, as well as determines what is considered socially appropriate behaviour for a person of a specific gender. Society is shaped globally through social order. Each culture and society share a social order that is defined as a particular set of customs, relationships, values and practices that are maintained and enforced in society. These customs are engrained within society as individuals share a common understanding and hold shared meanings for these practices. There are multiple variables that comprise social ordering, one of them being gender. Gender is defined as a socially constructed way of being that orients individuals to masculinity and femininity. This paper will examine the differences between social constructionism and biol ogical determinism as well as provide an understanding of key sociologists preferred methods in conceptualizing gender. Throughout history, the conceptualization of gender has caused an array of discourse and controversy. Some theorists argue for the social constructionism approach, that gender is socially learned, while others share an essentialist perspective, that gender is biologically determined. The debate on the conceptualization of gender ranges over broad topics including nature vs.Show MoreRelatedThe Persuasive Account Of Race Through A Social Constructionist Lens1195 Words   |  5 PagesRace Through a Social Constructionist Lens During the late twenty-first century the academic focus recognised as the ‘critical philosophy of race’ was developed with the purpose of analysing the metaphysics of race. 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