Views on Social Construction Theory - Essay Sample

Introduction

In Dueling Dualisms, Fausto Sterling describes social construction theory as the way the society tries to define human identities based on observable characteristics rather than real natural distinctions. In the article, the author demonstrates that biologists and other scholars create sex and gender and that they complicate moral, social, and political debates about human economies and cultures (Fausto-Sterling 136). The society through the influence of biologists, categorizes humans sexuality as either male or female, based on bodily features such as muscle strength and presence of breasts or testes. However, Sterling faults this approach to sexuality for discriminating intersex people who do not precisely fall under any of the two categories created by the society (Fausto-Sterling 141). She states that since most human traits are continuous rather than dualistic, there is a need to examine natural characteristics such as DNA instead of relying on the age-long dualisms existing in the society.

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In the article, Excerpts from Feminism Is for Everybody; Bell Hooks provides a great example illustrating the social construction approach with respect feminism. She explains that from her encounters as a feminist theorist, and author, she has noted that many people are never ready to open up as seek the truth regarding what feminism entails but strongly hold misinformed beliefs about the movement. Some of the common beliefs are that feminism is evil, all feminists are bad, they hate men, they disapprove the creator's will, and want to go against nature. Hooks adds that many of the people she meets even believe that all feminists are lesbians and that they are all out to make life difficult for men by taking all opportunities in the society (Hooks 16). She further notes that the people themselves acknowledge that they never read feminists publications nor listen to feminist talks, and most of them don't even know any feminism activist at a personal level. As such, they obtain all their knowledge about feminism thirdhand.

The example illustrates that gender differences are socially constructed and not "natural. It shows that most people embrace popular claims about gender inequalities more readily than what can be seen in the life of the gender feminists. That is why many people deny that Hooks is a feminist advocate after observing that her nature and behavior disapprove their expectations of her. In the example, it is clear that these people have not gotten close enough to the feminist movement to realize that it is about equal rights. But, Hooks adds that after interacting with her, many of these people admit that she does not fit their idea of a radical feminist, but hardly change their views about feminists in general (Hooks 17).

Nevertheless, I think social construction theory is a useful approach in examining gender differences and inequalities because it explains the social and biological distinctions in a way simple enough for anyone to understand. Unlike, alternative ways to examine the reality of gender and sexuality, it does not require expert knowledge. Also, given that it takes into account the long-standing social, cultural, and economic perspectives, it does not challenge, but rather affirms the powerful stories of different societies about gender.

My own experience supports the social construction theory because everywhere I have been, I have observed that there are specific expectations that people have of male and female genders. For example, in our high school, ladies loved to associate with tall, masculine men with well-built bodies, who were considered to be having the ideal physiques. Similarly, tall, slender girls had many male associates because they were considered to have the ideal looks for a woman. Besides, I remember that during pageantry, the judges looked for the same features in the participants. Additionally, women are believed to be weaker beings than men, and thus, should submit to them. This might be the reason even the United States, which is one of the most respected democracies demonstrated its lack of readiness for a woman president in the last elections. Also until just a few years ago, minority sexualities such as transgender, lesbians, intersex and gays faced discrimination in accessing social services in the US for similar reasons.

The other examples that come to the mind when one thinks about social construction theory are racial inequality and religious profiling. In multiracial societies like the United States and most parts of Europe, racial inequality is a problem rooted in beliefs that many societies have passed over the generations through the centuries. For instance, although they can never show it openly, some whites still believe that they are superior to other races, which originally came into the country as slaves and farm workers. At the same time, blacks and other minority people always anticipate racial profiling in their interaction with the whites. Although the constitution enshrines equal rights for all, there is always uneasy suspicion based on echoes of the past differences. Similarly, in many countries where Christianity is the dominant religion, Muslims face discrimination because they are generally associated with terrorism and jihadist activities.

Works Cited

Fausto-Sterling, Anne. "Dueling Dualisms." Sexing the Body: Gender Politics and the Construction of Sexuality, Basic Books, 2008.

Hooks, Bell. "Feminism is for Everybody." Pluto Press, 21 Sept. 2017, www.plutobooks.com/blog/feminism-is-for-everybody-bell-hooks/.