Reading I NEED HELP ON MY HOMEWORK

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Step 2 – Conceptual Framework

Peiqi Fang

Nov. 14th 2024

FEMST 20

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Concept 1: Social Construction of Gender/Sex

The social construction of gender/sex refers to how certain things that we normally

consider to be true about gender and sexual identity are, in reality, constructed through social

norms, expectations, and roles. Rather than viewing gender as an innate or biological fact, the

concept of gender in this context is seen to develop through social interactions and is cultivated

by cultural beliefs and institutions (Ezebuilo, 2023). This idea supports the notion of gender roles

and expectations as social constructs created to fit people into a hierarchical and often restrictive

framework that defines what is acceptable for men and women. These roles contribute to the

overall structure where men may have power over women, thus fostering environments where

gender-based violence normalizes or gets overlooked.

Applying this concept to VAWA addresses deeply held cultural assumptions that

facilitate violence against women. VAWA addresses some of the immediate repercussions of

socially created gender standards by supporting crisis services and legal aid. It does not address

the underlying norms that perpetuate gender-based violence (Hanson, 2023). VAWA was

founded on women needing legal protection, tacitly acknowledging social-gender disparity.

Despite VAWA, gender-based violence shows how society still views women as weak and

subordinate to males. VAWA should expand to include educational programs that deconstruct

detrimental gender/sex stereotypes by increasing awareness of their social formation.

Concept 2: Intersectionality

Intersectionality examines how race, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic

background interact to generate distinct knowledge of oppression or privilege. It assumes that

identity categories do not stand alone but rather interlink, signifying that individuals experience

discrimination and privilege in layered ways. Such techniques recognize that women from

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different origins face distinct obstacles, and gender-based violence is understood not just through

"womanhood" but via race, class, and sexuality (Wyatt et al., 2022).

Progressive expansions of VAWA that protect LGBTQ+ people, Native American

women, and immigrant communities against gender-based violence show a knowledge of

intersectionality. This is essential since gender-based violence varies by group, Native American

women are disproportionately targeted, and tribal grounds provide specific jurisdictional issues.

VAWA knows that a one-size-fits-all strategy for gender-based violence is ineffective because of

intersectionality (Hanson, 2023). However, intersectional feminist critiques of VAWA argue that

the act has room to deepen its intersectional commitments by addressing how other systemic

factors, such as economic inequity and racial biases in the justice system, exacerbate these

issues. The concept may require extensive minority community support and tailored approaches.

Why These Concepts Are Important to Consider

Social construction and intersectionality reveal why addressing survivors' legal and

immediate needs is insufficient to generate enduring change in VAWA. The social construction

of gender/sex puts forth the definition that unless something is done to alter the cultural norms

perpetuating violence, society continues to create environments where women remain in such a

position to be victimized. Intersectionality, in turn, ensures that policies like VAWA do not

cover just one monolithic idea of "women" but actually reach and respond to the unique

struggles of all different types of women.

Incorporating these concepts reveals VAWA's limitations in challenging deep-rooted

societal norms while appreciating its inclusivity strides. VAWA's laws aggressively engage

marginalized voices, demonstrating feminist policy praxis. However, genuinely feminist policies

change cultural gender perceptions and expand intersectional safeguards. Future VAWAs could

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use compulsory education programs in schools and workplaces to challenge and reframe gender

notions and expand response tools to combat injustice.

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References

Ezebuilo, H. C. (2023). Is gender a social construct? A philosophical appraisal. Preorc Journal

of Gender and Sexuality Studies, 1(0).

https://www.journals.ezenwaohaetorc.org/index.php/PREORCGESS/article/view/1437

Hanson, E. J. (2023). The 2022 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization.

https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R47570/2

Wyatt, T. R., Johnson, M., & Zaidi, Z. (2022). Intersectionality: a means for centering power and

oppression in research. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 27(3).

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-022-10110-0