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The concept of gender identity is still one area that is still largely being explored mainly due to its vastness. Being an important element in society, it has been discussed and many have tried to explain it the best they can. The publications by Holly Devor offer beneficial insights into this subject. As a professor in sociology, she stands qualified to point some of the issues or items required to understanding the concept of gender in society. She proposes that despite anatomical features being largely responsible for defining sex or gender of individual’s society seems to play a more important role in this subject. To back up her suggestions she gives information demonstrating the role of society in shaping gender roles as well how these roles are perceived and taken up by individuals.

In her publication, she begins by giving the pillars of gender in society and one information that controls the subject of gender as she points is that of being binary. Under this principle, she introduces two major concepts in the discussions of sex and gender, which are masculinity and femininity (Dover, 2001). Under these two classification individuals in society are highly expected to identify themselves with either one or the other category. This process begins at an early age and though biological and more specifically anatomical features should control it there is an overwhelming societal influence that dictates how an individual perceives masculinity or femininity. She goes on to back up these suggestions by analyzing how children develop and settle in to their specific gender categories.

According to Devor, “children start identifying their identities between the ages of eighteen months and two years” (Dover, 2001). Such a step is facilitated by several factors and most revolve around the concept of acquired behavior, which is socially driven. Here boys start to identify themselves as boys according to external expectations and orientations as well as internal perception, the very same applies for girls (Dover, 2001). When both the external forces, which are based on society and culture norms and expectations match with the internal forces of self-perception then individuals eventually identify themselves as either female or male. The study she pointed proves this as children who were asked to identify the gender identities of dolls focused more on the features, which are the social standards for gender such as long hair, dresses among others. However, there is a considerable change in this fact in today’s society mainly because such features have largely diminished in terms of their ability to be used as standards for identifying gender identities. For example, it is common to find men with long hair or wearing attire, which is mostly associated with women due to changes in fashion, preference among other factors. Therefore, this one area of her study that needs to evolve as currently there seems to be a shift in how individuals identify with this issue.

Nevertheless, her approach to defining masculinity and femininity seem to be authentic and credible based on the real facts governing these tow concepts. The role of power in shaping these two genders has been very significant and hence helps individuals understand better this subject. For example, as Devor points power has a role on how society shapes or identifies the traditional roles that the two different genders are expected to fulfill (Dover, 2001). Under this, one identifies these genders from a hierarchical perspective where masculinity is above femininity in a traditional sense. Therefore, “aggressiveness and dominance” are strong characteristics of the male figure and when such features are identified in a female, she is met with mixed reactions. This is mainly due to the expectations set for the female gender by society. Where women are supposed to take up a passive and weaker role as compared to their male counterparts and this has been the traditional approach to the subject of masculinity and femininity.

A response to this issue is necessary mainly because due to social developments, the traditional approach to defining masculinity and femininity has had some slight changes especially in today’s society. As Dover points out some of the features are shared and necessary for gender, for example women need some of these male characteristics to carry out their roles (Dover, 2001). A practical example here is where women need strength, resilience among other features to bear and raise children. Therefore going by this analogy there is a need for a duality of features of both genders for individuals to fully function in the society. Another way to analyze this point is by looking at the traditional male figure in a relationship with the female counter-part. Though the initial expectations of society are for the man to be distant, non-emotional among other characteristics, such features would eventually lead to an unsuccessful relationship between the two. Hence, society is slowly being shaped and both men and women have abandoned their societal expectations.

To demonstrate the above the current speech, body movements, and dressing patterns among other features of both genders should analyzed in today’s context. Currently these the gap between these two patterns are slowly diminishing and for various reasons. For example, with a rise in gender equality and education levels in today’s population more and more women seem to have already acquired some of the traditional roles set aside for the male figures. For example, today’s female figure is aggressive, strong and possesses other “manly attributes.” Therefore, their seems to be gradual change in how gender is perceived in society and some of the set standards in society are slowly being scrapped away and in their place new standards of defining gender identity. Society as well as culture have major roles to play when understanding these issues therefore to better understand the changes in the area of gender identity one must look at the evolution that society and culture has undergone.

From a personal perspective the cultural background and social influence I was exposed which embodied the traditional approach to gender identity has greatly shaped me as an individual. Under this approach, women and men were expected to fill certain role and though some of these issues do apply to today’s society there has been significant change. Different cultures as well as religion do hold on to the original approach to gender identity but one factor that has largely contributed to the changes in this area is education. In the societies that do so an instance where an individuals does the contrary is met with mixed reactions and mostly associated with negative attributes. However, modern societies have changed their approach to this subject. Professor Dover’s insights are very significant and do point out to critical issues that help understand and define the concept of gender identity.

References

Dover, Holly, (2001). Becoming members of society: Learning the social meanings of gender.