In a society, members can be stratified based on different levels (Xie,2013). One of these outstanding levels that have been persistent for decades is gender stratification. It occurs when societal differences in gender statuses give men a higher power and privilege over women, gender-conforming individuals and transgender. Gender stratification has led to different perspectives on gender norms. These perspectives have been passed down from generation to generation over the decades, thus affecting personal upbringing. This social autobiography will focus on sociological concepts on gender across cultures and time, the importance of gender to socialization, gender inequality in social institutions, and the main theories of gender stratification. The main focus will be on how perspectives on gender and gender roles in society have affected my upbringing and perspectives in life (Xin,2016).
Based on research, society creates gender stratification based on the functionalist perspective. This perspective sees society as a complex system with different parts that work together to promote stability and solidarity. In addition, this perspective views society through a macro-level orientation. Here, the orientation is broad such that it focuses on the social structures responsible for shaping society as a whole through social functions and structures.Also,the functionalist perspective addresses the society in terms of norms,institution,traditions,customs,and institutional factors(Teng et.al.,2021). All these factors assume that inequalities in gender exist efficiently in society to create a division of labour. This division works effectively to maximize resources in society. For instance, in most societies, women stay at home to take care of the families while men work to provide for the family. In such a case, society assumes that it is stable since every individual is playing their societal roles. The functional prerequisites equally accompany the functional perspective in gender stratification. These are the basic needs such as food shelter.money,and clothing(Chen & Ge,2018).Additionally, functional prerequisites are other factors that the society needs to maintain its order socially. Society believes that every individual needs the functional prerequisites to live above the poverty line. In this case, gender is a factor in maintaining social order by providing and enhancing the stability of the functional prerequisites.
The functionalist perspective has led to the gender socialization aspect. This aspect begins at birth and grows during adolescence into adulthood (Mason, 2000). Throughout these stages, a child learns about societal expectations, behaviours, and attitudes related to a specific gender. These societal expectations lead to social norms that a child grows up with into adolescence and adulting, thus leading to gender stereotypes. The most common of gender socialization are parents, teachers, and at times the media. For instance, in my Chinese society, girls are raised to be passive, whereas boys are aggressive. It is vital to understand that gender socialization is a process. The individual is taught how to refine, develop, and do gender through internalizing the social norms right from childhood. In adolescence, gender behaviours and attitudes intensify. Equally, the individual learns and unlearns new gender norms, and new gender stereotypes emerge.
For example, in Chinese society, right from childhood, an individual understands that certain colours and toys are males associated while others are female. Pink and dolls, for instance, are for girls whereas blue and car toys are for boys. Equally, gender socialization is evident in individuals’ comments on children right from childhood ( Zeng et al.,2014). Girls are often complemented based on their outward appearance, whereas boys are complemented based on ability. For example, it is quite normal to tell a young girl how pretty she is wearing and, on the other hand, complement how fast a boy can run. These complements lead to gender stereotypes. A girl may grow up knowing that all that matters is having a beautiful dress, whereas a boy grows up intending to portray a specific and strong personality. Also, into adolescence, a girl may learn that it is vital to focus on being useful in doing house chores. The boys, on the other hand, may focus on being wilder. For example, in Chinese culture, boys don’ cry because a man should be strong (Wu, 2019). If these stereotypes are not unlearned, then the probability of proceeding into adulthood is high. Eventually, gender stereotypes associated with socialization lead to employment, education, empowerment, and income inequalities.
As a child, I was more of a tomboy. Society criticized this, and I was told to act like a lady. Based on the gender socialization in the personal surrounding Chinese community, I began to adopt what was regarded as feminine behaviours in my teenage years (Hare, 2016). For instance, I particularly began working harder at thirteen to have a pleasing outward appearance considered ladylike. Also, I wore floral dresses and makeup to get the external complement of being beautiful based on my peers’ compliments since childhood. This was based on the societal pressure to fit into what the crowd termed as the behaviours of a lady.
Additionally, I worked harder in the house to prove that I could effectively do the house chores that a woman should do. While trying to fit into the societal expectations, I lost my identity in my early teenage hood. I realized this in high school when I had an exceeding interest in basketball. However, I could not play this game due to fear of not fitting into the ladies’ group of the society. This is because basketball was considered a male-dominated game.
As a result of gender socialization which contributes to gender stereotypes, there is an increase in gender inequality in the social institution across China (Branisa et al.,2009). For instance, only half of the working-age women across China are in the labour force (Branisa et al.,2014). These women average earn twenty-four per cent less than men in the same position. Additionally, the women have a lower likelihood of receiving the pension. Gender stereotypes have also persisted in schools. Girls are less likely to choose careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). This results from an assumption that these STEM careers are for the male gender. The girls end up settling for other careers which are less promising.
Based on gender stratification, a feminist theory in sociology looks into gender-related inequalities. This theory employs a contradiction approach in examining maintenance in gender inequalities and roles. The feminist theory has an aspect known as radical feminism. This aspect considers the role of families in preserving male dominance, known as patriarchy. In patriarchal societies such as in China, the contribution of men is upheld as more valuable than the women. Equally, in such societies, the viewpoint of men is dominant, and its effects spread widely such that its effects are ignored. This results in the viewpoint of women being silenced to the extent of being invalid (Yanbi & Minhui,2010). Also, in such societies, the women feel inferior and choose to work corporately with men instead of competitively. The feminist theory inspects patriarchy by determining how men have a higher validity to property rights, higher-income sources, and positions of power. This is through an ideology in the dominant gender based on an assumption on sexual differences. This includes assuming that the psychological differences in sex between males and females are related to an individual’s ability, character, and behaviour. These differences justify division in inequality and social roles in access to privilege, rewards, and positions of power. In the Chinese society where I was personally brought up, a woman who displays behaviours such as being concise, strong and opinionated is considered as being difficult to work with or too bossy. On the other hand, if a man depicts similar behaviours, the individual is perceived to be ready for a leadership position. This further creates a gender gap and gender inequalities.
It may be difficult to undo the rooted traditions based on gender inequalities. However, it is time that societies stop treating women as inferior individuals. This will work effectively if individuals work on the gender beliefs from the villages to the urban centres. This can be achieved through powerful movements that empower women to take up spaces in society. Additionally, these movements can effectively reach out to young girls in society so that the girl understands that women can live impactful lives too in the future. Effective empowerment will help break gender stratification for the benefit of future generations.
References
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