Identity

Identity

1. Gender

   • Social construct created to set labels, norms and values of a person depending on their biological sex.
     • These are labeled gender roles and the definition of gender roles have been changing over time.
   • Views
     • Radical Feminism
       • Gender equality does not exist as society is patriarcal
       • Secondary socialisation can be harmful to women as it can cause body image issues
     • Marxism
       • Popular and mass culture are used to distract society from social inequality
       • Conflict theory: gender inequality is necorssary
       • Society benefits those in power
         • In a patriarchal society that would be males getting the benefits
       • Gender supports capitalism; women reproduce (by having kids) maintain (by proving their kids with the norms and values of capitalism) and support capitalism
     • Functionalism
       • Society beneifits everyone in different ways, no matter their gender.
       • Gender roles are vital in society as it helps it run smoothly.
       • Gender roles give us a collective consciousness - social guidence
     • Post Modernism
       • Norms and values are always changing which means that equality in improving
       • Gender diversity is becoming visible; altering modern day gender roles
       • Social variables replaced by consumption
   • Studies
     • Parsons (1995)
       • Females have an expressive role, natural but reinforsed by socailisation
       • Males have an instrumental role , natural but reinforced by socialisation
     • Mac An Ghaill (1994)
       • Focus' on huper masculinity amoung males
         • This included policing their own and others sexualities
       • Noting the inserurity amoung working class men (labelled the crisis of masculinity) as their identity as breadwinner is lost.
     • Jackson (2006)
       • Women adopting 'laddishness' - a form of masculinity
         • These women, labelled 'laddetts' perform risky acts such as smoking, drinking, swearing and being a disruptive person.
           • They fear they may be seen as uncool or loose popularity if they do not take part in these acts
   • Interactionism
     • Labelling theory
       • Rejecting GR can allow negative labelling for both males and females
     • Impression Management
       • People are convinced they must put on a persona to be accepted into society
     • Looking Glass Self
       • Women are persuaded by agencies of socialisation that they must appeal in a certain way
       • They judge by how others perceive them; they change aspects of themselves in order to 'fit in'

2. Social identity means how your identity is shown in society and seen by others

   • This can be created from various factors in someone's life such as gender, sexuality, class, ethnicity, nationality, age and hybrid identities

3. Sexuality

   • a label given due to who, on a category of gender, one would find sexually or romantically attractive
     • The norm in society would be heterosexual but recently society has become more accepting of homosexuality and bisexuality
   • Theory
     • Radical Feminists
       • Hetronormativity is still the "norm"
       • Women are sexualised for men in the media
         • Pornography and prostitution linked to domestic violence and rape as women are seen as objects
     • Marxism
       • Heterosexuality is the norm because it serves society (reproduction)
       • Society is distracted, by popular culture, from issues with non-heterosexual individuals
     • Functionalism
       • GR ensure society runs smoothly; this can include the role of heteronormativity
         • Therefore the traditional nuclear family works best for society
     • Post modernism
       • Heteronormativity is breaking down; more rights to non heterosexual people
         • Media starts normalising homosexual relationships
   • Interactionism
     • Labelling theory
       • Due to heteronormativity people who are out are given a label of their sexuality which can be seen as a negative label
         • They would only be recognised as their sexuality
     • Impression management
       • Many homosexuals would either conform to their social stereotypes or hide them if they can relate to such
       • If they are not 'out' they would create a false persona in society and only acknowledge their true selves in private
     • Looking Glass Self
       • Non-heterosexuality is becoming more acceptable in western cultures however many non-heterosexual individuals still worry about how they would be perceived
       • Young individuals would see how others use the term 'gay' and view themselves (if they identify as such) with that meaning
         • If the meaning was negative they would think of that aspect of themselves negativly
   • Studies
     • Weeks (1991)
       • "Sexual identification is a strange thing"
       • Sexuality is more complex than other aspects of an identity
       • People may or may not participate in sexual activity with those that they are sexually attracted to
     • Rich (1980)
       • (Radical feminist)
       • Women's sexuality is oppressed by the patriarchy
         • This is through objectification and sexual violence/rape
       • Women took part in 'compulsory heterosexuality; they are socialised into a heterosexual role for men
       • Lesbian identity is erased as it can only be a threat or sexy to males
     • Mcintosh (1996)
       • Claiming that homosexual mean fill a 'homosexual role' in western cultures
       • Homosexual males were given certain stereotypes on their characteristics (higher pitched voice, increase in vanity,- camp, etc)
         • Males who where openly homosexual were shown to have the characteristics stereotyped

4. Class

   • Class is a social system, used more often decades ago, that seperated people due to different class levels
     • Their class was determined by wealth and income, and the occupation they held to earn such.
       • Children were classified under their parents' classes until they were earning a living themselves
   • Views
     • Feminism
       • Gender equality; women earn less and gain less power than men