Revised Blog

     

    Social construction on the subject of sex gender, womanhood, manhood, femininity and masculinity are fine when they’re used in limits and moderation.  First of all, what is social construction? My definition of social construction is when people/society create their understanding of how something should work. Womanhood is socially constructed. This social construction plays an important role in today’s world affecting every aspect of a woman's life such work, school and even personal life. For example, we all know women are for giving children birth and knowing how to cook, and men are for going out to work to earn a daily living to take care of the family, and be the protector of the family. This is in moderation because as a society and as individuals we can accept that these are our natural human roles as assigned by nature. But it gets out of hand and becomes over the top when a construct thesis starts to imply that women only have only a role and that is to be a housewife. Growing up in a afghan culture I have seen this mentality is very normal in fact thinking that women are meant for something more than housewife can actually be considered. Surprised right! Back home when girls are brought they are taught to learn house chores, cook and clean in the house while boys have the opportunity to go to school and get an education. When girls are 16-18 they get married and go on having kids and raising a family. They are dependent on their husbands. Why, because they are women. I disagree with this idea. Women should be given the same opportunity as men to get an education.

     For men, social constructs seem to be insinuating that if a woman is financially independent because they want to think that men are “superior” and leaders of the household. They believe educating their women will make women superior then them and that will destroy their image as the “man”in the household. This is nothing but ignorance and lack of education for society to think like this. As it says in Chapter 11 of Beyond the Binary “it is ignorance and lack of intellectual development that leads to the unquestioning obedience that women display towards men.” A man who does all these things but also allows his partner to work and earn, and discusses issues rather than arguing and causing violence, and listens to his partner isn't considered normal. But some skewed constructs portray the latter as the man being too feminine or soft. 

    Socially constructed on how each gender should act is fine when the basics are being discussed in a healthy manner, but when it gets to the point where the genders and sexes are turning against each other and competing with each other, marriage and reproduction and relationships become a nightmare to even consider. To address this social construction I think we should continue to educate men to show them the importance of women education and women equality. It's important to give women the same standards in the household to be an example for the kids and the future generations