Gender and Social Stratification: A Sociological Examination

Social Stratification: Gender according to different sociologist’s point of views

Social stratification is the system in which society ranks the categories of people in a hierarchy. It is the trait of society and not just based on the individual indifferences. It is universal but variable as well. One of the aspects of social stratification that needs to be discussed here is ‘gender’. At first, it is important to understand what gender is? The literal meaning of gender is either the male or female division of a species, especially as differentiated by social and cultural roles and behavior. With it, it is important to know the difference between gender and sex as these aren’t the same things. Gender defines the femininity

Most societies perceive gender roles of women lower than the gender roles of men. There is supposed already in society that pink is for girls and blue is for boys. And also that parents give to their children toys according to their gender. This paper would look into the gender definition, gender discrimination and its analysis according to different sociologist’s point of views.

In “woman – the second sex” by Simone de Beauvoir, it is told that women are taught to make themselves second to the men. They are dependent on the men and defined as part of the men whereas men are defined on their own terms. Mainly, women are forced to feel like subjects or ‘others’. Beauvoir focuses on the fact that women have been oppressed since the earlier times and so they have lost the confidence to prove their superiority over men. The

“Second sex” have a major premise that men have always considered themselves as essential being and women as unessential being. And with it another premise it highlights is by saying:“One is not born a woman; rather, one becomes one.” This statement is true to a

The gender activities have been implemented into our minds through society, parents and life experience. Since the time we are born, we are told to behave in a following way depending upon our sex that is determined by genetalia and we start behaving accordingly.

Judith lorber describes how the roles of male and female differ and how societies hold each individual responsible for his/her designated gender roles. Females are assumed to be doing the housework and males are assumed to be the breadwinners of the family. Secondly, Judith criticizes on the fact that women are considered inferior just because of the label of ‘women’ attached to them. Society perceives that what job one can do depending upon his/her gender.

And that, “It does not matter what men and women actually do, it does not even matter if they do exactly the same thing. The social institution of gender insists only that what they do is perceived as different.” (Lorber). Well, even in today’s world, in most of the societies, women hold a lower status and are given lower positions in the organizations.

There is an edge to the males of being this gender rather being females. It is proven