Third Chapter Of Brenda Allen's Difference Matters, Gender Matters

As it’s my first semester at Chatham, friends and relatives often ask how I’m spending my time on campus. While classes and social events are not surprisingly the first activities mentioned, I also always want to describe my work-study position. I am a communications assistant at the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics (aka the PCWP when I’m short of breath). As the organization’s title would suggest, we focus on increasing women’s public influence though various programs. My responsibilities include maintaining an active social media presence, gathering information to use as content, and communicating with speakers, guests, and staff. While I’ve only worked at the PCWP a few weeks- and developed an interest in women’s involvement with politics and policy only a few years before that- the objectives of this organization relate very closely to the third chapter of Brenda Allen’s “Difference Matters”, Gender Matters.

Allen defines gender and distinguishes it from sex throughout the chapter. Initially this was a topic I didn’t understand enough to have an opinion on, but after analyzing the text I’ve found that I agree with her in this respect. She also discusses dominant value systems relating to gender, which I decided to focus the majority of my essay on. _________________ The final section dealt with the research and emotions associated with communicating gender, which I had an opportunity to do myself in this essay. I hope that my summarization of Allen’s work and description of personal experiences can reinstate Allen’s thesis/project/thoughts: gender