Question

Explain how gender shapes a person's life. In your answer, consider whether gender is more important, equally important, or less important than class in its effects on individual lives. Provide specific reasons for your position. (sociology based question)

Answer 1

Gender is an important sociological phenomenon which is very important on the individual level and at the community level. Gender shapes the person's life through various means, but two most important concepts are

• Gender identity- It tells what a person is. This is determined through the Sex of the individual. The sex will determine whether the person is male, female, or another gender. For instance, I am male and I can be head of the family.
• Gender role- After understanding the gender identity, then a person behaves or shows response that are expected from that label of gender. These come as personality development and social expectation. For instance, Sonia identifies herself as female. She thinks that her traits are nurturance and providing care so she wants to be a teacher at the primary level.

Individuals are divided in society through various categories. these are based on caste, class, gender, race, ethnicity, etc. Gender or any other social categorization factor-like class is equally important to understand the effects on individual lives. The reason behind this is because these are variables that divide people. When some factors divide people on different grounds then the division becomes common and the discrimination related to it becomes of the same intensity. In a holistic study, it has been found that this categorization works interconnectedness and affects individual life on a daily basis. for instance, Black men are more privileged/high status than Black women or White women face less discrimination as compared to Black women.