By definition, gender refers to the concept of masculinity and feminism. Various concepts have been put forward to identify the major gender categorization. Gender is also referred to as behaviors, roles, attributes and activities that a given society considers appropriate for men and women (Kite et. al, 2008) . Moreover, gender perceptions are dynamic. They keep on changing over time under the influence of cultural definitions from different regions. In the recent past, there has been a change in the activities and representation of men and women in society. Consequently, this has participated in the change of the perceptions of gender. Gender is considered a social construct since its perception is dynamic and changes over time and in different societies. Gender has been used to refer to different aspects including social sex, roles between men and women, socialization and sexual traits as well. This supports the fact that gender categorization only exists through the societal attribution of specific characters defining a specific gender identity.
Gender stereotyping has been identified in different arts and operations hence raising dynamic perceptions. The general literature has been portraying certain images of characterizing women. In support of the statement that gender is a social construct, the meaning of being a woman changes over time through different generations. Socially, there are different traits associated with each of the identified roles. For instances, the roles of women in the Western region are not similar to the roles of characterizing women in the African region. The roles of both sexes get our understanding and perceptions towards gender changing.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
General literature presents gender as the only way supporting the definition of identity-based discrimination, systemic and segregation. Social constructionism is presented as the idea that social understanding of reality is partially influenced by actors preventing support of the inherent truth of their own (Kite et. al, 2008) . Women participation in different social activities vary in different regions. This case has presented a different image towards women and men in participation in different fields in medical research among other aspects. If men and women portray the same psychological and physical characters before assigning the sex roles, society does not need the gender difference aspect in assigning roles.
The leadership role is one of the stereotyped women’s roles that is evident in the general literature. Despite the evidence that women are capable of being the best performers in the leadership role, they are still not attaining the top-level leadership positions as compared with the men in the leadership. Gender perceptions present various reasons why women are experiencing complicated moments while climbing the corporate leadership ladder (Basow, 2012). There has been the disparity in the employment of women to occupy different top leadership positions. In return, the aspect of gender stereotyping has limited women from developing their personal abilities to pursue different leadership positions.
Furthermore, gender stereotyping has induced varying perceptions on career assignment among women. Another stereotype surrounding the female gender lies on their roles in terms of childcare responsibilities. These roles always fall exclusively on women, an aspect that is only based on the latter gender stereotype. This role is supported by the perception that women are nurturing hence suitable for the childcare role (Masters & Lambert, 2009). Most cultures divide labor between men and women through the influence of various perceptions that support the roles assigned to the respective gender. Moreover, stereotypes around gender have gradually developed to the extent that people face societal pressure to consider them in assigning different roles. Consequently, individuals in the society especially women face the social consequences for failing to adhere to the perceptions laid by the gender stereotypes. As a result, society continually constructs gender through such perceptions and anticipate different behaviors on the basis of gender.
In some cases, individuals adopt certain uncomfortable behaviors since they believe that the behaviors characterize the members of the gender they ought to belong (Kite et. al, 2008) . Moreover, individuals in society are limited to create meaning on the activities they are exposed to in their respective environment. In the same sense, the society and its members are inextricably linked to the perceptions. The need to label individuals with respect to their physical and psychological traits includes all the social categorization including gender are considered social constructs.
Gender constructs and stereotypical roles have great importance. It is employed by different nations for greater administrative control (Masters & Lambert, 2009). Moreover, gender constructs have an influence on behaviors that characterize both male and female members of the society. Different societies employ constructs to perpetuate different traditional systems controlled by men. Moreover, gender constructs become an object of knowledge employed in dividing roles among the members of society with respect to their psychological and physical capabilities. When exploring women’s literature, gender contrasts define the women behaviors hence allocating them roles that fit their behaviors and activities. In the current societies, stereotypical roles are distributed among members of the society under the male and female basis.
In conclusion, gender constructs are fundamental aspects of defining the social relationship (Basow, 2012). Gender constructs define various behaviors that individuals engage in in order to be perceived either as a male or female. The dynamic nature of different characteristics differentiating male and female is subject to the varying perceptions induced by stereotypical roles. In general literature, women are believed to equally engage in different roles in leadership, financial obligations, and participation in different careers. Different gender ideas apply to different cultures under the influence of different perceptions. Therefore, the concept of masculinity and femininity is a social construct based on the dynamic perceptions and seasonal changes in societies.
References
Basow, S. A. (2012). Gender: Stereotypes and roles . Thomson Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.
Kite, M. E., Deaux, K., & Haines, E. L. (2008). Gender stereotypes. Psychology of women: A handbook of issues and theories , 2 , 205-236.
Masters, K. S., & Lambert, M. J. (2009). On gender comparison and construct validity: An examination of the commitment to running scale in a sample of marathon runners. Journal of Sport Behavior , 12 (4), 196.
