Femininity And Gender Analysis

The debate between masculinity and femininity is nothing new in this society. Feminist have claimed that sociology in the past was controlled by male sociologists and thus have made distorted truth about the society as its consequence. Some sociologists may have taken too lightly regarding the issue of gender roles which cause uproar from the feminist’s perspectives. However, there are different sociologists such as the functionalist, Marxists that may view and interpret differently in gender roles. No doubt those criticisms are involved in this matter of different theories and perspectives.
The acquisition of gender roles can be pinpointed to the basis of person-to-person interaction and revolves around a number of interactionist theories.

One of the views from Murdock whom argued that biological differences between men and women were the basis of the sexual division of labor in society, Murdock suggested that biological differences where men have more strength physically and women give birth to children concluded the gender roles as a fact and out of practicality. In Murdock’s survey of 224 societies, Murdock examined that task such as hunting, lumbering are male roles and cooking and repairing clothes are female roles. It is because of the women physique that they are limited to the supposed, easy tasks. Through his sample, he concludes that “the advantages inherent in a division of labor by sex presumably account for its universality”. In addition, Parsons (1955) characterized the woman’s role in the family as expressive, which was important for socialization of the young and also this expressive contribute to the stabilization of adult personalities. The expressive role relieves the instrumental role. Parsons further argued that the instrumental and expressive roles complemented each other thus providing solidarity in the family (Haralambos, 2013, pp.

The obstructions that fuel the resistance of the movement include heavily negative connotations created by the media that are dismissive or aggressive in nature. One of the major problems behind this is the belief that feminism no longer holds relevance in today's society because gender equality has already been obtained, even with the continuing battling of issues such as the wage gap and reproductive rights (de las Fuentes, 2006).
Another common argument used to oppose feminism today is the belief/misconception that gender equality is not represented by feminism. It is, rather, the empowerment of women over men and the want to dismantle the patriarchy in favour for matriarchy. This belief is solidified by the emergence of the Men's Rights Movement in the 1970s, close to the time of the emergence of the third wave. However, the rise of conflict also indicates a growing awareness and/or questioning of the members of society on the gender roles that are imposed on