Constructs of Gender and Sexuality

Throughout this semester, I have been taught a lot of information that has not only challenged many of the ideologies that we have been taught throughout our lifespan but has also allowed me to create and make my own decisions regarding both gender and sexuality. The concept that has been the most influential to me, has been the differences between gender and sexuality as a result of a social construct as well as the idea of intersectionality.

Gender has been around throughout history; however, within recent years, gender has separated itself from the traditional view of sex, male or female, and has become centered on one’s masculinity or femininity.

Of course, gender is more than just one’s masculinity or femininity, gender has become a way for one to describe, he or she, in a way in which they are different from everyone else. Gender has turned into a sense of identity, a way for one to feel different and fulfilled among all of those around them.

Gender is defined as the social and cultural roles given to each sex by society. These roles are in response to their environment, family, and peer interactions and probably the most influential are through the media. In the article, “Night to His Day,”, written by Judith Lorber, she states ‘Today, on the subway, I saw a well-dressed man with a year-old child in a stroller.’ This phrase expresses the idea that men are not considered to be the parental figures who take care of their children.

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This social construct of gender is portrayed in several different cultures. If we take a look at the Haitian culture with regards to gender, children’s songs, and games, seeing that cultural tradition still heavily affect gender, create what is masculine, what is feminine, what the role of each sex is, as well as challenge the concept of gender solely based on societal norms.

The sex of an individual is determined from the person’s genetic makeup if it consists of an X and a Y chromosome the sex of the individual is male and if it consists of two X chromosomes then the sex of the person is female. In certain cases, a child is born with a mix of both male and female genitalia. These individuals are termed intersex, and the parents may decide which gender to assign to the child. In the article, “It’s Time For People to Stop Using the Social Construct of ‘Biological Sex’ to Defend Their Transmisogyny” Mey states that there is a certain misconception of what sex is. She also states that “sex isn’t something we’re actually born with, it’s something that doctors or our parents assign us at birth.” The classification of men and women is a social determination. Each person is born with a certain sex/genitalia, but that should not decide what a person identifies with.

As our society, we have recently been trying to be more inclusive when it comes to gender and sexuality. Today in our society, even cartoons “play around” with gender expectations. Stewie Griffin from Family Guy identifies as a heterosexual male on the show, however, he is often dressing in women’s clothing while also partaking in what society perceives as homosexual behaviors. We also recognize that in Pokemon, Team Rocket has been defying gender roles for over 20 years. They are a male and female duo whose regular disguises challenge gender norms. The male, James, is constantly dressing in a dress and heels whereas the female, Jessie is always in a tuxedo/suit. These are just a couple of examples of how our society is attempting to challenge gender norms as well as educate the youth that gender is fluid.

Intersectionality was the topic this year, that I could relate to the most. Being a black male in this society definitely has its hardships and disadvantages. Patricia Hill Collins, author of ‘Prison for our body, wardrobe, and mind’ refers to the crisscross system of sex and oppression. An example of such a crisscross system of oppression is shown in black women. They stand at a crossroads where two powerful and universal oppressive systems come together: gender and race. Those who are at an even greater disadvantage are those who are also dealing with sexual orientation oppression. I would choose to stay in the black community to further emphasize Collins’ point. Those who identify as LGBTQ+ in the black community have not only been ostracized by those who oppose homosexuality but more specifically the black community as a whole. It is rare to see or hear about black males, specifically, who are open about their homosexuality, this is due to the racialized system of heterosexism.

It is an unfortunate truth that as a heterosexual black male in this society, I have been granted opportunities while my gay peers are at a disadvantage simply because of their sexual orientation. Black people are considered to be one of the few social groups that societally symbolize what it is to be a stereotypical male. These expectations lead to over-sexualization of the black male/black body. Those who are black and successful in the entertainment industry have one thing in common, and that is that their bodies/characters are overly sexual. When looking at various forms of entertainment, it is clear to see that the more you fit this image, the more successful you will be. Patricia Hill’s article, ‘the prisons of our bodies, the closets of our minds,’ also depicts the many ways the State plays a role in the construction and reproduction of sexual and gender identity. She explains how the state utilizes racism and heterosexism to segregate people into a mechanism of social control. In racism, racial segregation uses race as a recognizable marker of ‘collective membership’, allowing the state to disparage blacks to lower families, schools, and jobs.

Intersectionality has been my favorite topic this semester and it has been the most challenging for me to accept. I want to believe that the society we live in provides equal opportunities for all, regardless of gender, sexual orientation and religion, but the facts are too apparent to hide from. As a black heterosexual male in society, I have always been aware of the idea of intersectionality, however, I was never aware of the technical term. Living in this society, as a minority, it is easy to acknowledge that there are differences in opportunities between the different races, ethnicities, and sexualities. Speaking from my personal experience, I have been into countless stores where I have been followed just to make sure that I was not stealing anything, whereas my white peers are able to go in and out of stores freely without any supervision. Although this may seem like a very benign example, those who have never experienced this will never understand the uncomfortable feeling of being watched as you’re attempting to shop and give that store owner your money. Another example of intersectionality that I have been faced with is having to reinvent myself when being a professional.

I have felt the need to put up a facade when at work or applying for a professional position because society has shown us that, the more “white” you act, the better the outcome is for you, whether it be economically, professionally etc. I have heard that it is a common occurrence for an individual to “talk white” when on the phone and dealing with certain businesses, in order for the outcome to be skewed towards favoring your wishes. “Speaking white” is when an individual attempts to speak with perfect diction as well as removing as much bass from your voice as possible. Although most people will only look at the negative when referring to intersectionality, there are certain “advantages”. When applying to colleges, there are certain scholarships that will only be available to a certain population, based on sexuality, gender, race, and religion. There are also certain professional programs that allow for an applicant to have a lower qualification based on the criteria stated above. Although this still creates a differential and non-even playing field for the population, it does create certain opportunities for the oppressed.

After taking this course, it has only reinforced my position on intersectionality and has given me more insight into what society we are living in. I understand now that there are certain limitations in this society depending on what society deems as acceptable. We, unfortunately, live in a world where the terms heterosexuality and being a male grant you certain privileges in society. Katz states in his article, “The Invention of Heterosexuality” that, the definition of heterosexuality is constantly changing throughout time. During the 19th century, heterosexuality was defined as “true love,” which is love between man and woman. Males in our society have always been treated as the more superior gender, resulting in higher pay for equal work, a greater sense of respect and responsibility in the world of business.

It is an unfortunate truth that being a heterosexual male provides an unfair advantage in our society. This idea plays into intersectionality by creating a system of oppression for women and homosexual individuals. A white heterosexual male will have more social power than a white homosexual man, whereas a white homosexual male will have less social power than a white heterosexual woman. This creates a system of oppression, trickling down to black homosexual women having the least amount of rights, and opportunities in our community. When differentiating between sexual orientations, the idea of heteronormativity begins to become prevalent. Heteronormativity is the belief that promotes heterosexuality as the preferred sexual orientation. It is also the idea that implies men should be the ones in charge. It creates domination of men but then the oppression of women. Heteronormativity creates an environment in which we expect certain characteristics/actions from both men and women respectively.

The article, “On Equal Pay Day, LGBT People Experience Gaps in Wages”, it discusses that gay men who are able to provide the same level of work as straight men have a reduced income by about 10-32%. A method of ethnographic research was used in order to explore the cultural phenomenon of oppression from the main angle of the subject. The conclusion of the study shows that there are many types of masculinity, each region, time and culture vary in their characteristics. The idea of hegemony is universal, creating a system of domination for those who are below them’; women. This course has taught me that intersectionality plays a role in my life, as a black male in a predominantly white society, I will always have to work harder than my white peers in order to get equal or less reimbursement for the same quality of work. It is an unfortunate truth that a select group of individuals will not be granted opportunities, solely based on race, sexual orientation, and gender. Hopefully, in the near future, we will be able to separate sexual orientation, race, and gender as prerequisites as to who is given a position of power.

Work Cited

1. Ambrosino, Brandon. “Future – The Invention of ‘Heterosexuality’.” BBC News, BBC, 16 Mar. 2017, www.bbc.com/future/story/20170315-the-invention-of- heterosexuality.
2. Collins, Patricia Hill. Black Sexual Politics. challengingmalesupremacy.org/wp-content/ uploads/2015/04/Black-Sexual-Politics-Chapter-3.pdf.
3. Garcia, Joshua. “On Equal Pay Day, LGBT People Experience Gaps in Wages.” ThinkProgress, ThinkProgress, thinkprogress.org/on-equal-pay-day-lgbt-people- experience-gaps-in-wages-a939824211f7/
4. Mey. “It’s Time For People to Stop Using the Social Construct of ‘Biological Sex’ to Defend Their Transmisogyny.” Autostraddle, Autostraddle, 28 Dec. 2016, www.autostraddle.com/its-time-for-people-to-stop-using-the-social-construct- of-biological-sex-to-defend-their-transmisogyny-240284/.
5. Lorber, Judith. “Night to His Day”: The Social Construction of Gender. sociology.morrisville.edu/readings/SOCI101/SOS28-Lorber-NightToHisDay.pdf.