Gender, Symbols, and Social Interaction

Gender, Sex, and Sexuality SOCI 1306 Symbolic Interactionism By examining the crucial role that symbols play in interpersonal communication, symbolic interactionism seeks to explain human behaviour. This theoretical framework, which explores how cultural meanings associated to symbols impact our perceptions and actions, is especially pertinent to debates of masculinity and femininity. Consider going into a bank, for example, with the intention of obtaining a small loan for a company, a home, or an educational endeavour. When speaking with a male loan officer, you might present a reasoned argument and enumerate all the precise figures that demonstrate your eligibility. This method fits nicely with the analytical traits that are frequently connected to masculinity. On the other hand, you may use an emotional appeal when you meet with a female loan officer, highlighting your sincere goals and personal narrative to appeal to the compassionate traits typically associated with femininity. These exchanges show how meanings associated with symbols—such as gender roles—are socially produced and dynamic rather than innate and fixed. Sociologists like Herbert Blumer established the idea of symbolic interactionism, which emphasises that our behaviours are determined by the meanings that objects have for us. These meanings are shaped by social interactions and may be altered by interpretation. This indicates that, in the context of gender, the traits we identify as being inherent to one's gender are instead acquired via socialisation and reinforced by interactions and conventions in the community. The definition of the word "gay," for instance, has changed significantly throughout time. Its original meaning was "cheerful," but by the 1960s, its main connotation had changed to "homosexual." It also meant "bright and showy" or "careless" throughout its transition (Oxford American Dictionary, 2010). These alterations in meaning demonstrate how symbols vary according on usage and social context. In addition, fifty years ago, the term "gay" had a relatively negative and unfavourable meaning; nevertheless, in the intervening period, its implications have become more neutral, even positive, reflecting larger shifts in cultural views towards homosexuality. We refer to what people do as "doing gender," a term coined by West and Zimmerman in 1987, when they carry out actions or display traits that correspond with the gender roles that have been ascribed to them. According to this theory, gender is something we do or enact in response to social expectations rather than something that is inherent in us. Gender is therefore not a permanent state of being, but an active process. Every behaviour, including speech and social interactions as well as how we dress, is a display of our gender. With this viewpoint, gender is no longer seen as a biological or rigid categorization but rather as a dynamic, interacting process. This concept is further developed by the study of the social construction of sexuality, which looks at how cultural norms and societal definitions influence our experiences and conceptions of sexuality. Social constructionism contends that our perception of sex, gender, and sexuality is influenced by social and cultural settings, in contrast to theories of sex, gender, and sexuality that place an emphasis on biological determinism—the idea that men and women behave differently because of fundamental biological differences. For instance, the standards for acceptable sexual behaviour can differ significantly throughout communities and historical eras, showing that these standards are flexible and open to interpretation. As a result, gender and sexuality are viewed as malleable ideas that are constantly created and redefined via social interactions. This viewpoint acknowledges a range of identities and manifestations, challenging the conventional binary understanding of gender and sexuality. It recognises that people navigate and negotiate their identities in a variety of ways depending on a range of circumstances, including culture, time, and personal experiences. The act of "doing gender" entails conforming to or defying social norms, and people may feel pressure or conflict if these standards do not match their own identities. For example, a guy who likes things that are often associated with women, like cooking or fashion, could feel pressure from society to fit into stereotypical ideas of what it is to be a man. Similar to this, gender norms may provide obstacles for a woman who succeeds in historically male-dominated sectors like engineering or leadership positions. These encounters highlight how gender is performative and how cultural forces shape our actions and ideas of ourselves. The symbolic interactionist viewpoint emphasises the part that language and communication play in the formation of sexuality and gender. The labels and words we use to define ourselves and each other have great power and have the power to uphold or subvert social norms. For example, labels such as "metrosexual" or "tomboy" are attempts to label actions that do not cleanly fit into established gender norms. These labels have the power to either support preconceptions or provide room for a wider range of identity manifestations. Furthermore, the media is extremely important in creating and propagating gender and sexuality-related symbols and meanings. Social media, movies, TV shows, and commercials all depict and reinforce society norms and values. These portrayals have the power to shape our attitudes and actions, frequently supporting stereotypical ideas about gender roles. However, by offering more inclusive and diverse representations of gender and sexuality, the media may also be a potent instrument for questioning and altering these standards. To sum up, symbolic interactionism offers a useful paradigm for comprehending how symbols —such as those associated with gender and sexuality—influence behaviour in people. We may learn more about the fluid and dynamic nature of gender and sexuality by looking at the meanings associated with these symbols and how social interactions shape and alter them. This viewpoint emphasises the influence of language, media, and society norms on the formation of our identities and experiences, challenging ideas that are static and physiologically deterministic. As we navigate the complexity of our sexual identities and display our masculinity or femininity, we are always "doing gender" in ways that reflect and adapt to the constantly shifting social context.