Sreedatri Dhar, Week 1

Night to his day: The Social Construction of Gender written by Judith Lorber lays the importance of gender as how it is used as way of structuring one’s life. Gender is used as a way of identification of people. Gender is a social construction that does not need to be flown through genitalia and reproductive organs instead it is created through human interactions and thought processes of people. Everyone in the society ‘does gender’ as what Judith Lorber points out. When we see people walking we can identify people and categorize them as male and female. Gender is usually constructed right at the birth, Parents usually dress their new born baby into the stereotypical colours like blue and pink as if blue is only for boys and pink is only meant for girls. As a social institution, gender is used to differentiate man from a woman. Often women are considered lower than men and is clearly visible in job opportunities and work environment.

Lorber has tried to prove that gender has a different meaning that what is usually perceived of through ordinary connotation. She also mentions how gender plays a major role in structured inequality. Although the society is becoming more open to modernization and new thoughts where men and women have somewhat been started treating equally, women are still seen the best to be doing household work at home post their work hours. Women are usually paid less than men even in the same field, at the same position. The sole reason for gender inequality is the society looking at things with a narrow minded perspective treating it to be true.