Define gender and biological sex. What is meant when sociologists say gender is a “social construct”? Please identify at least 2 examples from society to illustrate your argument.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: Gender and Biological Sex: Understanding the Social Construction of Gender
Introduction:
The concepts of gender and biological sex are fundamental to understanding human identity, social roles, and interactions. While biological sex refers to the physical characteristics that distinguish males and females, gender is a complex construct encompassing societal expectations, behaviors, and identities associated with masculinity and femininity. Sociologists often assert that gender is a “social construct,” meaning it is shaped by cultural norms and beliefs rather than being solely determined by biology. This essay explores the definitions of gender and biological sex, and examines the social construction of gender through two illustrative examples from society.
Definition of Gender and Biological Sex:
Biological Sex: Refers to the physical and physiological differences between males and females, such as reproductive organs, chromosomes, and hormone levels.
Gender: A social construct that encompasses the roles, behaviors, expectations, and identities assigned to individuals based on their perceived sex.
Gender as a Social Construct:
When sociologists say that gender is a “social construct,” they mean that it is not an inherent or fixed characteristic determined solely by biology. Instead, gender is shaped by social, cultural, and historical factors, including norms, values, and expectations imposed by society. Here are two examples that illustrate the social construction of gender:
Example 1: Gendered Toys:
In many societies, certain toys are associated with specific genders. Boys are often encouraged to play with action figures, building blocks, and toy cars, which are believed to promote skills related to strength, competition, and active play.
On the other hand, girls are often given dolls, kitchen sets, and dress-up kits, which are deemed to foster nurturing, domesticity, and aesthetic interests.
These gendered toy preferences are not biologically determined but rather socially constructed through cultural norms and expectations.
Example 2: Gendered Occupational Roles:
Throughout history, certain occupations have been predominantly associated with specific genders. For instance, nursing and teaching have been traditionally considered “female” professions due to their nurturing and caring aspects.
Conversely, fields like engineering and computer science have been predominantly male-dominated due to societal perceptions of technical proficiency.
These occupational role divisions are not inherent to biological sex but rather a result of socialization processes that shape individuals’ beliefs about suitable careers based on their gender.
Conclusion:
Gender is a social construct that encompasses the roles, behaviors, expectations, and identities assigned to individuals based on their perceived sex. It is distinct from biological sex which refers to physical characteristics. The social construction of gender means that societal norms and expectations shape our understanding of what it means to be masculine or feminine. By examining examples such as gendered toys and occupational roles, it becomes evident that these gender norms are not fixed or universal but vary across cultures and change over time. Understanding the social construction of gender allows us to challenge rigid gender stereotypes and work towards a more inclusive and equitable society where individuals can freely express their identities regardless of societal expectations based on their biological sex.
