I recently finished Gender Vertigo, recommended to me by KB. The underlying research question that Risman seeks to answer is how we explain gender differences and inequalities in society. Gender organizes our society, and it is socially constructed through childhood socializations. Gender is a social construction because the definitions of "being a woman" and "being a man" are not necessarily based upon biological differences. What does it mean to be a woman or a man? Traditionally, women do more housework than their male counterparts. Is performing this labor part of being a woman? When a woman vacuums or prepares dinner, is she "doing gender?"
Through case studies, Risman contends that gender is a structure that perpetuates inequalities in society. We learn this structure in the family, in formal institutions, and through cultural rules and images. This structure constrains our choices and expectations. First, Risman compares single mothers to single fathers to determine that men are just as capable of "mothering" children as women. Nurturing and caring for children are socially constructed as "women's" work with no biological bases. Second, Risman analyzes couples who have constructed egalitarian marriages in which the woman and man share child rearing and household responsibilities equally. These couples are able to do this because women are not economically dependent upon their husbands, families are redefined so that breadwinning and domesticity are the responsibility of both partners, and the definition of masculinity is redefined so that nurturance and emotional sensitivity replace domineering attitudes. Finally, Risman analyzes the children that are raised in these households. Although these children adopt their parents' egalitarian attitudes, they still become gendered due to the cognitive images and knowledge learned from their peers and in formal institutions. Consequently, moving into a post-gendered society is an extremely slow process.
This book is valuable to my personal research interests because it debunks the dichotomous conception that masculinity and femininity are based upon biological differences. Instead, the socialization of females and males occurs in the families and in formal institutions. Most importantly to me, Risman demonstrates that children raised in egalitarian households are well-adjusted and happy, and being raised by working mothers and nurturing fathers is not detrimental to their well-being.
Through case studies, Risman contends that gender is a structure that perpetuates inequalities in society. We learn this structure in the family, in formal institutions, and through cultural rules and images. This structure constrains our choices and expectations. First, Risman compares single mothers to single fathers to determine that men are just as capable of "mothering" children as women. Nurturing and caring for children are socially constructed as "women's" work with no biological bases. Second, Risman analyzes couples who have constructed egalitarian marriages in which the woman and man share child rearing and household responsibilities equally. These couples are able to do this because women are not economically dependent upon their husbands, families are redefined so that breadwinning and domesticity are the responsibility of both partners, and the definition of masculinity is redefined so that nurturance and emotional sensitivity replace domineering attitudes. Finally, Risman analyzes the children that are raised in these households. Although these children adopt their parents' egalitarian attitudes, they still become gendered due to the cognitive images and knowledge learned from their peers and in formal institutions. Consequently, moving into a post-gendered society is an extremely slow process.
This book is valuable to my personal research interests because it debunks the dichotomous conception that masculinity and femininity are based upon biological differences. Instead, the socialization of females and males occurs in the families and in formal institutions. Most importantly to me, Risman demonstrates that children raised in egalitarian households are well-adjusted and happy, and being raised by working mothers and nurturing fathers is not detrimental to their well-being.
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