Critical Response Journal #3

In the beginning of this Women's Studies course we began by discussing the social construction of gender roles and expectations and then slowly moved in to much heavier topics regarding violence against women. In Chapter 3 of our textbook in the reading, The Social Construction of Gender, by Judith Lorber, she discusses how gender is a process of creating distinguishable social statuses for the assignment of rights and responsibilities (142). She also goes on to say that, "As part of a stratification system, gender ranks men above women of the same race and class.... When gender is a major component of structural inequality, the devalued genders (femininity) have less power, prestige, and economic rewards than the valued genders (masculinity)" (142-143). I use these examples from Judith Lorber to show that gender is a social construction of our society and that in our society certain genders, men, are valued more and hold much more power over the devalued genders, women. The readings on science and technology, that were assigned, also help to further make the point that gender is a social construction. Men have continuously throughout time worked to make it known that men are superior and should have much more power and rights over women. Basically leading men to believe that they can control women and take advantage of them in any way that they see fit.

These aspects of gender really tie in to the issue of sexual violence against women. In Chapter 10 of our text, we begin to address the issues surrounding violence against women. The authors state, "Violence against women must be understood in the context of socially constructed notions of gender. If boys are raised to hide emotions, see sensitivity as a weakness, and view sexual potency as wound up with interpersonal power, and girls are raised to be dependent and support masculine entitlement, then interpersonal violence should be no surprise" (556). They also go on to say, "Violence by men is a power issue and must be seen as related to masculine dominance in society generally as represented in interpersonal relationships and in control of political systems that address crime and create policy" (557). The authors here are showing that boys are raised to believe that they have power and control over women and are entitled to whatever they want from women, including their bodies.

These readings from the textbook and other handouts have lead me to believe that the social construction of gender roles and expectations go hand-in-hand with sexual violence against women. Our society leads men to believe that they can have and do whatever they want to women and women should just give in, because men have more power and control and are entitled to it. Our society has made men believe that they should have power and control in all aspects of their lives. The men that are committing these horrible crimes are doing so to show that they have power over something or someone in their lives, where they may not in other aspects of their lives. It's all about dominating someone and having full control over them. It is a sad thought to think that our society is partially responsible for these horrible acts being done to women. What makes it worse is that our society and court system, both designed by men, make it even harder for women to press charges against their attacker and move on with their lives. Society places blame on these women for what has happened to them and forces them to relive the horrible event. These women are made to believe that the way that they dress or the way that they behave made these men act in a certain way and these men are not completely at fault for what they did. If society wasn't constructed in this way maybe some men wouldn't find it necessary to be in control and take advantage of women and commit horrible sexually violent crimes against them.