GNED 10 – GENDER AND SOCIETY 5.

Society has cooperation and

division of labor
Chapter I Introduction
Assignment to each unit or group who share
Meaning and Nature of Society common duties and responsibilities is
Society involved in the division of labor.

Derived from the Latin word ‘socius’, which 6. Society functions

means companionship or friendship. interdependently.

A large grouping that shares the same Social relationships in a society are defined
geographical territory, shares a common by a mutually dependent elements of society.
culture, and social structure and expected to Example in a family for a smooth functioning,
abide by the same laws. the members should be interdependent with
Scholars’ opinion that society exists only one another. Nowadays, not only individual is
when the members know each other and interdependent with one another but
possess common interests. communities, social groups and nations too

‘Human being as a social animal’( Aristotle) 7. Society is dynamic.

needs the society for achieving optimum No society remain constant for a length of
happiness, work and enjoy life. time. Changeability is inherent quality of
human beings.

Nature of Society 8. Social control

● Society is composed of people Society controls the behavior of its members.

Society has formal(law, police and
● If there are no people, there can’t be constitution) and informal( customs,
no social relationship, no social life then there traditions and manners) means of social
will be no society. control.

1. People in society must have mutual Origin of Society

awareness and mutual interaction.
Different Theories (Origin of Society)
2. Social interaction in a society must have
mutual awareness and mutual interaction in
order for relationship in a society be possible. ● Divine Origin Theory
Society is a network of social relations that
implies mutual awareness. Society is also created by God together with
animals and inanimate objects of this world.
3. Society depends on similarities and
likeness. ● The Force Theory
Being alike is important principle in society. It Society is the result of superior physical
exists among individual who have similarities force.
with one another in body and mind to some
extent. As the saying goes, “Birds of the same Society was originated in the subjugation of
feather flock together”. the weaker by the stronger.

4. Society depends on differences ● The Patriarchal Matriarchal Theory

Men that are exactly similar, their social Makes society the expansion of family
relationships would be very limited. Human system.
being differs from one another in their Define by Sir Henry Maine as ‘the theory of
physical appearance, personality, talent, the origin of society in separate families, held
attitude, ability, interest, taste, faith etc. Due together by the authority and protection of the
to these differences people pursue different eldest male descendant.
activities.
● Social Contract Theory Subdivision of Pre – Industrial Society
All men were born free and equal.
Individual made a mutual agreement and 1. Hunting and gathering societies
created society that every man was an
enemy to every man. To protect himself ● Simplest kind among all kinds of
against the evil consequence man organized society- Simple tools were used to hunt and
himself in society to live in peace with all. gather vegetation is the feature of this society
(e.g., Aka and pygmies of Central Africa,
Bushmen of Southwestern Africa, Raute of
The above theories of the origin of society Nepal.)
have been subjected to a lot of criticism
and do not provide an adequate 2. Horticulture and Pastoral
explanation of its origin. Societies

The origin of society is not because of ● 10k to 12k years ago

God’s intervention in human history. ● horticulture (use of hand tools) to
Society is the outcome of the social cultivate crops
instinct of man. Forces of evolution is one
of the factors which is essential in the ● Humans first planted gardens in
growth of society. fertile regions of Middle East, in Latin
America and Asia
Sahara in Western Africa found
Types of Society horticulture little value turned to
domestication of animals.

● Pre – Industrial Society (1750 – 1850 ) 3. Agrarian Societies

Refers to social characteristics and forms of ● Discovery of agriculture in which

political and cultural organization that were large scale using plows harnessed to animals
prevalent before the advent of the Industrial or more powerful energy sources
revolution.
● Industrial Society Characteristics of Industrial Society
Refers to a society characterized using
technology for mass production, supporting a
large population with a high capacity for ● It is a social system who focused
division of labor. mainly on the production on finished goods
manufactured with the aid of machinery.
● Society changed faster with the
Characteristics of Pre - Industrial Society: present of industrial technology and industrial
● Technology used were simple societies transformed themselves more in
developed locally with the aid of indigenous one century than they had during the past
knowledge thousand

● Knowledge was pro – literate years.

● Low division of labor. Production was ● Societies changed rapidly due to

simple and number of specialized crafts was industrial technology and industrial societies
limited. transformed themselves more in one century
than they had during the past thousand
● Joint family structure is prevalent years.
● Religious and superstitions beliefs ● Industrialization draws people away
were dominant in their daily life. from home to factories situated near energy
sources.
● Occupation specialization has
become more pronounced.
Gender Equality versus Gender Equity
● Industrialization leads to the rise of
very large cities and surrounding suburban ● Gender Equality means that women
areas with a high rate of economic activity and men have equal conditions for realizing
their full human rights and for contributing to,
● Division of labor excessively showed and benefiting from, economic, social,
● Movement and fast change from one cultural and political development. Gender
place to another also produce anonymity, equality is therefore the equal valuing by
cultural diversity and multiple subcultures society of the
and counterculture.
similarities and the differences of men and
women, and the roles they play. It is based on
women and men being full partners in their
Meaning and Nature of Gender
home, their community, and their society.
“Gender refers to the socially constructed
characteristics of women and men, such as ● Gender Equity is the process of
norms, roles, and relationships of and being fair to men and women. To ensure
between groups of women and men. It varies fairness, measures must often be put in place
from society to society and can be changed.” to compensate for the historical and social
- World Health Organization (WHO) disadvantages that prevent women and men
from operating on a level playing field.
Baseline Definitions of Key Concepts and
Terminologies (UNESCO, 2003)
Gender refers to the roles and Equity is a means; Equality is the result.
responsibilities of men and women that are
created in our families, our societies, and our
cultures.
GENDER EQUALITY vs. WOMEN'S
● The concept of gender also includes the RIGHTS
expectations held about the characteristics,
aptitudes and likely behaviors of both women
and men (femininity and masculinity). GENDER EQUALITY

- Guarantees equal opportunities, rights, and

● Gender roles and expectations are learned. duties for all genders.
They can change over time, and they vary - It focused on eliminating barriers and bias
within and between cultures. Systems of for everyone.
social differentiation such as political status,
class, ethnicity, physical and mental disability, WOMEN’S RIGHTS
age and more, modify gender roles.
- Particularly supports women's liberties and
● The concept of gender is vital because, rights.
applied to social analysis, it reveals how
women’s subordination (or men’s - Deals with equitable pay, reproductive
domination) is socially constructed. As such, rights, and violence prevention.
the subordination can be changed or ended.

● It is not biologically predetermined nor is it Patterns of Inequalities

fixed forever.

Sex pertains to the description of the

biological differences between men and 1. Inequalities in political power and
women, which are universal and determined representation - Women are often
at birth. underrepresented in formal decision-making
structures, including governments, - Gender stereotypes are preconceived
community councils, and policy-making notions and broad beliefs about the traits,
institutions. roles, and behaviors considered
appropriate for men and women.
2. Inequalities in economic
participation and opportunities - In most
countries, women and men are distributed
differently across sectors. Women are Gender norms and stereotypes
receiving lower wages for similar work, are - are so ingrained in our society that adults
more likely to be in low-paid jobs and are often surprised how early children
unsecured work (part-time, temporary, home- internalize these ideas.
based) and are likely to have less access - When young children get caught up in
than men to productive assets such as stereotypical notions of gender, it can
education, skills, property and credit. harm their self- images and the way they
3. Educational attainment - In most interact with people.
countries women have lower literacy rate, - Children need opportunities to consider
lower level of enrolment in primary, these internalized stereotypes and think
secondary and tertiary education. about the problems they cause.

4. Sexual and domestic violence -

Women tend to be more often victims in a The harm in gender stereotypes
form a domestic violence by woman’s
intimate partner, sexual exploitation through - It is evident that gender stereotypes still
trafficking and sex trade, in wars by an enemy affect every single one of us—children
army as a weapon of attempted ‘ethnic and young adults are struggling to fit in
cleansing’ etc. with society’s expectations of them.
- Some adults become so used to gender
stereotyping that they do not realize how
5. Differences in legal status and it is affecting the young generation to
entitlements - There are many instances in think, feel, and behave. If this continues,
which equal rights to personal status, it will be very hard to break the cycle.
security, land, inheritance and employment - As this pressure rises, it’s not hard to
opportunities are denied to women by law or imagine the harm this can present to the
practice. well-being of young men and women
today and in the future.

Breaking the gender stereotype

Gender Stereotypes

So how do we stop gender stereotyping?

Gender roles - are the societal expectations
and norms assigned to individuals according - We should be critical of the way we are
to their gender. taught to expect how men and women
has to behave based on their gender.
Stereotype - We are now more progressive compared
to the past when it comes to issues about
- is an oversimplified and/or unfair belief or gender, but gendered expectations are
idea that groups of people have particular still ingrained into our culture.
characteristics or that all people in a
group are the same. Here are some simple ways we can help
stop gender stereotyping.
Gender Stereotypes
- Create safe spaces for men to
express the full range of their emotions.
- Let women know that their voices
matter.

- Always remember that no matter

what gender someone self-identifies as,
there’s no difference in our ability to make
a change in this world.

- Teach your children gender

equality at a young age.

Let them play with whatever they want. Be a

role model, teach your children that boys can
help with household chores, and allow young
girls to explore outside and do more physical
and analytical activities.

- Teach respect for differences.

- Reject chauvinist and racist

attitudes.

Do not make comments that ridicule, demean

or humiliate women, people of color,
indigenous people, members of the LGBTQI
community or any other historically
marginalized groups.

And don’t keep quiet if you hear such

comments. Talk to your colleagues, friends,
and family frankly and tell them to stop with
the chauvinist, racist, homophobic, and
transphobic insults.

- Listen and reflect

One of the main obstacles to eliminating

prejudices is that people have difficulty
recognizing that it really exists.