Gender and Society Overview - PDF

Lilibeth A. Calonge, MA Instructor Historical Overview of Gender Studies  Origins and Foundations  Early Feminist Thought (18th–19th Century): Gender Studies has roots in early feminist thought. Philosophers like Mary Wollstonecraft (e.g., A Vindication of...

Lilibeth A. Calonge, MA Instructor Historical Overview of Gender Studies  Origins and Foundations  Early Feminist Thought (18th–19th Century): Gender Studies has roots in early feminist thought. Philosophers like Mary Wollstonecraft (e.g., A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, 1792) argued for women’s education and equality. - These foundational ideas challenged patriarchal norms and laid the groundwork for gender as a social category.  Origins and  Foundations 19th Century Movements: Women’s suffrage movements in the 19th and early 20th centuries further emphasized the need to question societal roles assigned based on sex. This activism provided a political and social context for the eventual academic study of gender.  Second-Wave Feminism and the Birth of Gender Studies (1960s–1980s)  Second-Wave Feminism: The 1960s saw a surge in feminist movements focused on issues such as workplace inequality, reproductive rights, and gender roles. Influential works like Simone de Beauvoir’s “The Second Sex” (1949) explored the construction of womanhood, and Betty  Second-Wave Feminism and the Birth of Gender Studies (1960s–1980s)  Academic Institutionalization: Gender Studies emerged as a formal academic discipline during the 1970s, initially called "Women’s Studies." The field sought to examine women’s experiences, achievements, and marginalization. Universities in the U.S., such as San Diego State University, were among the first to offer Women’s Studies programs.  Theoretical Shifts and the Expansion to Gender Studies  Critique of the “Woman” Category: By the 1980s, scholars began questioning the universal category of "woman," acknowledging differences in experiences based on race, class, and sexuality. This led to the development of intersectionality, a concept coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw to describe overlapping systems of oppression.  Theoretical Shifts and the Expansion to Gender Studies  Introduction of Masculinity Studies: Scholars like R.W. Connell (e.g., Masculinities, 1995) began examining how masculinities are socially constructed and reinforced, expanding the field to include all genders.  Theoretical Shifts and the Expansion to Gender Studies  Queer Theory: Judith Butler’s “Gender Trouble” (1990) challenged binary understandings of gender, introducing the idea of gender as performative. Queer theory, influenced by figures like Michel Foucault, further critiqued heteronormativity and Michel emphasized fluidity in Foucault identities.  Global Perspectives (1990s–  2000s) Transnational Feminism: Gender Studies increasingly addressed global issues such as colonialism, development, and migration, emphasizing the need to consider diverse cultural contexts. Scholars like Chandra Talpade Mohanty (Under Western Eyes) critiqued Chandra Talpade Western-centric approaches Mohanty to feminism.  Global Perspectives (1990s–  2000s) Gender and Postcolonial Studies: Postcolonial theorists like Gayatri Spivak explored how colonial histories shaped gender roles and identities in formerly colonized societies. Gayatri Spivak  Contemporary Developments (2010s–Present)  Focus on Non-Binary and Contemporary Transgender Studies: Gender Studies increasingly engages with the experiences of transgender, non-binary, and gender- nonconforming individuals. This shift reflects growing societal awareness and activism around these identities.  Contemporary Developments (2010s–Present)  Interdisciplinary Approaches: The field now intersects with disciplines like sociology, anthropology, political science, and cultural studies, exploring topics like media representation, gender in technology, and environmental  Men’s Movementsjustice. and Toxic Masculinity: There has been renewed focus on deconstructing harmful aspects of masculinity and promoting healthier gender norms for all genders.  Challenges and Critiques  Backlash: - Gender Studies often faces criticism and backlash, particularly from conservative groups. - The field continues to defend the validity of studying gender as a  Decolonizing Gender Studies: critical lens for understanding society. - There is an ongoing push to make the discipline less Eurocentric and more inclusive of Indigenous and non-Western perspectives on gender.