From the research you have done, compare and contrast the findings related to your topic that take an essentialist perspective on gender with the findings that take a social constructionist perspective.

The Social Construction of Gender

1. Pick a topic related to the gendered nature of social life; for example, gendered bodies; gendered families; gender and work. Research the literature on this topic and decide on your particular focus; for example, the medicalization of menstruation; the division of labour, sexual harassment in the workplace.

2. From the research you have done, compare and contrast the findings related to your topic that take an essentialist perspective on gender with the findings that take a social constructionist perspective.

How do those coming from each of these perspectives problematize or explain the phenomenon you have chosen? How has society’s views related to the phenomenon changed over time?

3. Conclude your essay by demonstrating the advantages of a social constructionist perspective on gender.

4. To do your research you should include at least 4 (four) academic references none of which can be assigned texts for the course and at least three must be other than a website (e-journals are okay). And yes, feel free to cite as many of the assigned texts for the course as needed.

5. The paper should follow usual scholarly protocol in terms of style and format.
Sociologists use particular methods for citing sources, formatting a bibliography, creating a title page, and so on.

These are all outlined in the Sociology Style Guide or the ASA Style Guide which you will be expected to follow. You should produce an essay between eight to ten pages in length (2000 to 2500 words). Include a word count on the title page (not including your bibliography).

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