Gender Essays (1748 words) - Gender, Judith Lorber, Gender Role

Gender Definition When studying "gender," the first task is to clearly define what it is not. Gender simply can not be defined by one's anatomy. In other words, gender is not categorized as male or female. Stating this fact is of the utmost importance, because most people would define gender in such a way. In fact, some dictionaries actually define gender as "See sex." So now that I have withdrawn that determinant, I must conclude that gender is something which is determined socially. Unfortunately, the concept is far too broad to have one clear definition. It can be studied in so many different ways, and it is because of this that there are a multitude of theories about it. Learning about differing theories stimulates one's own beliefs about gender and its usefulness. Every sociology litterateur is aware of the socialization theory. Socialization and the study of gender are often linked. In terms of gender, the socialization theory suggests that children are taught to behave a certain way according to their sex. Boys are taught to be masculine and girls to be feminine. For example, parents will often buy boys trucks or army toys and for girls, they will buy dolls and playhouse sort-of toys. Boys are played with in a rough manner and are taught to "tough it out" when they get hurt. Girls are taught to be more passive and expressive of their feelings. Also, children learn by observing their parents and the roles that they play. Girls love pretending to be the "mommy." Chores are also divided. Those chores that are more "masculine" are for the boys such as taking out the trash and raking leaves. Girls help in the kitchen and with cleaning. The socialization theory is accepted by many, but it does not account for everything. This theory is limiting in that it doesnot allow one to study gender in a macro sense. This theory cannot explain why or how gender came about. It also doesn't provide an answer for how gender inequality began or how it can be minimized. Many theorists take the socialization theory and expand on it. One of the most unique theories on gender comes from Judith Lorber, a professor of sociology. Lorber's book, "Paradoxes of Gender," introduces her idea of gender being a social institution. Lorber views gender inequality from this perspective. It is difficult to explain all aspects of Lorber's theory without sounding repetitive, because so much is interrelated. She critiques all of the popular beliefs about gender. Gender is not the assumptions or beliefs about males and females; it is not the roles that males and females play; it is not male and female status; it is certainly not anatomy, and it is not strictly socialization. "Gender is a social structure that has its origins in the development of human culture, not in biology or procreation. As is true of other institutions, gender's history can be traced, its structure examined, and its changing effects researched." (Lorber, p.1) LLorber does not view gender at the individual level, but rather as a social construction that establishes norms for individuals which are built into the major societal organizations. The development of gender inequality is the main focus of Lorber's discussion of gender. According to Lorber, roles are gendered. Either sex can participate in opposite gendered roles. The problem is that males are expected to be masculine and women to be feminine. Those jobs that are more feminine have lower statuses, thus lower pay. So we now begin to see where inequality comes into play. An interesting point that Lorber makes about this is that women are to blame for this as well as men. When a woman chooses to go into a female-dominated field, she is perpetuating inequality by contributing to masculinism. However, when a female works in a male-dominated field, she must become a social man. For example, in the work force, CEOs are supposed to possess masculine traits. A female CEO must be aggressive, dominant, and non-sympathetic. So when females become social men, they are looked down upon. Most of these women are thought to be too aggressive and unappealing. They have failed at being a "woman." The same goes for men in female-dominated jobs, although for men, there isn't much of a problem simply because there aren't very many men who take feminine jobs due to their lower statuses. Naturally, female-dominated jobs are seen as feminine. If a man were to take a female-dominated job, he would be expected to act as a social woman. The fact that a

How to Make Playdough 6 Easy DIY Recipes

How to Make Playdough 6 Easy DIY Recipes SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Most of us have played with playdough at some point. Brand name Play-Doh, it's a staple of most childhoods. But what actually is playdough and how is it made? We'll discuss what exactly playdough is and offer some of our favorite recipes and tips on how to make natural DIY playdough right at home. What Is Playdough? Playdough is one of those familiar substances that immediately sparks feelings of nostalgia. From it's soft, pliable texture to its distinctive smell, we all think we know playdough. But what exactly is it? In short, Play-Doh is a modeling compound made primarily from flour, water, salt, borax and mineral oil. Natural recipes have cream of tartar, a white crystalline compound found in baking powder, and can be made with a variety of oils. Play-Doh is soft and malleable, and can be reused as long as it's stored properly. I'm sure a lot of us remember the disappointment we faced when we came back to our awesome Play-Doh creations to find them dried out and crusty. Proper storage is key with both store bought and homemade playdough. Where Did Play-Doh Come From? Play-Doh has come a long way from its origins as a cleaning product, and was even inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1998. Play-Doh was originally created as a non-toxic, non-staining putty to remove coal stains from wallpaper by Noah and Cleo McVicker of the soap manufacturing company, Kutol Products. After World War II, the demand for coal-removing putties essentially disappeared. The country turned to natural gas for energy instead of coal, and vinyl wallpaper meant that even when coal was used, it rarely stained. With its original use obsolete, the makers looked for a new way to market the product in the mid 1950's. Schoolteacher Kay Zufall took the putty to her classroom, and Play-Doh as we know it was born. The creators tweaked the formula, and Zufall named the iconic toy "Play-Doh." The product re-launched in 1956, with a marketing campaign that consisted of TV spots and in-store demonstrations in retail giants like Macy's. By 1958, the company sold $3 million worth of Play-Doh. Play-Doh is currently owned and manufactured by Hasbro. Homemade Playdough Recipes While we love traditional Play-Doh, DIY playdough can be just as fun as playing with it! Keep in mind that homemade playdoughs won't last as long as store-bought Play-Doh, and all playdough should always be put back in a sealed container when not in use. Most natural recipes contain flour and cream of tartar. We put together a list of recipes with those ingredients, as well as ones without. Remember, store-bought Play-Doh has flour and is not allergy-safe for those allergic to wheat products. Flour-free homemade playdough is a great alternative. Check out some of our favorite recipes! Playdough Recipes with Flour and Cream of Tartar If you're looking to make an edible playdough with easy to find ingredients, check out these two recipes. What You'll Need: Flour Water Cream of Tartar Vegetable Oil Food Coloring The Best Homemade Playdough Recipe from Tinkerlab Why We Love It: The link above shows the full recipe, and also has a link to a great no-cook playdough recipe in the post. This recipe makes a soft, long lasting playdough and is super easy to follow. A Simple All-Natural Homemade Playdough Recipe from DIY Natural Why We Love It: This recipe is all-natural, and can be made with or without cream of tartar. It's one of the more inexpensive recipes, and should last for several months with proper storage. Flour-FreePlaydough Recipes For playdough with no flour, try one of these easy recipes. What You'll Need Cornstarch Baking Soda Water Oil Food Coloring Allergy-Free Play Dough Recipes from the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology Why We Love It: Since wheat allergies are a growing issue amongst kids and adults, the American Academy of Asthma and Immunology put together these fun and helpful recipes for playdough that is both flour-free and edible! How to Make Playdough Without Flour so You Can Avoid Any All Playtime Risks from Romper Why We Love It: This Romper post offers a few recipes for flour-free kids, including a super creative one on how to turn Peeps into playdough. They're fun and creative and allergy-safe. Cream of Tartar-Free Recipes These recipes for how to make playdough are the easiest around, requiring no specialty ingredients and little to no cooking. What You'll Need Flour Salt Water Oil Food coloring How to Make Natural Play Dough Without Cream of Tartar from livesimply Why We Love It: Not only is this recipe cream of tartar-free, but it is definitely one of the quickest recipes on our list, and can be made with items you probably already have at home. It's also (technically) edible, so safe for curious kids. How To Make Playdough Recipe Without Cream of Tartar from Stay at Home Educator Why We Love It: This recipe is no cook, which means that you get to dive right in and mix it up with your hands. It's soothing to make and fun to play with when finished! 6 Tips for Making Great Playdough Whichever recipe you choose- or maybe you'll try them all- making playdough is a blast. Here are some tips to make sure you get the most out of your homemade playdough. Use gel food coloring. It'll help the playdough stay stain-free throughout continued use. Make sure to always store your playdough in an airtight container. You can usually substitute other flours, like almond and coconut, to make wheat-free playdough, if you find that a recipe with flour works best for you but still need it to be wheat-free. Playdough should be cheap and easy to make (which is part of the fun!) so don't get caught up in complicated recipes or expensive ingredients. When picking a recipe, make sure to check how much playdough it makes. You may have to double or triple the recipe to have enough playdough for multiple kids or more than one color. Most recipes allow you to mix in scents too! Playdough is all about having fun, and making it can be just as exciting as playing with it. It's a great rainy day activity for kids, or fun way for adults to make their own scented stress ball. Unlike playdough itself, making it and playing with it never gets old. What's Next? Love making playdough? It's time for slime! Check out our favorite slime recipes. Educational activities should be fun, too. Luckily, we have 37 kid-friendly science experiments to choose from, and ideas for pipe-cleaner crafts. And if you're headed outside, learn about the types of clouds!