Analysis of your experience with a gendered and gendering institution
Gendered and gendering Institutions
According to Michael Messner, social institutions are both gendered and gendering. He describes a gendered institution as “an institution constructed by gender relations. As such, its structure and values (rules, formal organization, sex composition, etc.) reflect . . . conceptions of masculinity and femininity”(p. 133). These are also gendering institutions, or an “institution that helps to construct the current gender order,” including creating masculine and feminine identities (p. 133). Messner writes: “I view gender identity not as a ‘thing’ that people ‘have’ but as a process of construction that develops, comes into crisis, and changes as a person interacts with the social world. Through this perspective, it becomes possible to speak of ‘gendering’ identities rather than ‘masculinity’ and ‘femininity’ as relatively fixed identities or statuses. There is an agency in this construction; people are not passively shaped by their social environment” (p. 120).
The question
For this assignment, you will describe and analyze a gendered and gendering institution and its effects on the development of your gender/gendering identity. You should address the following questions:
A. How does this institution reflect dominant (or alternative) structures and values of gender?
B. How has this institution shaped your gender/gendering identity, beliefs, and practices?
C. How have you participated in this process?
You might think about, freewrite, or brainstorm ideas about some of the following institutions: family; elementary school, middle school, high school, or college; Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Campfire, or other youth organization; a cultural medium like comic books, music videos, video games, fashion magazines
, Sweet Valley High or Nancy Drew books, the Disney empire, WWF wrestling; playing on a sports team; being involved with a sorority or fraternity; or other institution or social organization.
Using readings
In addition to Messner, please use and cite at least one other reading from the course.
Essay structure and guidelines
Introduction: this should introduce the idea of gendered and gendering institutions and the institution you will analyze. Make sure to cite Messner! Describe the institution for someone who is not familiar with it, and indicate when you were involved and how you old were at the time. Your introduction should end with a thesis statement (1 or 2 sentences) that summarizes your analysis of the institution and how it gendered you. Your introduction should be about ½ page.
Body paragraphs
A. You should have 2-3 paragraphs (1 ½ – 2 pages) analyzing how the institution is gendered. Think about the rules, expectations, values, beliefs, structure, organization, etc.
B. You should have 2-3 paragraphs (1 ½ – 2 pages) analyzing how this institution has affected your gender identity, your daily practices of gender, and/or your beliefs about men and women.
C. You should discuss your social agency or active participation either in the body paragraphs or in the conclusion.
D. You could to organize these paragraphs in block format: i.e. first about A then B, OR, you could alternate between the two using a point-by-point format.
Conclusion: In your conclusion you might address your social agency or active participation in this process, or consider what you learned from reflecting on your experiences in this essay, or other strategy.
The Writing Process
Part of a general education course is to practice writing. In most cases, your writing will be stronger if you use a process rather trying to do it all at once at the last minute.