Gender Ideologies in Local Context Essay

Present essay deals with analysis of sexual urge ideologies functioning in certain local contexts. The latter(prenominal) is discussed with the prism of interactionist nuzzle, which seems to be the most effective in terms of describing micro-level at which sex ideologies function. It provides with possibilities for studying how performative, discourse and social strategies of actors realized in local contexts are embedded in general sexual urge ideology framework. For the present analysis a arrest was chosen as the local context, where field study was conducted and gender ideologies reflection in interactions amidst custody and women were give outd.The central research question of this paper, hence, whitethorn be formulated as follows how do gender ideologies shape interactions between men and women in bar or night club? Gender ideologies in local contexts interactionist approach. Gender ideologies represent certain social and cultural constructs, which bodily structure th e perception of fe anthropoid and masculine identities, societal posts, family status and production relations etc (Philips, 2). Gender ideologies should be understood as a product of social structure, which fosters contrasting roles of men and women in society.For instance, it may be said that currently dominant perception of women in society was formed within predominantly antique discourse. Paradoxically, patriarchal perception of women affects their own gender ideology and individualism, which frequently corresponds with socially constructed identity. Hence, womens interactions with men are affected by the absence of their organic self-identity they are laboured to interact within the discourse created by men. However, the latter is realized through womens own discursive system, which may be described as the micro-level of gender ideology.As Lakoff suggests, women and men learn their distinct languages from the childhood, which being the part of universal language, in fac t reflect different identities in gender interactions (Lakoff, 222). Interactions, gibe to interactionist approach are based on endowing of certain subjective actions of the Other with meaning and symbols (Blumer, 45). In gender interactions, such(prenominal) meaning is ascribed to actions, based on gender ideologies. For instance, as Lakoff suggests of womens discourse, If she refuses to talk like a lady, she is ridiculed and subjected to criticism as unfeminine (Lakoff, 222).The latter example shows that gender ideologies are genuinely embedded in gender interactions, because they form the frame of understanding, actions meaning and behavior. Moreover, as Lakoff suggests, there exist considerable differences between womens and mens use of vocabulary, especially as far as the use of strong words, adjectives and particles are concerned (Lakoff, 223-224). The latter may be straightforward in any local context, including gender interactions in bar or nightclub, as it would be shown . Any local context activates specific constructions of gender ideology.According to Philips, nonwithstanding culture, on that point are at least quatern aspects of human experience that regularly enter into gender ideologies. These include work, appearance, sexuality and reproduction (Philips, 8). There is no denying the importance of the fact, that in the interactionist context, analyzed in this paper, such aspects as sexuality and appearance come into play in the first place. Based on these general theoretic considerations concerning gender ideologies let us analyze their reflection in concrete locations context of bar, based on the empirical data collected in the field study.Gender Ideologies in gender interactions in bar Field research for this study was conducted in Dirtbags Bar and Grille in Tucson, AZ on June 1, 2009 during 1030-Midnight. The data compendium orientation focused on observing how gender ideologies affect gender interactions in this situational context. Th e first observation includes objective behavioral patterns of men and women during their visit to bar. It was completed as a fact, that men may arrive to bar two in 3-4 individuals crowds and only when.Women, as the field study found never arrive al superstar(predicate), provided only with their boyfriend of female friend. The latter situation may be interpreted through the prism of Butlers approach to gender identity construction. According to Buttler, identity is constructed based on repetition of certain behavioral patterns, gestures, discourses etc (Butler, 519). The latter implies that social structures, existing in society already provide women with lasting behavioral orientations, taught to them by their families, older friends.One of such behavioral codes, which are flat linked to gender ideology may be described as the cultural taboo for visit entertainment public places all. Such taboo is connected first of all with institutionalized male perception of women, bei ng wholly in the bar or night club, as the invitation for sexual relations. Based on this perception, visiting bar alone for women automatically means moral fault, since she is immediately associated with prostitute etc. Unlike womens case, in mens gender ideology the problem of mans visiting bar alone does not exist, since it is not problematized as gender issue at all.Therefore, it is evident that men have more behavioral options and may choose between them to ones own like. Buttler suggests that gender identities and ideologies are constructed through theatrical and performative interactions (Buttler, 520). The latter is particular evident in womens focus on their overcharge, temporary hookup visiting the bar. Women are more disposed to put the emphasis on their own clothes and comment on the apparels of their female friends. They often made complements concerning good dress of each other.As the same time, men regularly have no tendency to comment on the clothes of their mal e friends. Instead, they often make complements to women concerning their dress. The latter observations show that gender ideology functions through performative and theatrical behavior reflected in the culture of dressing. Men are relatively indifferent to what their friends wear, however, pay much precaution to what women wear. The performative and theatrical role of gender ideologies is also evident in women and men behavior, when they enter the bar.Women express much more willingness to be noticed by public, including both men and women, as they immediately look for people they know. Unlike, women, men seem to be less tied by any social obligations as they often go straight to the bar and order drinks and only after this greet people they know. Moreover, a bar serves for men a spot to sit down, while women p meet staying near the bar and being attentive to what is going on around them. Gender ideological conventions concerning sexuality are also evident in the types of drinks o rdered by men and women.First of all, male gender ideology is obvious in the wide-spread practice of ordering drinks by men for women, especially as the part of acquaintance or showing sexual interest. Such behavior is often welcomed by women, who are embedded in gender ideologies of men, because women are prone to interpret such attention as the marker of sympathy and often use it in their own interest. As far as the type of beverages, rummy by men and women are concerned, men usually do not differentiate between different drinks, while women often order low gram calorie beverages such as diet coke and Bacardi or sugar free redbull.The latter shows that the majority of women are embedded in the discourse relating to their appearance and sexuality, which is according to Philips is one of the central aspects of gender ideology (Philips, 9). Women, embedded in gender ideology, try to follow its main conventions in any local context, including bar. Gender interactions in bar are also characterized by both and men and women behavior directed at emphasizing correspondingly their femininity and masculinity. Men in the confabulation with women ever so try to lower the pitch of their voices, while women often raise it.As Tannen suggests, such strategies are inherently gender, because they are affected by existing ideological representations of femininity and masculinity (Tannen, 169). In these ideological representations masculinity is characterized by the low pitch of voice, which is associated with men authority and womens high pitch, associated with her secondary role in society. Gender socialization patterns in bar are also very informative, as far as the reflection of gender ideologies is concerned. Women live more comfortable always being in company either of their female or male friends.In contrast, men may be either alone or in company without any differentiation. For women being in company guarantees the stability of her identity, because she may fully r ealize her performative and theatrical patterns of behavior. In contrast, being alone often causes negative gender connotations. Gender interactions in a bar are predominantly initiated by men, when a member of a male group offers a drink to a woman or a group of women. Often women refuse such invitations, however, in a majority of cases they agree evening if they feel compelled and uncomfortable in communicating with the large group of men.A man being alone, however, is less prone to initiate conversations with women, than if he finds himself in company. There is no denying the importance of the fact, that the discussed pattern of gender interactions in bar reflects certain features of dominant gender ideologies. As Butler suggests, gender interactions are regulated by social sanctions and taboos (Butler, 520). One of such taboos may be formulated as follows women are broadly speaking not eligible to initiate gender interactions with men such precession solely belongs to the lat ter due to their primary role in gender relations.The realization of this taboo is particularly evident in bar context, where women generally practise in such a manner in order to stimulate mens interest, however, their own interests is hidden from public. A woman may be interested in communicating with a given man, however, due to certain gender limitations she is more likely to refuse from her ambitions. Moreover, men usually feel uncomfortable when gender interactions are initiated by women, because it is usually mocked up in his male company.Hence, it may be postulated that taboos and limitations relating to gender interactions exist both in male and female gender ideologies. If a woman and a man know each other they usually greet by hugs, kisses and even if they are not engaged in romantic relations, they often show some kind of flirting. In personal interactions between men and women gender ideologies are also evident in mens primary role in initiating tactile scrawnyness wi th women, especially after alcohol drinks, including closeness, flirt, kisses, hugs, joking etc.Women, interested in such gender interactions, would not hesitate to communicate and flirt. However, a woman, who feels uncomfortable in this situation, according to the field study conducted, tries to use any possibility to fountain from such kind of interactions. Gender ideologies are also embedded in the purpose of men and women visiting bars. Men usually visit bars to interest after women and find the object of their sexual desires etc. Women may also visit bars in this purpose, however, their clear intentions are not seen so seemingly as that of men, hence, we may speak of dubious nature of their purpose.Such distribution of gender roles clearly resonates with dominant gender ideology, according to which men have the priority in initiating close gender relations. As far as dancing practices in bars are concerned, men are less prone to spring alone however, women have no qualms ab out it. Men prefer dancing if they want to initiate interactions with women in such a case they dance close to her. Apart from this, gender interactions in bar are often characterized by age limitations. Older women rarely visit such kind of places however, older men may be seen there more frequently.Conclusion Gender ideologies represent language reflection of certain social and behavioral patterns of men and women and society. They usually refer to different social roles, types of discourse, sanctions and taboos and behavior of men and women. The analysis of gender ideologies in local context of bar showed that they are reflected in concrete interactions. Men and women usually act according to well-established gender conventions of behavior, which are reflected in initiating interactions, purpose of bar visit, behavior in groups, intersexual behavior etc.Women seem to be comfortably affected by their representation in men gender ideologies, which means that they have no behavior al choices. In contrast, mens behavior is characterized by the possibility of choice between a wide range of options. Men may be either alone or with friends, initiate gender interactions or not etc. Women have virtually no choices they have refuse from initiating interactions, positively respond to any mens attempt to initiate communication, always be in a company etc.Moreover, gender interactions in bar reflect crucial social perceptions of women sexuality and appearance, which are the first aspect of gender coming into play in bar context. Women put emphasis on their appearance and clothes and often try to present their identity in performative and theatrical way, which according to Buttler, immediately links such kind of behavior to gender strategies. In contrast men, pay less attention to such things and behave in a more casual and free way. Finally, mens behavior in a bar is regulated by the lesser morsel of social sanctions and taboos.References Blumer, Herbert (1969). Symbo lic Interactionism Perspective and Method. Berkeley University of California Press. Butler, Judith. (1988). Performative Acts and Gender Constitution An Essay in Phenomenology and Feminist Theory. Theatre Journal. Vol. 40 4, (519-531). Lakoff, Robin. Extract from Language and fair sexs Place. Philips, Susan U. (1999). Gender Ideology, Cross Cultural Aspects. International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Oxford Elsevier Science Ltd. Tannen, Deborah. She is the Boss Women and Authority.