How do various societies construct gender identities,sexual practices Essay

How do various societies construct gender identities,sexual practices and gendered bodies - Essay Example Anthropologists are primarily concerned with finding solutions to human problems. They eventually have to create a body of knowledge so as to be better placed to tackle human problems and devise appropriate solutions. Anthropologists are usually trained in one of four areas, one of which is socio-cultural anthropology. This area of interest explores social patterns coupled with cultural practices. When one dives into the mechanics of society workings, certain features are common to each and every community. In connection to this, there also exist differences in characteristics, traditions and customs. This article will endeavor to expound on such differences, however, the focus will be on gender identities, sexual practices and gendered bodies. With this goal in mind, five articles will be analyzed so as to quench the thirst on these three factors. Analysis Gender identity is the classification of one as either male or female. It is how an individual sees himself or herself. It is th e apparent manifestations that result from the personality of an individual. It has the ability to reflect on ones gender identity. Gender identity is self identified and results from intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Many at times gender identity can be confused with gender roles. The latter denotes behavior manifested by factors acquired through observation; this can be exemplified by behavior and appearance. Thus, the gender role is often an outward expression of a person’s gender identity.... Many physical sports are considered the bed play for men. As such, men view sports as a male’s only endeavor. This ought to be regarded as male chauvinism (Eugenides, n.p.). The American society best exemplifies this by aligning sports with the male sex. Society has accepted the notion that the brazen nature of male dominated sports is proof enough that it should not be associated with women in any sense. This stereotypical approach has also been adopted by advertisers. A close look at the transformation of the advertisement from a decade ago gives elaboration on this issue. Society has, since the dawn of time, associated sports with the consumption of alcohol. There apparently seems to be something about the adrenalin that comes out of watching contact sports that stimulate the consumption of alcohol. To give assumptions why this is the case will be to indulge into the creation of conjectures without content. As such, this writer will refrain from such endeavors such wild end eavors. Advertisements created in the 1950s to 1960s depicted the consumption of alcohol to be a non bias activity, meaning that both male and female population was expected to partake in it equally. However, as time goes by it has emerged that sports and alcohol is now synonymous with the male gender. This clear alienation of women from the picture is quite a fact that the American society has adopted. Since the 1970s, alcohol has been regarded as the end reward of a day’s work (Messner 484). Apparently, women never perform a hard day’s work since men are the only ones who are worthy of this reward. The American male population seems to source their gender identity from the consumption of alcohol and watching of contact sports. To cement this fact, the men have and are