A Study In Gender Roles

Need this done by 27 March 2016 2300EST in APA format. Ensure that you read the direction to their entirety.

 

Have you ever thought about how much of everyday life is organized by gender? When you stop to think about it, much of what most people do during the routine of a normal day is categorized as either masculine or feminine. From the soap you use for that morning shower to the restroom you use when are work, much of what we do is influenced — even dictated — by what society says is appropriate because of our biological sex.

 

To explore this concept of a gendered society in more depth, you will use the Participant Observation Checklist to organize and conduct your research to identify and explain two examples of how society is segmented by gender at any single location in your community. You might choose a park, a grocery store, your favorite pub or fast food restaurant, a department store, or the local hardware store. Remember that you should be acting in both the participant and observer roles. Look around to see if there are obvious signs that gender determines some aspect of how people act in that location. Then, use the structural functional theory to explain how separating events, actions, or even merchandize by gender works to keep the overall society stable.

 

For example, if you chose to observe as a casual shopper in department store, one obvious sign that gender is important in how the store is organized is that there are likely two different departments for women’s and men’s clothing. That same department store would likely have restrooms designated for ladies and gentlemen, too. The structural-functional perspective would suggest that separating the clothing by gender makes it more convenient for shoppers to find what they want, and separate restrooms for men and women are thought to be necessary for reasons of modesty that are part of stable cultural patterns of behavior within this society.

 

Instructions:

 

Complete the Participant Observation checklist to assist you with organizing your research and to take notes during your observation. Then, using your observation notes, write a paper that has these elements:

 

• An introduction that explains the research conducted and the purpose of the paper
• Detailed descriptions of the two observed instances in which gender influenced the actions of people in the real world. Be sure to address these questions: Who? What? Where? When?
• An explanation that incorporates the structural-functional theory to explain how gender was at work to keep society orderly in the social setting that you chose.
• A summary that restates the main points of the paper and suggests one lesson learned from the observation that is applicable to your own life in a gendered world.

 

The paper should be between 4 and 5 pages, plus a title and reference page and include the Participant Observation Checklist as well. You should include in-text citations in APA format for at least one academic source in addition to the course text (below).

 

Reference: Macionis, John J. Sociology, 15th Edition. Pearson Learning Solutions, 10/2013. VitalSource Bookshelf Online.

SS144 Introduction to Sociology

Unit 4 Assignment

Participant Observation Checklist

 

 

Use this Checklist to record your observations for the Unit 4 Assignment to look for signs of everyday life organized by gender.

 

Remember that the intent of research is to identify and explain two examples of how society is segmented by gender at any single location in your community. You might choose a park, a grocery store, your favorite pub or fast food restaurant, a department store, or the local hardware store. Keep in mind that you should be acting in both the participant and observer roles. Look around to see if there are obvious signs that gender determines some aspect of how people act in that location.

 

Methods Notes:

 

Date and time of observation_________________________

 

Location of observation ___________________________

 

Description of the location (including the physical layout of the location):

 

 

 

 

 

Summary Notes:

 

Observation 1

 

· Who did you observe? (Describe their sex, age, race/ethnicity, size, attire, etc.)

 

· How were those you observed related or organized? (Were they family, friends, strangers, etc.?)

 

· What did it appear that they were doing there? (Work, entertainment, shopping, socializing, other)?

 

· What observations suggested that the subjects were (or were not) influenced by gender?

 

Observation 2

 

· Who did you observe? (Describe their sex, age, race/ethnicity, size, attire, etc.)

 

· How were those you observed related or organized? (Were they family, friends, strangers, etc.?)

 

· What did it appear that they were doing there? (Work, entertainment, shopping, socializing, other)?

 

· What observations suggested that the subjects were (or were not) influenced by gender?