User:Ghalmars/sandbox

Used primarily in sociology and gender studies, the term "doing gender" refers to the concept of gender as a socially constructed performance which takes place during routine human interactions, rather than as a set of essentialized qualities based on one’s biological sex. . The term first appeared in Candace West and Don Zimmerman’s article “Doing Gender”, published in the peer-reviewed journal, Gender and Society. Originally written in 1977 but not published until 1987, “Doing Gender” is the most cited article published in Gender and Society. West and Zimmerman stress that to understand gender as activity, it is important to differentiate between sex, sex category, and gender. Sex refers to the socially agreed upon specifications that establish one as male or female.Sex is often based on an individual’s genitalia or their chromosomal typing before birth. West and Zimmerman consider sex categories to be dichotomous, and an actor is placed in a sex category by exhibiting qualities exclusive to one category or the other. During most interactions, others situate an actor’s sex by identifying their sex category however, West and Zimmerman stress that an actor’s sex need not align with their sex category. West and Zimmerman (1987) maintain that sex category is, “established and sustained by the socially required identificatory displays that proclaim one’s membership in one or the other category” (p.127). Gender is the performance of attitudes and actions that are considered socially acceptable for one’s sex category. West and Zimmerman demonstrate that the interactional process of doing gender, combined with socially agreed upon gender expectations, holds individuals accountable for their gender performances. West and Zimmerman maintain that while doing gender appropriately strengthens and promotes social structures based on the gender dichotomy, doing gender inappropriately does not call into question these same social structures; only the individual actor is questioned .The concept of “doing gender” recognizes that gender both structures human interactions and is created through them.

Hello- was looking at your article on doing gender. I think what you included enabled the reader to get a good idea and definition of the concept of doing gender. The way you were able to define the term made it easy for all to comprehend. Great job.