Gender as Part of Social Consciousness
From birth we are categorized as either male or female. With this label come not only pink or blue toys, but also the title of superior and inferior, which will continue to affect us throughout our entire lives. What does this idea of gender mean to you? What does it mean to me? It seems that there is an overarching similarity but looking at this idea through the lenses of Durkheim’s ideas of the collective consciousness and collective representations we can understand how these categories and identifications are so much more powerful than simply checking “male” or “female” on a piece of paper.
Durkheim defined this idea of the collective consciousness as a compilation of beliefs that are common to the ordinary member of society (5). Some call it “common sense” or norms. While we all recognize the set of beliefs that are part of this collective consciousness, it can mean different things to each of us. That is where Durkheim’s idea of collective representations comes into play. Collective representations are the ways in which individuals interpret the pieces of the collective consciousness and how they represent it in their lives (7).
What exactly does this have to do with gender in our society? Well, while we all have a somewhat similar ideal of what this social construct of gender encompasses, it means different things for different people. The exact idea and representation one person has of gender are most likely very different from others. Each person has an internal picture of what gender means to them and represents it in their own unique way. What interests me most is how the overarching ideas of femininity and masculinity cause us to internalize a hierarchy between the two. How it causes us to see the two as opposites, rather than ideas that can coexist. How one is seen as inferior while the other is superior.
While our collective representations detach us from the collective consciousness, they do not completely tear us away; we are still connected to the overarching definition of what it means to be male or female and the social consequences of membership to either category (7).
From a young age we are either given pink easy bake ovens and strollers, or blue cars and footballs. From a young age we are socialized to be emotional, nurturing, self-sacrificing beings, or we are groomed to be aggressive, independent, emotionless beings. We grow up to fulfill specific, rigid gender roles. The ideas and definitions of these roles vary for each society and are part of the collective consciousness of each. We may try to outstretch the boundaries of what it means to be a woman, or fight for equality but the thing is that many of us unfortunately believe we already live in an equal world. We are sometimes blind to the oppressions women face, even many women are blind to them. But statistics don’t lie. While women represent 51% of the population, they only hold roughly 17% of the seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate (Upworthy). What does it mean to be a woman in 2013? It’s definitely a more progressive time and while the idea of gender roles as far as the collective consciousness goes has progressed with the times, women are still lagging behind. Women themselves are perpetuating inferiority. Focusing on what the opposite sex thinks of their appearance rather than what they have accomplished independently. While we have made strides this collective idea that women’s appearances overshadow their words or ideas is still very prevalent, and is only one of the unfortunate forms of oppression women face. All we have to do is look at the news and see the scrutiny female politicians are under. Does it really matter if Hillary Clinton is wearing make up or not, no one asked George W. Bush to put on a little concealer.
While we each have unique collective representations of what gender means to us and how we portray gender in our every day lives, our idea is still connected to the collective consciousness. And the belief in our society that still reigns very true, is that while woman are great—but they are still only second best to men.
Can we ever change what gender means as a part of our collective consciousness? We can use our unique collective representations and either let them fuel us and give us purpose to demand equality, or we can internalize the meaning our society has given to “woman” and continue to be second best. It’s up to us to construct our own collective representation and decide how it will affect our lives (8).
What does being a woman mean to you?
From birth we are categorized as either male or female. With this label come not only pink or blue toys, but also the title of superior and inferior, which will continue to affect us throughout our entire lives. What does this idea of gender mean to you? What does it mean to me? It seems that there is an overarching similarity but looking at this idea through the lenses of Durkheim’s ideas of the collective consciousness and collective representations we can understand how these categories and identifications are so much more powerful than simply checking “male” or “female” on a piece of paper.
Durkheim defined this idea of the collective consciousness as a compilation of beliefs that are common to the ordinary member of society (5). Some call it “common sense” or norms. While we all recognize the set of beliefs that are part of this collective consciousness, it can mean different things to each of us. That is where Durkheim’s idea of collective representations comes into play. Collective representations are the ways in which individuals interpret the pieces of the collective consciousness and how they represent it in their lives (7).
What exactly does this have to do with gender in our society? Well, while we all have a somewhat similar ideal of what this social construct of gender encompasses, it means different things for different people. The exact idea and representation one person has of gender are most likely very different from others. Each person has an internal picture of what gender means to them and represents it in their own unique way. What interests me most is how the overarching ideas of femininity and masculinity cause us to internalize a hierarchy between the two. How it causes us to see the two as opposites, rather than ideas that can coexist. How one is seen as inferior while the other is superior.
While our collective representations detach us from the collective consciousness, they do not completely tear us away; we are still connected to the overarching definition of what it means to be male or female and the social consequences of membership to either category (7).
From a young age we are either given pink easy bake ovens and strollers, or blue cars and footballs. From a young age we are socialized to be emotional, nurturing, self-sacrificing beings, or we are groomed to be aggressive, independent, emotionless beings. We grow up to fulfill specific, rigid gender roles. The ideas and definitions of these roles vary for each society and are part of the collective consciousness of each. We may try to outstretch the boundaries of what it means to be a woman, or fight for equality but the thing is that many of us unfortunately believe we already live in an equal world. We are sometimes blind to the oppressions women face, even many women are blind to them. But statistics don’t lie. While women represent 51% of the population, they only hold roughly 17% of the seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate (Upworthy). What does it mean to be a woman in 2013? It’s definitely a more progressive time and while the idea of gender roles as far as the collective consciousness goes has progressed with the times, women are still lagging behind. Women themselves are perpetuating inferiority. Focusing on what the opposite sex thinks of their appearance rather than what they have accomplished independently. While we have made strides this collective idea that women’s appearances overshadow their words or ideas is still very prevalent, and is only one of the unfortunate forms of oppression women face. All we have to do is look at the news and see the scrutiny female politicians are under. Does it really matter if Hillary Clinton is wearing make up or not, no one asked George W. Bush to put on a little concealer.
While we each have unique collective representations of what gender means to us and how we portray gender in our every day lives, our idea is still connected to the collective consciousness. And the belief in our society that still reigns very true, is that while woman are great—but they are still only second best to men.
Can we ever change what gender means as a part of our collective consciousness? We can use our unique collective representations and either let them fuel us and give us purpose to demand equality, or we can internalize the meaning our society has given to “woman” and continue to be second best. It’s up to us to construct our own collective representation and decide how it will affect our lives (8).
What does being a woman mean to you?