In this reading, we learn gender in a social institution. A social institution is part of the society that teaches and controls the behavior and expectations of individuals. We have usually discussed that the main reason for the gender difference is due to the stereotypical definition of gender. Where do they come from? It is as if we have been automatically installed into knowing the stereotypes of gender. If we see the 12 patterns of social institutions by sociologist Patricia Yancey Martin, gender falls under all of these patterns. Gender has been in our society for a long period, it isn’t something that just came up in one’s person mind and made a theory about it, Gender has been determined also due to the factor of sex( reproduction factor) followed by almost all human race in this world and also has been internalized as the part of one’s identity, boy or girl.
This reading talks about how discrimination regarding race and gender is always kept at a macro level (institutional level through the law, policies to enforce social norms.) Different rules or culture brings a difference between gender. Back home in Nepal, in every public bus, there is a bold announcement that particular seats are reserved for females only, or even in our constitution certain amounts of seats in parties are allocated to females and underprivileged groups of people. Someone might see this as a way to encourage them but for me, it is a way of creating more gender differences. It is a direct or indirect way of showing them in less power. It is expected from males and other upper-class people to be in politics or even be a doctor or engineer but for women and other minorities, they have to separate seats for them. I am not saying that these steps shouldn’t be taken but on the other hand, it can also be seen as institutionalized discrimination.
In Nepal, there is a caste system. Particular castes are high and are considered as students of god while others are lower caste groups or so-called untouchable. The untouchable group wasn’t allowed to touch the water or food or even the place where the so-called upper caste people live. You weren’t allowed to be friends with them and if you were caught not the upper caste, but the lower caste was killed. It was normal for a long time in Nepal, especially in village areas until a new law was introduced. It was normal for untouchable people to die and it was normal for a male to hit their wives. Violence was normal for a particular group of people.
As said, nobody is born being racist or sexist but different factors and institutions play a big role in creating social norms that they are believed and followed by people all around therefore giving the definition of so-called normal.
