Sally: If Ses, Gender constructs...Presentd, 277 words

If sex, gender and sexuality are constructs our society has made up and perpetuate in daily life, what purpose do they continue to serve?

The values and attitudes we hold come from a variety of sources and are reinforced in many different ways. They have a powerful influence on our thoughts, feelings and behavior, as well as on our relationships.
In our society there is a code of written laws and guidelines to safeguard every person and there are unwritten rules we carry in our heads.
Many of the unwritten rules tell us that we “should,” “ ought” or “must” behave in certain ways. Not all of them are positive or helpful. Some of them can be contradictory, or do not seem to fit with our experience.
Often we can recognize unwritten rules by listening for the words “should,” “ought” and “must,” in the things that are said. If we hear ourselves or other people using them, we can ask ourselves whether it is an unwritten rule which helps or hinders us in feeling safe. By recognizing the unwritten rules in society we can begin to develop an understanding of our values, where they come from and identify possible changes in them we may want to make.

In terms of sex, gender and sexuality, roles were defined in order to help people understand relationships to one another. By defining social rules, we are able to define and predict behavior. But some of these rules were established for reasons that no longer exist, or were needless to begin with. By educating others and giving accurate information, we can change these ideas that are no longer appropriate or needed.