Sociology Final Paper - Social Construction

81328489        Final PAPER

Deadline:         December 08 13:16

Pages:                 6, Double spaced

Sources:         1        

Order type:         Essay

Subject:         Sociology

Academic level: Master

Style:                 APA

Language:         English (U.S.)

Order Description

1. Define social construction. How does the social construction of EITHER gender or race shape health and wellness? Use examples from at least three course readings for support in your response. (25 pts)

Social construction can in simple terms be described as connotations or perceptions that are assigned to a person, event or object in relation to their interaction with each other. It is the manner in which society classifies people in accordance to their social, economic and gender status. The domain of social construction largely remains a perception that appears to be natural and also obvious to individuals who accept it. However this may not be a representation of reality and therefore it remains an invention of some people. Social construction is believed to play a big role in the shaping of gender, race and health of people in society. A large number are believed to live in segregation as a result of their gender, race and class. Race, gender and class do not have specific meaning, but they are given meaning by society. Individuals believe that they are either men or women because society tells them so. Nobody chooses to believe the kind of gender he or she belongs to, but society demands that an individual’s behaves in a manner deemed appropriate for the gender he/she belongs to. The first instance of social construction of gender begins at birth when a doctor looks at a new born’s genitalia to found out whether the baby will be classified as a girl or a boy.  A similar situation applied to racial background. There is no single person that chooses to be born in a particular race. However, society finds it wise to classify people in accordance with specific racial characteristics. Racial classification has been recognized as one of the most detrimental causes of segregation. The internal and external features of human beings are similar but this does not prevent society from classifying people according to how they speak or according to their skin color. Carr (2005) makes it clear that racial construction in the United States has resulted in discrimination of African Americans in almost all sectors of life including provision of health. She argues that the accessibility of minority communities to healthcare is wanting. Experts, as pointed out by Carr (2005), have noted that disparities associated with health care are more difficult to handle as compared to other inequalities. This argument is compounded by the fact that even though educational and asset attainment has increased steadily over the last few decades among African Americans, the ethnic gap in health and mortality remains.