Ethnographic Inquiry Into Sexed Gendered Space
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Transcript of Ethnographic Inquiry Into Sexed Gendered Space
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Nicholas Kim Cooper Anth215002 March 04, 2015
The Application of Space through Gender Variables (Ethnographic Inquiry)
To understand the interplay of gender subjectivities, my research primarily focused on
the male and female interactions at American University’s Terrace Dining Room (TDR). I
conducted interviews of two individuals, one male and one female. By choosing a small sample
size, I was able to observe and analyze these two subjects in their movements in space. After this
brief experiment, each of the two participants drew personalized maps of TDR, which focused on
spaces where they felt both comfortable and uncomfortable.
May, a female identifying 20year old drew me a map of TDR’s specific food locations.
This map was designed through a vertical listing system that used a descending order
arrangement (the highest representing tranquility and the bottom designated to displeasure). In
terms of placement, the yogurt, salad, and pasta stations were at the top of the list, while the
dessert and hamburger stations were at the bottom of the map. May stated that this map
represented her gender identity as a form of her own ‘comfort levels’ when she ate with groups
of people.
Following May’s layout, I asked James, a male identifying 20year old to draw me a map
of TDR’s food stations in accordance to the listing system. In this case, James had difficulties in
ranking stations and took longer than May while completing this exercise. Eventually, the end
product became a horizontal line, which ranked the pizza, hamburger, and dessert sections at the
same level. In response to his map, James stated, “I never have a problem for being judged with
what I eat, so creating an ordered list would not make sense.”
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Recollecting on the two points of view, the subjects I interviewed held exceptionally
different conceptions and thoughts. For James, being concerned about what he ate did not faze
him at any level. Plainly speaking, James seemed to be apathetic to the space that surrounded
him. However, May was more immersed to the changes around her environment. The concept
regarding external criticism seemed to be the rationale for May’s ideology of the perfect female
figure.
Based on the experiences and maps of May and James, the concept of gender
discrimination can be interpreted under the premise of social constructionism. According to
Althusser (1971), “every social formation must reproduce the conditions of its production at the
same time it produces, and in order to be able to produce” (p.128). Therefore, Althusser (1971)
used the school system as a procedure for children to “learn the ‘rules’ of good behaviour”
(p.132). For May, the idea of being judged for what she eats could signify how media, school,
politics, and other variables create a model of the quintessential female. These “rules of good
behaviour” have become embedded into May’s everyday life, to the point where she was able to
construct a vertical list of her own ‘comfort levels’.
To understand how society has formulated the basis of these models, finding evidence
becomes crucial to uncovering how the experiences of May and James were completely
independent from one another. According to Martin (1991), “the scientific accounts of
reproductive biology relies on the stereotypes central to our cultural definitions of male and
female” (p.485). Martin uses scientific textbooks to outline society’s perceptions on gender roles.
For example, Martin (1991) finds “all major scientific textbooks depict male and female
reproductive organs as systems for the production of valuable substances,” (p.486) however the
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sperm and eggs are written differently. For the maturation of the sperm, “the action is described
as ‘the most amazing characteristic of spermatogenesis is its sheer magnitude,’ which shows the
female author marveling at this task” (p.486487). On the other hand, menstruation is explained
as “a chaotic disintegration of form that is described as ‘ceasing,’ ‘dying,’ and ‘expelling’ in
many texts” (p.486).
Using the theories of both Martin and Althusser, we can project and confirm ideas about
social constructionism and its implications around the stereotypical binary. Althusser’s concept
revolves around ideas that are passed down through generations, thus becoming social
constructions. However, without references to back up this claim, Althusser’s ideas are
considered baseless and fallacious.
To back up Althusser, Martin was able to create examples directly from scientific
textbooks to exhibit credibility. By examining the physical differences in males and females,
Martin was able to dissect the terms used to describe reproductive organs. Throughout her paper,
a key concept conceptualized how the stereotypical binary shown in widely printed textbooks
have used a different structure and vocabulary throughout history. However, these sources of
material would still relay the same message of masculinizing men and exhibiting women as
fragile beings.
The great Spanish philosopher George Santayana stated, “Those who cannot remember
the past are condemned to repeat it.” For May, her anxiety is not only confined within herself,
but shows how many women around the world feel and perceive beauty to fit society’s standards.
The issues of gender discrimination can only be combated by understanding the history behind it
and creating awareness to this problem.
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References Cited
Althusser, L. (1971). Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses. Retrieved from
https://blackboard.american.edu/bbcswebdav/pid2898996dtcontentrid10490894_1/courses/A
NTH2150022015S/Althusser.pdf
Martin, E (1991). The Egg and the Sperm: How Science has Constructed a Romance Based on
Stereotypical MaleFemale Roles. Retrieved from
https://blackboard.american.edu/bbcswebdav/pid2889397dtcontentrid10479234_1/courses/A
NTH2150022015S/Martin%201991%20The%20Egg%20and%20the%20Sperm.pdf