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Gender, the

Gender is an important category of analysis in the social science and cultural studies and a central starting point in gender equality policy. It describes gender identity or rather social gender roles.

Tied to it are behaviors, activities, characteristics, living conditions, and opportunities that a particular society deems appropriate for different genders. For example, depending on gender, political involvement, living conditions such as exposure to violence, distribution of money, stereotypes, role assignments, or dominant images in the media may differ. 

Gender is seen as socially constructed, i.e. it is socially and politically conditioned, historically changeable and culturally different. It is thus not a "private matter" but a part of the social structure, e.g., through institutional anchors such as the state registration of gender.

The term gender was adopted into German because in German 'Geschlecht' is primarily associated with the biological sex, which in English is called sex. (Learn about the critique of the separation of sex and gender in our entry about Sex).


Sources (in German)

  • Becker-Schmidt, R. & Knapp, G.A. Feminist Theories for Introduction. Junius Verlag, 2000.
  • Degele, N. Gender/Queer Studies - An Introduction. Wilhelm Fink, 2008.
  • Meissner, H. "Die soziale Konstruktion von Geschlecht - Erkenntnisperspektiven und gesellschaftstheoretische Fragen. Gender...politik...online, 2008.

The glossary is meant to evolve through mutual exchange with readers.

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