Example research essay topic: Differences Between Men Male And Female - 1,084 words

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Analysis of Engendering America Within this text, gender is being defined as the meaning that comes along with the sexual differences between men and women. Since the meanings that are attached to the differences between the sexes change over time and vary throughout ethnic groups, races, social and economic classes, and regions, it can be deducted that gender is not a natural occurrence but instead it is created, or constructed, by people. While the specific differences between male and female bodies are biological, they are exacerbated by the influences, or gender constructions, that occur as a result. Male individuals are generally encourages to eat, exercise, think, and behave differently from female individuals starting at an early age, and this leads to a buildup of differences that in sum is the gender of an individual.

While it is not known if male and female individuals would be the same if they were treated exactly equal, it is a possibility. In the development of the United States, this idea of gender also changed and developed into a new sort of belief system. Industrialization had far-reaching effects both socially and economically to the country, but it also changed the status of gender. While business and manufacturing replaced agriculture and handwork as a source of income and food for families, the gender roles within those families also experienced a shift. A larger gap between the male and female genders emerged as men went to work in industry, and focused not on yielding what was needed to eat for their family, but on earning a family wage.

In turn, women did not take part in this industrialization in the same way as men did, because the jobs were very stereotyped and masculinized, keeping women out of the most lucrative jobs. Women also were kept out of trade unions because it was believed that they would undercut men's wages, and because of this they could not attain the same salaries or positions within factories that men were able to attain. As a result of all of this segmentation and separation, specific gender roles because very tied up in industry and were a large part of the industrialization of the country. In the period between 1890 and 1930, the very pronounced gender system experienced gender anarchy as a result of the varied pressures and changes that were happening to the country. The United States economy was booming, and because of this there were immigrants pouring in from all over the world in hopes of taking advantage of the economic opportunity. Each group of immigrants came from diverse cultures, and brought along with them differing gender systems to mix into the U.

S. gender landscape. The new immigrants lived in extreme poverty, and to survive everyone had to work. Because of this, there was no clear breadwinner of the household, which helped blur the lines of gender identity that had been set up.

During this period, the new woman also emerged. She was adventurous, athletic, and more independent. In all, she was highly involved in blurring the gender lines. One of the great causes of the new woman was women's access to higher education, which allowed them to charge into new fields of work such as nursing, librarianship, and social work. Along with these, women began to participate in areas of employment that had been previously reserved for men.

With these changes also came the activism that helped win women new rights, which worked to further blur gender roles. With these large changes in gender identity for women, there were also important changes in gender identity for men. While changes in industry opened new opportunities for women, it was also perceived to affect the independence of men. They had once owned their own farms and small businesses, and with the changes in the economy through industrialization they had lost this important part of their independence and therefore gender identity through becoming an employee of a larger company or factory.

With this loss they had to find a new way to demonstrate their strong male identity. One of the ways they did this was through politics, which grew into partisan affiliations that were kept selective and discriminatory. They also took part in the strenuous life, including comparative sports like fencing, shooting, wrestling, or boxing. The Gender Revolution was brought on by large historical events that challenged the status of gender identity in the country. First, during the stage of gender anarchy a new freedom was won for women and the status of men was challenged. As soon as this changed state had been established, the Great Depression occurred.

This event further challenged male independence, and brought forth the need for all to work more equally. Then World War II forced women into all male roles while the majority of men that were of-age were overseas fighting. Finally, the Cold War brought forth large changed in gender relations. During the unquiet fifties, there was a re-emphasis on the differences between men and women, homosexuals were highly unaccepted, and at the same time both men and women continued to work side by side in the workforce. Gender protest took place in the the 1960 's and 70 's, and was a movement to help women gain greater equality to men through legal means. Gender protest continues today, and can be seen through individual actions, such as women demanding entry into once all-male schools or private associations, or entering into traditionally male professions such as plumbing or firefighting.

In the same way, men today enter into female roles such as nursing. These and many other forms of gender protest make up the gender revolution that continues today, because gender roles continue to adversely affect any individual who does not prescribe to them, such as homosexuals who wish to fight in the military or women who want equal pay and treatment to men in the workplace. From the early stirrings of gender identity during the industrialization of the U. S. to the fight for gay rights that currently takes place, many changes have happened to the status of gender identity in our country.

Women have gained and lost rights through history, and men have been forced to deal with ongoing changes in their roles as well. Gender has impacted every person's path in life throughout the past hundred years, and it will continue to play a large role in deciding the path of individuals into the future. Reference Michel, Sonya. Engendering America.

New York: McGraw Hill, 1999.

Research essay sample on Differences Between Men Male And Female