The Three Themes
How do we know that we belong to our society?
Individuals gain a sense of belonging in a society by developing behaviours and values congruent with the dominant or situational norms of communities, cultures, subcultures and groups. There are associated sanctions in the form of rewards and punishments if behaviour is accepted or rejected.
We are actively involved in interpreting and selecting the standards, rules of behaviour and ways of being in our society from individuals, mentors, role models, groups, communities, cultural representations, icons, the media and accepted social frameworks.
Biological or natural theories present explanations of gender based on the influence of nature more than of culture. The effects of male and female hormones have some bearing on sex differences. The differences themselves however, are defined by the influence brought to bear upon knowledge and experience by social expectations and practices.
Why do men often hurt themselves, women, children and other men?
Evidence of violence by males in society is commonplace. Men are the major perpetrators of domestic/family violence, sexual assault and sexual harassment of women. They are the major perpetrators of child abuse and of violence to other men.
Young men are more likely than young women to die from self-destructive behaviours involving road accidents, suicide, drug dependence and other injuries.
When men identify with traditional practices of masculinity as their preferred choice they assume dominant power and status over women and children. In this process they deny and desensitise some of their emotional experience. This often results in violence and disrespect towards the women and children they live with and feel close to. It may also cause harm to themselves and other men.
There are many ever-changing practices and expressions of masculinity and femininity in our society.
Women's and men's identities and relations are in a continuous process of change in contemporary society.
There is a growing recognition of and intervention in unhealthy and repressive aspects of male and female oppositional frameworks. Tolerance and acceptance of the diversity of gendered practices in Australian society is generally improving. However, the construction of femaleness and female experience as negative and in opposition to maleness and male experience continues to be evident in the following areas:
- relations between the sexes and the degree of danger and violence to women pervasive in those relations;
- intra- and inter-family identities and relations;
- paid and unpaid work, training and development, career pathways;
- decision-making in civic and political life.
