Gender characteristics are established at a very young age; these characteristics and gender views then follow us throughout our lifetime. As children, we are taught to act, dress, and view the opposite gender in a particular way. In my sociology of sport class, it was made apparent that the rather stereotypical views of gender we learn at a young age are prevalent as we age. This process is known as borderwork, or “interaction based on and even strengthening gender boundaries” (Thorne, 344). This borderwork creates memorable gender views that were evident in my sociology of sport class.
As children we are influenced by an “exaggeration of gender difference and disregard for the presence of crosscutting variation and sources of commonality” (Thorne, 349). In other words, we are taught that girls and boys should be separated from one another in activities because they “are separate and fundamentally different, as individuals and as groups” (Thorne, 350). In my sociology of sport class we discussed the idea of girls and boys playing on the same team together, and the reaction was very negative, especially from the boys in my class. They stated that girls and boys should not be mixed with one another when playing sports because girls are not as athletic as boys. This view most likely stems from their childhood and the involvement of boys in sports, while girls participated in other “female appropriate” activities.
This superiority of males over females is a common power dynamic in gender, and was also present when the males in my class interacted with my female teacher. When dealing with gender “the masculine is often valued over the feminine,” and many boys in my class believed this to be true. When my female teacher made comments about equality between men and women, her statements were often challenged by my male classmates, even if she had legitimate proof and evidence to back them up. This disrespect of her teaching ability and legitimacy as a teacher was also called into question throughout the entire semester, no matter what the topic was. In past years, a male professor taught this class and, even though he taught the same material, his statements were never questioned. This occurrence makes evident that, even when dealing with an authority figured, gender discrimination and power differences are still prevalent. Thus, the gender borderwork we experience as children can have a great effect on our views as adults.
