Answer to Question #267623 in Sociology for prashant

Question

Discuss the relationship between biological essentialism and social constructivism, or sex and gender, with reference to kinship structures and position of women with examples from any of the case studies of kinship (Nuer, Punjabi kinship, Brahmin kinship in South India, kinship among marginal castes in a Tamil village) 

Answer 1

Modern essentialism consists of a belief that certain phenomena are natural, inevitable, and biologically determined. We consider sociobiology, evolutionary psychology, genetic research, brain research, and endocrine research as examples of essentialist approaches, focusing particularly on how these research approaches treat sexual orientation and sexual attraction. Social constructionism, in contrast, rests on the belief that reality is socially constructed and emphasizes language as an important means by which we interpret experience. We briefly review social constructionist research on sexual orientation and sexual attraction.

For example, Brahmans are traditionally permanent owner of agricultural lands rather than potentially mobile tenants, artisans or landless laborers. Women only work in the home, they do not by traditional custom own immovable property and make no contribution to the household income inform of cash or goods.