France, Alternative Libertaire AL #237 - Anti-patriarchal dict: What is "gender studies"? (fr, pt)

Each month, a word or vetted by Irene expression. ---- The sociological concept of 
"gender" is gradually emerging in the 1970s, especially in the work of the British 
sociologist Ann Oakley. This term had been used since the 1950s by a sexologist who was 
interested in the case of intersex children. The concept of gender means from there the 
difference between sex and male or female social role. ---- The term "gender" is playing 
an increasingly decisive in " women's studies "(women's studies). With the establishment 
of the theory queer , particularly by Judith Butler, the concept of gender is beyond the 
scope of women's studies. The gender studies focus on the social construction of male and 
female roles not only in the relations between men and women, but also for example in the 
lesbian community, gay, transsexual and intersex (LGBTI). Gender studies academic acquire 
up overseas as a result of taking into account the history and life of minorities. This is 
a challenging vision of academic knowledge centered solely on the majority view 
prevailing. This is due to the American model that the concept of gender and gender 
studies are gaining legitimacy in France sociology or philosophy, for example.

In fact, the intellectual movement between the United States and France is more complex. 
Indeed, it is among the intellectually-s French homosexuals such as Monique Wittig and 
Michel Foucault as Judith Butler draws part of its references. In addition, the receipt of 
gender studies in France takes place in a context where there are feminist studies that 
were developed from the 1970s.

However, the concept of gender is ambiguous because its meaning varies according to 
authors. Indeed, it may refer to a certain social construct only normative and cultural 
order. This is the case in theories queer. Nevertheless, the concept of gender is included 
in materialist feminist writers like Christine Delphy becoming synonymous with gender 
relations. Gender is not only a cultural construction then, but it finds its basis in 
social economic relations. The concept of genre can certainly be used as opposed to sex. 
But some authors consider that the distinction between sex and gender is questionable. 
Sexual divisions are then considered not as real categories that exist in nature, but as 
socially constructed. The notion of gender then joined the "social sex" in this 
materialist feminist writers.

To go further: Roland Pfefferkorn, Gender and gender relations , Editions Page 2, 2012.