Humanities Homework Help

Respond to one question from each of the following readings — so, you should answer five questions in at least 300 words total.

— West and Zimmerman, “Doing Gender”(choose 1)

• Draw on the authors concept, “doing gender,” and explain it using your own words and any relevant quotes (note: include citations!). Then, offer three examples of how you do gender in your everyday life.
• You’ll note that the authors rely on a concept from Erving Goffman, a sociologist that we’ve already read this semester. What is the concept West and Zimmerman refer to? Include its definition and how it might be linked to the dramaturgical metaphor of ‘fronts’, which we’ve read about already. While Goffman’s concept is useful, why is it not enough to explain gender entirely?

— Smith, “Categories Are Not Enough” (choose 1)

• You’ll note that Smith discusses the work of this week’s first authors, West and Zimmerman, among other colleagues. How did West and colleagues approach the terms “gender” and “sex” in their work, according to Smith? What was the consequence of this?
• Pay attention to the last paragraph of the piece. Using your knowledge of intersectionality from last week, do you see any overlap in Smith’s comments here? How so? Write in as much detail as you can, using relevant quotes as needed, and remember to rely on resources from Unit 3 to help support your answer. 

— Butler, “Subversive Bodily Acts” (choose 1)

• Identify one take-away point from your reading of the text. Summarize it, using your own words and any relevant quotes, and explain why it’s important for theorizing about gender. Demonstrate your mastery here!
• Why does Butler use drag performance as a case study for understanding performativity?

— Connell, “Femininity and Masculinity”

• What are the two key terms that Connell introduces here? How does Connell define them? If you need help, refer to the introduction for clarity. Can you think of an example of each concept in popular culture—perhaps a TV show character or a character from a novel?
• Connell concludes the essay by noting how non-traditional femininity has been overlooked in most accounts of history—i.e., the experiences of lesbians, spinsters, unionists, sex workers, rebels, workers, witches, and more. Identify a public female figure (living or deceased) that defies what Connell calls ‘emphasized femininity’ and explain why they exemplify this.

— Seidman, “Queering Sociology”

• Summarizing Seidman in your own words, how would you define social constructionism? Try to jot down at least a few sentences here and provide examples of the framework—e.g., you might explain how sexuality is socially constructed.
• What are the elements of ‘homosexual politics’ that queer theory rejects? In other words, what assumptions about LGBTQIA+ experiences are challenged by queer theory? See page 285 if you need guidance. ?