Gender: The Basics

Book excerpt: Gender: The Basics is an engaging introduction to the influence of cultural, historical, biological, psychological, and economic forces on ways in which we have come to define and experience femininity and masculinity, and on the impact and importance of gender categories. Highlighting that there is far more to gender than biological sex, it examines theories and research about how and why gender categories and identities are developed and about how interpersonal and societal power relationships are gendered. It takes a global and intersectional perspective to examine the interaction between gender and a wide range of topics including: Relationships, intimacy, and concepts of sexuality across the lifespan The workplace and labour markets Gender related violence and war Public health, poverty, and development Gender and public leadership This new edition includes increased coverage of trans visibility and activism, LGBTQ studies and critical masculinity studies, global developments in women’s political leadership, links between gender and economic wellbeing, and cyberbullying. Supporting theory with examples and case studies from a variety of contexts, suggestions for further reading, and a detailed glossary, this text is an essential read for anyone approaching the study of gender for the first time.