WOMEN'S STUDIES

Introduction to Women's Studies

Introduction to Women's Studies

Introduction

Ethnography is a complex and contested activity drawing on a range of epistemological positions and methods. Often demanding different modes of evaluation from other methods more commonly used in social and cultural environment. It aims to uncover the tacit knowledge of culture participants. Ethnographers seek to find commonalities in the beliefs, customs, and lifestyles that characterize a group of individuals living in proximity and identifying as a group, tribe, or society—that is, the group's culture (Byrnes 1991).

In this study, a public place was observed through a “gender lens”, keeping gender concepts in mind, for around an hour. The assignment comprises of clues that individual and places exhibited in determining their gender.

Discussion

How do individuals of each gender move?

A general supposition about men and women is that women belong to Venus and men belong to Mars. But, that does not mean that men are better than women or vice versa. It is just that both the genders possess various characteristics and tendencies, when it comes to nonverbal communication that is their body language. These gestures are exhibited in total sub-consciousness by both the genders. For instance when males lie their gestures seem to be relaxed whereas females act as if they are busy when they lie.

How do they interact with each other?

While interacting with each other, the female gender exhibits flexible and lighter gestures where as the facial gestures exhibited by males express less warmth and are calm. Women bend their head and shy off while interacting with men. On the other hand, when men interact face to face and converse with female gender men move their eyes demonstrating their uneasiness.

How do males and females interact with their friends and with strangers?

Women rarely joke and make more compliments while interacting among friends where as in the case of males it is opposite to that of females as they joke more and rarely make compliments while interacting with friends. Both the genders smiled more frequently while interacting with strangers but, the smile showed by women faded much quickly and lasted for a short while as compared to that of men's.

How do couples display their relationship?

Men and women have different ways of expressing love and care to their partners as while displaying relationship men are generally found to exhibit assertiveness, dominance, attitudes and behaviors showing power. Conversely, women let their feeling and emotions through and are found to ...