We have discussed various concepts related to the social construction of categories and identities especially in relation to class, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality and the various intersections between and among these things. We have also. Of course, noted the ways in which these categories and identities connect to various kinds of inequality. Using the concepts at the center of our readings and discussions, provide an analysis of (at least) two examples of social construction in action, that is, critically discuss examples, be they historical, present-day, personal etc., which demonstrate how certain identities are created, maintained, modified, etc. in contexts of inequality. For example: ?One could show how racialization is taking place, either in the case of incorporating new groups into the US racial formation, or cases wherein historical identities are undergoing profound change. ?One could focus on how social/cultural/geographical space, social/civic institutions, etc., become sexed/gendered, or perhaps de-sexed/de-gendered. ?One could focus on how constellations of social practices and forces the labor market, the media, families, politics, etc. lead people to certain pathways of identities, such as more recently established identities (trans, for example) or more historically established variations (changes in how one becomes a certain identity now compared to the past). ?One could focus on racialand/or gender projects, new discourses of sexualities (or other categories), and various institutional contexts.I want you to show me different angles and approaches, so make sure that each of your examples covers a different category/idea/process/phenomenon/etc. This could be via comparing and contrasting, or by focusing on different groups within the same category or across different categories, for example one on race/ethnicity and the other on gender/sexualities, or on intersectional examples that show different concepts or approaches. Do not have both examples tell the same story.You may not use any examples given significant coverage in the readings or in class; if you feel like your example is too close to one from the readings or lectures, do something else.
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