Francesca, 10/23

I feel that Karl Marx’s ideology concerning human consciousness holds valid applicability to the various aspects of one’s identity. The components of one’s self-image are shaped primarily by environmental influences. The concept of humans being a tabula rasa upon entering this world can be corroborated by such issues as sex and gender. As there are biological factors that distinguish one as uniquely male or female, a culture’s perception of masculine and feminine traits determine the manner in which one sees his or her self. This is the difference between sex and gender. Sex implies universality whereas gender suggests subjectivity. The subjectivity of gender is dependent upon the culture one is conditioned within. This concept is essentially a social construct composed of environmental influences. As Marx stated, “It is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but on the contrary, their social being which determines their consciousness.” (37) Our gender is a reflection of this idea. When a child is born, we assess it’s sex, and proceed to condition that child in terms of normative classifications of masculinity or femininity. These classifications are those that a given society maintains to be acceptable standards of looking, feeling, or acting as a man or woman. Yet, the normality of such standards is derived from ritualistic tradition. The social construction of gender identity is comprised of fluctuating determinants such as religious beliefs and political stability. Men and women define their roles in accordance to the values held by their particular culture. Thus, their gender identity is a reflection of these societal roles. It is this interplay of cultural values and gender roles that can either foster or discourage inequalities between men and women. In summation, Marx’s ideology provides the framework for an analysis of society’s influence upon an individual in various respects.