Embodiment in gender studies - How does the embodiment paradigm appear in relation to gender and the context of experiencing gender roles?

Abstract

The issue of body and embodiment bears strong roots in feminist theories, philosophy, gender studies, women’s studies and men’s studies. According to some previous publications, the impact of patriarchal power structures and hegemonic (heterosexual) masculinity on gender roles, sexuality, and the (social) position of women and minorities can also be construed in connection with (body) perception and embodiment.The experience of one's “sex” as a purely biological phenomenon is influenced by norms and values of parents, relatives and institutional systems from a very young age, and is thus exposed to the effects of the social and cultural environment. Contrasting the experience of manhood and womanhood, masculine (activity, aggression, resilience) and feminine (passivity, fragility) attributes, male (strong) and female (delicate) bodies is an important tool in creating, justifying, and maintaining gender dichotomies and power relations. Some previous studies on the body and the embodiment of gender also highlight that queer culture, transsexuality, and other marginalized groups (ethnic minorities, people with disabilities) questions the legitimacy of this gender binarity.The aim of the present study is to investigate the presence of embodiment theory in gender studies.