This week we will discuss the social construction of gender. Choose  one  of the following options.  Forum instructions are also included below. 1. What does it mean to say that gender is socially constructed? What are the expectations for femininity? Masculinity? What happens when someone does not meet these expectations? Remember to include at least two references to the text in your response. Respond to at least two other posts. Or 2. In the U.S. individuals are exposed to the stereotypes of what constitutes masculinity and femininity at a very young age. For this option, you will need to visit the toy and/or baby departments of a large store. There are differences in clothing, toys, colors, and even packaging. Examine these areas in the store and take note of how the areas are divided and marketed. What differences do you see?  How does this relate to the social construction of gender?  Include two references from the text in your discussion and reply to two other posts. Instructions: Sociology lives when we engage it – we read about it, we discuss it, we debate it, we frame our research questions with it, we put it to the test of empiricism, and every once in a while we build it ourselves.  Therefore, the success of this course depends on all of us thoroughly engaging it.  One of the most important parts of the course will be the discussions and debates we participate in, in our Forum.  These discussions need to be informed by thorough reading of the assigned texts.  Each week, learners will post one initial post per week.  This post must demonstrate comprehension of the course materials, the ability to apply that knowledge in the real world, active presence.  Learners will engage with the instructor and peers through rich responses to their posts.  To motivate engaged discussion, posts are expected to be on time with regular interaction throughout the week.  All posts should demonstrate college level writing skills. To promote vibrant discussion as we would in a face to face classroom, formatted citations and references are not required.  Quotes should not be used at all, or used sparingly.  If you quote a source quotation marks should be used and an APA formatted citation and reference provided. Points Ex e m p la r y (100%) Acc o m p lished (85%) Developing (75%) Beginning (65%) Not Participating (0%) Comprehension of course materials 4 Initial post demonstrates rich comprehension of course materials.  Detailed use of terminology or examples learned in class.  If post includes opinion, it is supported with evaluated evidence. Initial post demonstrates clear comprehension of course materials.  Use of terminology or examples learned in class. If post includes opinion, it is supported with evaluated evidence. Initial post does not clearly demonstrate comprehension of course materials.  Specific terminology or examples learned in class may be incorrect or incomplete.  Post may include some opinion without evaluated evidence. ...

1. This week we will discuss the social construction of gender.
Choose
one
of the following options. Forum instructions are also included
below.
1. What does it mean to say that gender is socially constructed?
What are the expectations for femininity? Masculinity? What
happens when someone does not meet these expectations?
Remember to include at least two references to the text in your
response. Respond to at least two other posts.
Or
2. In the U.S. individuals are exposed to the stereotypes of what
constitutes masculinity and femininity at a very young age. For
this option, you will need to visit the toy and/or baby
departments of a large store. There are differences in clothing,
toys, colors, and even packaging. Examine these areas in the
store and take note of how the areas are divided and marketed.
What differences do you see? How does this relate to the social
construction of gender? Include two references from the text in
your discussion and reply to two other posts.
Instructions:
Sociology lives when we engage it – we read about it, we
discuss it, we debate it, we frame our research questions with it,
we put it to the test of empiricism, and every once in a while we
build it ourselves. Therefore, the success of this course
depends on all of us thoroughly engaging it. One of the most
important parts of the course will be the discussions and debates
we participate in, in our Forum. These discussions need to be
informed by thorough reading of the assigned texts.
Each week, learners will post one initial post per week. This
post must demonstrate comprehension of the course materials,
the ability to apply that knowledge in the real world, active

2. presence. Learners will engage with the instructor and peers
through rich responses to their posts. To motivate engaged
discussion, posts are expected to be on time with regular
interaction throughout the week. All posts should demonstrate
college level writing skills. To promote vibrant discussion as
we would in a face to face classroom, formatted citations and
references are not required. Quotes should not be used at all, or
used sparingly. If you quote a source quotation marks should
be used and an APA formatted citation and reference provided.
Points
Ex
e
m
p
la
r
y (100%)
Acc
o
m
p
lished (85%)
Developing (75%)
Beginning (65%)
Not Participating (0%)
Comprehension of course materials

3. 4
Initial post demonstrates rich comprehension of course
materials. Detailed use of terminology or examples learned in
class. If post includes opinion, it is supported with evaluated
evidence.
Initial post demonstrates clear comprehension of course
materials. Use of terminology or examples learned in class. If
post includes opinion, it is supported with evaluated evidence.
Initial post does not clearly demonstrate comprehension of
course materials. Specific terminology or examples learned in
class may be incorrect or incomplete. Post may include some
opinion without evaluated evidence.
Initial post does not demonstrate comprehension of course
materials. Specific terminology or examples learned in class
are not included. Post is opinion based without evaluated
evidence.
No posting, post is off topic, post does not meet minimum
criteria for demonstrating beginning level of comprehension.
Post may be plagiarized, or use a high percentage of quotes that
prevent demonstration of student’s comprehension.
Real world application of knowledge
2
Initial post demonstrates that the learner can creatively and
uniquely apply the concepts and examples learned in class to a
personal or professional experience from their life.
Initial post demonstrates that the learner can apply the concepts
and examples learned in class to a current event.
Initial post does not clearly demonstrate that the learner can
apply the concepts and examples learned in class. Unclear link
between the concepts and examples learned in class to personal
or professional experience or to a current event.
Initial does not demonstrates that the learner can apply the
concepts and examples learned in class. No link to a personal or
professional experience or to a current event is made in the

4. post.
No posting, post is off topic, post does not meet minimum
criteria for demonstrating beginning level of application. Post
may be plagiarized, or use a high percentage of quotes that
prevent demonstration of student’s ability to apply
comprehension.
Active Forum Engagement
2
Posts one or more responses to a classmate or instructor replies
to the learner’s initial post.
Posts two or more responses to initial posts of classmates.
Posts motivate group discussion and contributes to the learning
community by doing 2+ of the following:
· offering advice or strategy
· posing a question,
· providing an alternative point-of-view,
· acknowledging similar experiences
· sharing a resource
Posts two responses to initial posts of classmates. Posts
motivate group discussion and contribute to the learning
community by doing 2+ of the following:
· offering advice or strategy
· posing a question,
· providing an alternative point-of-view,
· acknowledging similar experiences
· sharing a resource
Posts one response to initial post of classmate. Post motivates
group discussion and contributes to the learning community by
doing 1 of the following:
· offering advice or strategy
· posing a question,
· providing an alternative point-of-view,

5. · acknowledging similar experiences
· sharing a resource
Posts one response to initial post of classmate. Post does not
clearly motivate group discussion or clearly contribute to the
learning community.
Responses do not:
· offering advice or strategy
· posing a question,
· providing an alternative point-of-view,
· acknowledging similar experiences
· sharing a resource
No peer responses are made. One or more peer responses of
low quality (“good job, I agree”) may be made.
Active Forum Presence
1
Learner posts 4+ different days in the learning week.
Initial post is made by Thursday 11:55pm ET of the learning
week.
Response posts are made by Sunday 11:55pm ET of the learning
week.
Learner posts 3 different days in the learning week.
Initial post is made by Friday 11:55pm ET of the learning week.
Response posts are made by Sunday 11:55pm ET of the learning
week.
Learner posts 2 different days in the learning week.
Initial post is made by Saturday 11:55pm ET of the learning
week.
Response posts are made by Sunday 11:55pm ET of the learning
week.

6. Learner posts 1 day in the learning week.
Initial post is made by Sunday 11:55pm ET of the learning
week.
Response posts are made by Sunday 11:55pm ET of the learning
week.
Posts are not made during the learning week and therefore do
not contribute to or enrich the weekly conversation.
Writing skills
1
Post is 250+ words. All posts reflect widely accepted academic
writing protocols like using capital letters (“I am” not “i am”),
cohesive sentences, and no texting language. Dialogue is also
polite and respectful of different points of view.
Post is 250+ words. The majority of posts reflect widely-
accepted academic writing protocols like using capital letters
(“I am” not “i am”), cohesive sentences, and no texting
language. Dialogue is polite and respectful of different points of
view.
Post is 150+ words. The majority of posts reflect widely-
accepted academic writing protocols like using capital letters
(“I am” not “i am”), cohesive sentences, and no texting
language. Dialogue may not be respectful of different points of
view.
Post is 100+ words. The majority of the forum communication
ignores widely-accepted academic writing protocols like capital
letters (“I am” not “i am”), cohesive sentences, and texting;
Dialogue may not be respectful of different points of view.
No posting, post is off topic and does not meet minimum
criteria for demonstrating beginning level of comprehension.