Scott (1986), "Gender: A Useful Category of Historical Analysis"

Scott (1986) argues that sex roles are socially constructed, and so feminist scholars must move away from the idea that biology is a determining factor in gender.

1. Gender is a constitutive element of social relationships based on perceived differences between the sexes.

Scott argues (1986) that gender is constructed through four parts that all work together:
A. cultural symbols
B. normative concepts that help us interpret symbols
C. politics and social structures organize us according to symbols
D. we have our own subjective identities, in part defined by those structures

2. Gender is a primary way of signifying relations of power.

Scott (1986) notes that this construction of gender has been used in service of sexuality, which in turn cements men's power over women.