The process of gendering: gender as a verb

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Cognitive Sciences
• Psychology

Background:

• Extensive research treats gender as a noun, a social category distinguishing men and women.
• This perspective limits understanding of gender's dynamic nature and cognitive underpinnings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and outline the cognitive process of gendering.
• To propose a framework for understanding gender as a verb, not just a noun.
• To enhance comprehension of gender's operation, significance, and mutability.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing research on gender in social and cognitive sciences.
• Conceptual analysis to define gender as a cognitive process (verb).
• Framework development for understanding gender as a verb.

Main Results:

• Identified gendering as a cognitive process involving the conceptual division of entities by masculinity and femininity.
• Proposed a theoretical framework to conceptualize gender as a verb.
• Highlighted the utility of the verb framework for understanding gender dynamics.

Conclusions:

• Viewing gender as a verb offers a more dynamic and nuanced understanding compared to the traditional noun-based approach.
• This cognitive perspective on gendering is crucial for explaining how gender operates and influences cognition and behavior.
• The proposed framework facilitates the study of gender's malleability and potential for change.