Final answer:
Gender roles are societal norms dictating appropriate behaviors for men and women, based on stereotypes and the socialization process. 'Doing gender' is the act of performing tasks according to societal expectations, which can lead to sexism and institutional discrimination. Gender is culturally constructed, as opposed to biologically determined sex, and these constructs can change over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Perceptions about the sexes based on what society believes are appropriate behaviors for men and women are known as gender roles. These roles emerge from society's concept of how men and women should behave and are deeply rooted in the socialization process from a young age. Culture dictates the norms, creating generalized other, which are the common behavioral expectations of general society. Doing gender is about the performance of tasks based upon the gender assigned to us by both society and, in turn, ourselves, a notion that emphasizes the acting out of gender roles as an ongoing practice.
For instance, in many cultures, masculinity might be associated with activities deemed physically demanding or aggressive. These expectations are often based on gender stereotypes, which are oversimplified and generalized notions about the attributes of each sex. Gender stereotypes can lead to sexism, where one gender is valued over the other, potentially leading to social inequalities and institutional discrimination.
It is important to recognize that these gender categories are learned and can vary significantly across different cultures and historical periods. Hence, while sex is biologically determined, gender is a cultural construct that evolves over time and impacts individuals throughout their life through various societal institutions.