Final answer:
Gender ideology is a set of ideas about gender categories, relations, behaviours, norms, and ideals that shape societal expectations. Traditional gender ideologies are present in weddings, where women are positioned as dependent objects in the transaction of marriage. Understanding gender as a continuum challenges traditional ideologies and recognizes a spectrum of identities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gender ideology refers to a set of ideas about gender categories, relations, behaviors, norms, and ideals. It encompasses the beliefs and values that shape societal expectations and perceptions of gender. These ideas are present in various aspects of our lives such as family, economy, politics, religion, and culture. Gender ideology is often embedded in institutions and operates below the level of consciousness.
For example, the traditional gender ideology surrounding weddings positions women as dependent objects passed between men in the transaction of marriage, even though women have made progress in public life. The power of gender ideology lies in its naturalization as "common sense" and its influence on societal norms and expectations.
Understanding gender as a continuum of multiple identities, rather than a binary of either men or women, challenges traditional gender ideologies. It recognizes that gender exists on a spectrum with a variety of identities and expressions. Gender ideology also plays a role in the stratification of males and females, leading to gender inequality in various institutions and spheres of society.