Final answer:
Gender constructed in Niger is influenced by societal norms and cultural practices, shaping femininity and masculinity. Examples from Igbo society show historically fluid gender roles, and masculinity is emphasized as an ongoing project in cultural settings. The gender debate navigates between essentialism, viewing gender as innate, and constructionism, which sees gender as socially crafted.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Niger, as well as in various cultures around the world, gender constructed norms and roles play a significant part in defining femininity and masculinity. Drawing from notable works such as The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir and research within Muslim communities from Gender and Sexuality in Muslim Cultures, we observe that femininity is often not a biologically innate quality but is learned through societal norms and cultural practices. These norms are continuously enacted in daily life, with expectations of purity and domesticity linked closely to female gender roles. In some African societies, such as the Igbo community, there are even historical instances of gender fluidity where women could assume male roles and titles.
Cultural constructions of gender are embedded in the fabric of social institutions, influencing everyday practices and ideals. Masculinity is also seen as a project, requiring men to conform to certain societal standards to be acknowledged as 'real' men, as documented by cultural anthropologist Daniel Jordan Smith. Further complicating the debate around gender are the differing perspectives of essentialism and constructionism, with the latter asserting that gender roles are culturally produced rather than inherently determined by biological sex. Gender is thus understood as a complex interplay between biological characteristics, cultural practices, and individual enactments.