By Victoria McKenzie

Marlene Marie Mackie is a Sociologist and a professor of Sociology at the University of Calgary

Her two most famous books include :

“Constructing Women and Men: Gender Socialization”

“ Exploring Gender Relations: A Canadian Perspective”

“Gender bias in scholarship: the persausive prejudice” (book) - published in 1988

“Exploring gender relations: a Canadian perspective” (book) – published in 1983

“Gender relations in Canada: further explorations” (book) – published between 1991 and 1996

“Constructing women and men: gender socialization” (book) – published in 1987

“Sociology’s relations with the community” (book) – published in 1980

“The defector from the Hutterite colony a pilot study” (book) – published in 1965

“The accuracy of folk knowledge concerning Alberta Indians, Ukrainians and Hutterites: an available data stereotype technique” (book) – published in 1971

“Pamela pbk ed” (book) – published in 1977

“The Defector From the Hutterite Colony: a pilot study” (book) – published in 1971

Through extensive research it has become apparent that Marlene Mackie is a passionate sociologist in the “Gender Studies” which is a field of interdisciplinary study which analyses race, ethnicity, sexuality and location.

The majority of her work features the strive to educate and eliminate gender bias in all of its manifestations.

She states in one of her books “Gender Bias in Scholarships: The Pervasive Prejudice” -

“The meanings of the terms “gender” and “sex” need to be specified and contrasted. “Gender” refers

to the socialized aspect of female or male nature and, accordingly, emphasizes social influences on the development of an individual of either sex.

“Sex” refers to the biological nature of an individual. Sex differences are often mistakenly thought to be identical with gender differences

so that arguments from biology are used to defend socialization practices which enforce sex-role

stereotyping. Biological arguments are inappropriately used to support attitudes about

what women or men can or cannot do simply because they are female or males.”

In the same quote stated in the previous slide, Mackie goes on to quoting Plato to back up her research. I think anyone who is able to quote Plato is worth prestige. She states:

“ Plato in the Republic (Book V, 454) demonstrated the inappropriateness of arguing that one’s destiny is determined by one’s biology. The biological aspect of a person’s nature , for example, is not relevant to the issue of occupations. Quality of character is the determining factor. For Plato, quality of character is independent of sex. The fact that one individual is biologically fit to bear children while another is not does not affect the question of whose nature is best suited to be a philosopher king (in his terms). Equal social opportunity for individuals of both sexes is required for equal expression of individual character traits.”