Natanel also believes in resisting GENDER RELATIONS (a) the process of becoming the conditions of precarity as does IN CANADA: gendered Misato Matsuoka who underlines INTERSECTIONALITIES (b) the dichotomization of sex and gender the challenges and satisfactions of AND SOCIAL CHANGES “staying in academia” especially as a (c) the development of hege- monic gender researcher who is working abroad. In Janet Siltanen and Andrea Doucet (d) doing/undoing/performing conclusion, the editors, Thwaites and Toronto: Oxford University Press, gender, (e) gender inequalities Pressland, believe that “being a femi- 2017 nist adds another layer of complexity with regards to paid/unpaid to concerning changes in academia” REVIEWED BY EMMA POSCA work and they hope the readers of this (f) the way that gendered ex- book feel empowered by its content. periences become articulated. The stories told about lived expe- Siltanen and Doucet begin this book riences of people in different cultural with the introduction to the major The authors expand on the aspects, settings and in different spectrums theme of gender to refer to socially complexities, and contributions of of the early career category allow produced differences between men intersectionality on gender while similarities to be drawn within the and women. Major concepts such simultaneously unpacking the academic setting in a global perspec- as the ambiguity, assignment, iden- limitations of intersectionality and tive, even if most examples are from tity, and binary of gender are linked addressing whether this concept is a “Western” perspective. The editors to the concept of intersectionality. considered a theory, method and/or recognize this blind spot and believe Major social, political, and economic research practice. more research needs to be done in forces that intersect with class, race, Chapter One, entitled “The So- the Global South on these questions dis/ability, sexual orientation, body ciology and the Analysis of Gender in order to provide more knowledge size, language, and immigration Relations,” is where the authors and differential perspectives on this status, as discussed by the authors, set out the three historical and important issue. In my opinion, shape these gendered concepts and sociological shifts in the sociology this book conveys an inclusive and structures in Canada. Siltanen and of understanding gender as a way stimulating vision of how feminisms Doucet use intersectionality via so- to make sense of the historical and can forge new forms of resistance and ciological and feminist frameworks conceptual changes in thinking about existence within academia. It is a great to be able to explain the complexities gender relations. All three insights pedagogical resource for feminist of gender inequality and oppression are presented using the following methodology seminars. that exist in Canadian society. They four main points to understand “socially place specific configurations gender as (a) a social construction; Isabelle LeBlanc is a Ph. D. candidate on intersectionality to understand (b) realization in social structures and in sociolinguistics in New Brunswick, the operations of inequality and institutions; (c) relation to power and Canada. Her work focuses on the oppression in a more exact fashion.” inequality; and (d) that gender(s) are intersection between language and The authors outline the purpose of criticized. The first sociological shift gender in Acadian identity discourses. the book in relation to intersection- sets the scene for the early develop- She mostly examines the gender and ality as “exploring and assessing the ments about gender being a social language ideologies reproduced in theory, research, and practice about construction that “distinguished highly educated women’s discourses, the analysis of gender.” between ascriptive and achieved but she also works on Acadian queer Siltanen and Doucet use this characteristics and identified gender identity discourses as a way to analyze book to present a roadmap of the as the former.” The authors’ refer- new forms of discursive gender regimes major developments in sociological ence to terms such as compulsory within minority groups in Canada. thinking regarding gender since the heterosexuality and patriarchy, when 1970s, the impact of intersectionality presenting the ideas behind the first on gender, while using a feminist the- shift, draws attention to the existence ory approach. Throughout the book, of traditional gender roles in a system they highlight the important aspects of male dominance that relates to and complexities of the sociological power and inequality. This is further and feminist work on gender in the enhanced when Siltanen and Doucet following ways: cite sociological theorists Himmani 240 CANADIAN WOMAN STUDIES/LES CAHIERS DE LA FEMME Bannerji and Sherene Razack along provide the historical and sociological Butler, who is a leading feminist with feminist scholar Meg Luxton in definitions of sex and gender to set thinker on gender, is referenced by the their presentation of the second shift the scene historically, while simulta- authors to unpack the construction to accent the existence of categories neously essentializing for the reader of gendered identities and gendered and binaries of “men and women.” the identification of gender and sex differences that exist in social and By using sociological postmodern dichotomies. Siltanen and Doucet cultural formations. “Hetero-nor- and post-structural approaches that aim to develop an understanding mativity was introduced to name are steeped in feminist theory, Silt- that social forces shape how gender, the promotion of heterosexuality anen and Doucet demonstrate to the biological sex, and sexuality are lived, as normal sexuality in a variety of reader the impact and experiences of understood, and experienced. He- social and cultural contexts and racialized women in terms of gender gemonic gender is referenced by the institutions.” Siltanen and Doucet relations. By using class, ethnicity, authors as a “relation of power and use Butler’s “heterosexual matrix race, sexuality, generation, religion, domination that signals that gender to demonstrate the relationship of immigration status, citizenship, becomes naturalized, unquestioned, difference central to the concept of language, and dis/ability the reader and regarded as the legitimate order gender, and designates heterosexuali- becomes aware of the existence of of things.” The authors cite socio- ty as that which ties masculinity and discriminatory practices in Canada. logical and feminist frameworks in femininity together in a hierarchal The third shift addresses mod- these chapters to be able to provide relationship of differences.” Het- ern-day complexities that are asso- a comprehensive understanding of erosexuality is at the core of being ciated with gender. This shift deals the relationship between gender, feminine and masculine and or being with the examination of what is being biological sex, and sexuality and how a man or woman. According to the performed and how performativity relations of power and dominance are authors, heterosexuality dictates the has “effects [on] or affects” gender built into society and into versions actions of both men and women, relations. The authors bring to light of masculinity and femininity to contextualizes gender, and indicates for the reader the fact that transgen- create gender inequalities. Through that various forms of homosexual der identities are examined in terms this comprehensive presentation, the gender relations are unacceptable. of Canada’s social, economic and reader can identify the significance This is reinforced by the authors in cultural and political contexts. By of what it means to be gendered. Chapter Four, “Doing and Undoing: using public and private sociological Terms like hegemonic femininity Gender performativity, and Social and feminist theories and contexts, and masculinity are used in these Change,” and Chapter Six, entitled Siltanen and Doucet demonstrate the chapters to identify the patriarchal “Intersectionality, Citizenship and importance of making the “invisible ideologies that exist that allow for, Activism.” Siltanen and Doucet delve … visible.” This brings to the fore- as Gramsci indicates, “the capitalist deep into the historical trajectories, ground modern day constructions bourgeoisie to use cultural hegemony different meanings, and concrete of gender that indicate that sexual to maintain positions of power and examples of doing gender, undoing orientation is geared towards hetero- subordination over women.” For the gender, and gender performativity sexual norms and hegemonic forms authors hegemonic masculinity is to create discourses about gendered of masculinity and femininity. This fixed and emphasizes toxic charac- identities in Canada. The authors in creates awareness that those that those teristics such as aggression, self-ori- these chapters link intersectionality who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, entation, hyper-competitiveness, and by examining hegemonic gender transsexual, and transgender are not dominance. These characteristics, ac- that is enacted in the local, nation- reflected in the traditional main- cording to the authors, lead to forced al, and global spheres that result in stream society that creates unequal hegemonic femininity and character- oppression and inequality. By using relations in Canada. istics of being weak, subordinated concepts such as hetero-normativity In Chapter Two, “Becoming