Thinking about Women introduces readers to how gender operates in society--influencing women's and men's self-concepts, relationships with others, life opportunities, and experiences of inequality. This text examines how gender and the differences it makes still permeate women's and men's lives. Also, the text discusses how gender is socially constructed--that is, formed through early learning patterns that are continuously reinforced throughout all social institutions. Also, the text shows how gender intersects with other social factors, especially race and class, but also sexual orientation, age, religion, and nationality, among others.