ABSTRACT
The intellectual history of social construction theory is complex, and the moments offered here are for purposes of illustration, not comprehensive review. Social construction theory drew on developments in several disciplines; social interactionism, labeling theory, and deviance in sociology; social history, labor studies, women's history, and Marxist history; and symbolic anthropology, cross-cultural work on sexuality, and gender studies, to name only the most significant streams. In addition, theorists in many disciplines responded to new questions raised by feminist and lesbian/gay scholarship concerning gender and identity.
