1.1. Gender identities Flashcards
gender is socially…
constructed
what does gender refer to?
the cultural expectations attached to how males and females are supposed to behave
what aspects of a persons identity are strongly influenced by their gender?
roles and status
through what process do we learn gender expectations?
gender role socialisation
Connell (2002) referred to hegemonic masculinity and femininity ideas what are they?
dominant and traditional set of ideas about how men and women are supposed to behave
hegemonic definitions make it difficult for a person to do what?
develop an identity that goes against traditional gender ideas
give examples of typical hegemonic masculine characteristics:
strong brave assertive confident rational non emotional competitive
give examples of typical hegemonic feminine characteristics:
caring nurturing talkative not confident shy reserved emotional
the socio-biological view says gender roles are what?
biologically determined and fixed at birth
(socio-biological) what did fox argue history shows about men and women?
men are born to be hunters
women are born to be nurturers
(functionalist) Parsons say men and women perform which roles?
men - instrumental roles (achieving a goal, DIY)
women - expressive roles (caring, emotion)
Functionalists view men and women’s different roles as what?
natural, inevitable and functional
(interactionist) gender identity is socially constructed rather than what?
biologically determined
(interactionist) what did Margaret Mead find in the Arapesh tribe, proving gender roles aren’t biologically determined?
both sexes were gentle and submissive
(interactionist) what did Margaret Mead find in the Mundugamor tribe, proving gender roles aren’t biologically determined?
both sexes were aggressive, competitive and rough
Feminists see gender shaped by what?
patriarchal culture
(feminists) gender inequality benefits who? and who have less power, status and wealth?
men
women
(feminists) gender expectations are transmitted through what?
gender role socialisation into hegemonic gender roles
(feminists) how are men and women encouraged to see themselves?
men - independent, assertive, dominant
women - dependant, submissive
family shapes gender identities through gender codes - what are these?
types of language, toys, clothes, activities given to kids
what are the 4 ways Oakley says children are socialised into gender roles?
manipulation
canalization
verbal appellation
different activities
(Oakley) children are socialised through manipulation, what is this?
behaviour seen as stereotypically acceptable for the child is encouraged other behaviour is discouraged
(Oakley) Give an example of manipulation:
girls are discouraged from participating in adventurous activities that get them muddy
(Oakley) children are socialised through canalisation what is this?
parents channelling their childs interests into toys that fit the norm for their gender
(Oakley) give an example of canalisation:
boys discouraged from playing with dolls are instead given cars
(Oakley) children are socialised through verbal appellations, what is this?
giving children nicknames that reinforce gender expectations
(Oakley) give an example of verbal appellations:
girls - flower or princess
boys - little man or little soldier
(Oakley) children are socialised through different activities what does this involve?
encouraging children to participate in activities around the home that reinforce stereotypes
(Oakley) give an example of different activities:
girls help their mother with baking and cleaning
other that the family, where else are gender expectations reinforced?
education and the peer group
teachers expectations of students are often based upon what?
gender
skelton studies gender socialisation in working class primary schools finding what?
male teachers called upon to move equipment
refer to boys as ‘you’
refer to girls as ‘darling’
boys taught to be manly and use acceptable level of violence on football team
Reynold Swots found what regarding boys who had developed alternative identities in their last year of primary school?
their studious and academic identities conflicted with hegemonic masculinity
they risked being teased and ridiculed
Francis found not all children do what? and why?
take up gender appropriate behaviour
behaviours typical of men and womens roles aren’t fixed
changing norms, gender is only one part of identity
what did Hey study?
peer groups among teenage girls
what did Hey find female peer groups norms were deeply rooted in?
patriarchy and expectations of how girls should act e.g. girls should care about their appearance
Mac and Ghaill (1994) found that boys learnt to do what within peer groups at school?
learnt to be men
(Mac and Ghaill) Gender power is based on hyper masculinity which is the main source of what?
identity for macho lads
What did Margaret meads study on tribes in papa new guinea show about gender identity?
socially constructed mundagamor - both masculine arapesh - both feminine tchambuli - gender reversal there would be no variation if it was due to biology
