11 Stratification - Gender Flashcards
Define and distinguish sex & gender.
Sex – Biology; Male vs. Female
Gender – social/cultural; masculine vs. feminine
Has gender stratification always been a part of human societies?
No; there was little stratification for most of human history as we lived as hunter/gatherers
During which societal epoch was gender stratification the most extreme? The least?
Most – Agrarian & Industrial
Least - Hunter/Gatherer
According to Huber (2015), how do the biological requirements of pregnancy and lactation relate to the emergence of gender stratification in our history?
Birth and infant mortality rates were high for most of human history. Furthermore, alternatives to breast milk were not invented until the middle to late 19th century. Therefore, for most of human history, adult women were constantly pregnant and feeding infant children. As a result, women were prevented from participating in most aspects of society beyond the home. This difference between men’s and women’s lives eventually solidified into rigid gender expectations that still impact our behavior today.
Explain Turner’s model of the emergence of gender stratification in America.
Competition creates a threat. Threat tends to foster prejudicial beliefs about the person/group that is threatening. Prejudicial beliefs foster discrimination as people act in a manner consistent with prejudicial beliefs.
Men have been threatened by women as women have moved progressively into the labor force. In response, men created and spread prejudicial beliefs about the lesser abilities of women. These beliefs have become widely held, and thus women have been discriminated against based on prejudicial beliefs.
Explain how the “second shift” relates to the maintenance of gender stratification.
Our society has prejudicial beliefs about the supposedly nurturing and caring capacity that women innately have. Thus, while women have moved progressively into the labor force, they still do disproportionate domestic work at home. This extra work is not paid and takes considerable time and energy. This may disincentive some women from pursuing certain career options.
How has female labor force participation (FLFP) changed over the past century?
Women have made significant strides in the workplace. Women now work outside the home more than ever in human history.
Is the occupational workforce still segregated by gender? If so, how?
Yes; most women work in pink-collar jobs or jobs that aren’t typically as rewarding (sales, clerical). Many jobs that are the most rewarding in our society are still male-dominated.
What is the principle of homophily?
Contact between similar people happens at a higher rate than among dissimilar people. In other words, we are more likely to be connected to and interact with people similar to us on many dimensions rather than dissimilar.
How does homophily benefit men when it comes to occupational stratification & attaining valued jobs?
Men have a disproportionate share of valued positions in society. Thus, since men are more likely to be connected to other men (homophily), they have an informational/resource advantage when attaining valuable jobs.
What are the four conditions & results of Pugh & Warhman’s 1983 study?
Condition 1 - all participants know is the sex of their “partner”
Result - males are more influential.
Condition 2 - In addition to the sex of their partner, participants receive a verbal disclaimer informing them that gender has nothing to do with ability at the task
Result - males are more influential.
Condition 3 - In addition to the sex of their partner, participants take part in an individual test that measures ability on the task; male and female partners score equally on the individual test Result - males are more influential.
Condition 4 - In addition to the sex of their partner, participants take part in an individual test that measures ability on the task; the female partner scores higher on the individual test
Result - females are more influential.
Explain how Pugh and Wahrman’s (1983) findings relate to the 12% unexplained difference in the female/male pay ratio. (Hint: demonstrating equality (3rd study condition) is not enough to equate influence)
One of the reasons that men continue to be paid more than women is that our society unconsciously associates men with competence more so than with women. This cultural association is based on how resources of value are divided amongst gender categories in society.
Why are the results of the Pugh and Wahrman study (1983) important even though it uses an artificial setting and fake task?
The artificial setting demonstrates that our default is to assume men are better, even in new and novel situations. The fact that there is a difference in perceived competence in an artificial setting means that the effects are likely stronger in many situations in the real world where we already harbor preconceived notions about who is likely to be better.
How does beauty relate to perceived influence & competence?
All else equal, physically attractive people are typically perceived as more competent than others.
Do the benefits of physical attractiveness impact men and women equally?
No; while men and women benefit from attractiveness, there is a twist regarding women. People who dress and behave more masculinely are often perceived as more competent than those who behave in a feminine manner. This means that women must behave masculinely to maximize influence while also considering feminine expectations for their appearance. Men do not typically encounter such a conflict.
