chapter 10

Question 1

gender binary

Answer 1

the classification of sex and gender into two discrete, opposite, and nonoverlapping forms of masculine and feminine

Question 2

gender nonconforming

Answer 2

identifying as a gender other than male or female, or not identifying with a particular gender at all

Question 3

transgender

Answer 3

identifying or expressing as a gender identity that differs from a person’s sex at birth

Question 4

intersectionality

Answer 4

a sociological perspective that holds our multiple group memberships affect our lives in ways that are different than our single group memberships.

Question 5

sex

Answer 5

the biological and anatomical differences distinguishing male and female

Question 6

gender

Answer 6

social expectations about behavior regarded as appropriate for the members of each sex. Gender refers not to the physical attributes distinguishing men and women but to socially formed traits of masculinity and femininity

Question 7

intersex

Answer 7

describes individuals possessing both male and female genitalia. Although statistically rare, this subpopulation is of great interest to gender scholars

Question 8

gender identity

Answer 8

how individuals see and describe their own gender

Question 9

cisgender

Answer 9

describes individuals whose gender identity matches their biological sex. Statistically, this is the most common gender.

Question 10

gender expression

Answer 10

how a person chooses to convey gender identity through behavior, voice, mannerisms, and other external characteristics

Question 11

sexual orientation

Answer 11

an individuals enduring emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to other people

Question 12

sexual and gender minority (SGM)

Answer 12

the broad label applied to populations that include, but are not limited to, individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, transgender, queer, and/or intersex

Question 13

gender role socialization

Answer 13

the learning of gender roles through social factors such as schooling, the media, and family

Question 14

social construction of gender

Answer 14

the learning of gender roles through socialization and interaction with others

Question 15

hegemonic masculinity

Answer 15

social norms dictating that men should be strong, self-reliant, and unemotional

Question 16

biological essentialism

Answer 16

the view that differences between men and women are natural and inevitable consequences of the intrinsic biological natures of men and women

Question 17

feminist theory

Answer 17

a sociological perspective that emphasizes the centrality of gender in analyzing the social world and particularly the uniqueness of the experience of women. There are many strands of feminist theory, but they all share the desire to explain gender inequality in society and to work to overcome it

Question 18

liberal feminism

Answer 18

the form of feminist theory that posits that gender inequality is produced by unequal access to civil rights and certain social resources, such as education and employment, based on sex. Liberal feminists tend to seek solutions through changes in legislation that ensure that the rights of an individual are protected

Question 19

radical feminism

Answer 19

the form of feminist theory that posits that gender inequality is the result of male domination in all aspects of social and economic life

Question 20

patriarchy

Answer 20

the dominance of men over women. All known societies are patriarchal, although there are variations in the degree and nature of the power men exercise as compared with women. One of the prime objectives of women’s movements in modern societies is to combat existing patriarchal institutions

Question 21

black feminism

Answer 21

a strand of feminist theory that highlights the multiple disadvantages of gender, class, and race that shape the experiences of non-white women. Black feminists reject the idea of a single, unified gender oppression that is experienced evenly by all women, and argue that early feminist analysis reflected the specific concerns of white, middle class women

Question 22

transnational feminism

Answer 22

a branch of feminist theory that highlights the way global processes- including colonialism, racism, and imperialism- shape gender relations and hierarchies

Question 23

postmodern feminism

Answer 23

the feminist perspective that challenges the idea of a unitary basis of identity and experience shared by all women. Postmodern feminists reject the claim that a grand theory can explain the position of women in society, or that there is any single, universal essence or category of “woman”. Instead, postmodern feminism encourages the acceptance of many different standpoints as equally valid

Question 24

gender inequality

Answer 24

the inequality between men and women in terms of wealth, income, and status

Question 25

gender typing

Answer 25

women holding occupations of lower status and pay, such as secretarial and retail positions, and men holding jobs of higher status and pay, such as managerial and professional positions.

Question 26

glass ceiling

Answer 26

a promotion barrier that prevents a woman’s upward mobility within an organization

Question 27

sexual harassment

Answer 27

unwanted sexual advances by one individual toward another, in which the first person persists even though it is clear that the other party is resistant

Question 28

sex segregation

Answer 28

the concentration of men and women in different occupations

Question 29

human capital theory

Answer 29

the argument that individuals make investments in their own “human capital” to increase their productivity and earnings

Question 30

rape

Answer 30

the forcing of nonconsensual vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse