Chapter 4 Lecture

Question 1

What is a performance?

Answer 1

Something you can change/alter to show gender (how you dress)

Question 2

What do gender performances serve to do?

Answer 2

Align us with stereotypes- we do this out of habit or due to negative consequences.

Question 3

Is the process of acquiring a gendered self active or passive?

Answer 3

Active- we maintain expectations in order to maintain the gender binary. Easier to obey rules than to break.

Question 4

What is an example of a gender practice?

Answer 4

Something we might do unconsciously because of our gender- example: how we hold hands (who leads and who follows?)

Question 5

What is doing gender?

Answer 5

The ways in which we actively obey/break gender rules

Question 6

What are gender rules?

Answer 6

Instructions for how to appear/behave as a man or a woman. Social construct restated as an instruction.

Question 7

What are some cross-cultural differences in ways of doing gender?

Answer 7

In Belgium, pink is a boys colour, earrings for men used to be unacceptable.

Question 8

Why do we need more than one pair of gender binary glasses?

Answer 8

Because gender rules change across time/place/context. We need to know what mainstream society expects and what culture expects.

Question 9

What is the idea of contextual variation and travelling?

Answer 9

People who become skillful at adapting when not conforming is considered deviant. Travellers move from one expectation to another.

Question 10

What is an example of a traveller who participates in contextual variation?

Answer 10

Goths who change out of being goth for professional areas.

Question 11

When do we start learning gender rules?

Answer 11

Infancy, and then we are encouraged and reinforced throughout childhood. Parents have to decide whether to encourage or reject norms.

Question 12

At what age do kids begin to have binary glasses?

Answer 12

5

Question 13

Why do we sometimes make up our own rule?

Answer 13

Because people can contradict each other

Question 14

What happens when children get binary glasses?

Answer 14

They become socialized to behave in ways that reflect them- gendered toys, same sex friends, policing deviant behaviour.

Question 15

What is the idea behind injection socialization?

Answer 15

Kids are victims of their environments, therefor gendered toys and norms will effect them forever.

Question 16

Why does injection socialization not work in theory?

Answer 16

1) It implies that socialization concludes in adulthood.
2) No room for the possibility that we actively consider/resist roles
3) Fails to acknowledge that we resist roles.

Question 17

What is the learning model?

Answer 17

Acknowledges that we are lifelong learners and can alter our behaviour. We are constantly being socialized and learning gendered ideas.

Question 18

What are the four reasons that we may follow gender rules?

Answer 18

Habit, Observation, Pleasure, and Policing

Question 19

What is the idea of habit?

Answer 19

Gender rules are part of our culture and they become natural, comfortable, not oppressive, and routine. We do it unconsciously.

Question 20

What is the idea of pleasure?

Answer 20

We enjoy doing gender right and performing gender in ways that others admire (ex: being manly at a sports bar, getting dressed up in formal wear)

Question 21

What is the idea of observation?

Answer 21

We sometimes follow gender rules because we are being observed. Who is watching also has an impact on this.

Question 22

What is gender policing?

Answer 22

A response to the violation of gender rules aimed at promoting conformity. This is part of our daily lives.

Question 23

What is accountability?

Answer 23

The obligation to explain why we don’t follow certain social rules. We are reminded of this when people judge or question our behaviour. (Also part of policing- a gentle way to induce conformity)

Question 24

What provides greater immunity from policing?

Answer 24

Higher social status.

Question 25

How does one break gender rules?

Answer 25

Don’t confront head on, instead persuade others of the rule breaking legitimacy. Affirm the rule to the person asking for an account. Infractions are only punished if they aren’t excused.

Question 26

What is the number 1 gender rule?

Answer 26

We all have to do gender in some way if we want to fit in/avoid negative consequences.