Chapter 4 Lecture Flashcards
What is a performance?
Something you can change/alter to show gender (how you dress)
What do gender performances serve to do?
Align us with stereotypes- we do this out of habit or due to negative consequences.
Is the process of acquiring a gendered self active or passive?
Active- we maintain expectations in order to maintain the gender binary. Easier to obey rules than to break.
What is an example of a gender practice?
Something we might do unconsciously because of our gender- example: how we hold hands (who leads and who follows?)
What is doing gender?
The ways in which we actively obey/break gender rules
What are gender rules?
Instructions for how to appear/behave as a man or a woman. Social construct restated as an instruction.
What are some cross-cultural differences in ways of doing gender?
In Belgium, pink is a boys colour, earrings for men used to be unacceptable.
Why do we need more than one pair of gender binary glasses?
Because gender rules change across time/place/context. We need to know what mainstream society expects and what culture expects.
What is the idea of contextual variation and travelling?
People who become skillful at adapting when not conforming is considered deviant. Travellers move from one expectation to another.
What is an example of a traveller who participates in contextual variation?
Goths who change out of being goth for professional areas.
When do we start learning gender rules?
Infancy, and then we are encouraged and reinforced throughout childhood. Parents have to decide whether to encourage or reject norms.
At what age do kids begin to have binary glasses?
5
Why do we sometimes make up our own rule?
Because people can contradict each other
What happens when children get binary glasses?
They become socialized to behave in ways that reflect them- gendered toys, same sex friends, policing deviant behaviour.
What is the idea behind injection socialization?
Kids are victims of their environments, therefor gendered toys and norms will effect them forever.
Why does injection socialization not work in theory?
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.
What is the learning model?
Acknowledges that we are lifelong learners and can alter our behaviour. We are constantly being socialized and learning gendered ideas.
What are the four reasons that we may follow gender rules?
Habit, Observation, Pleasure, and Policing
What is the idea of habit?
Gender rules are part of our culture and they become natural, comfortable, not oppressive, and routine. We do it unconsciously.
What is the idea of pleasure?
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)
What is the idea of observation?
We sometimes follow gender rules because we are being observed. Who is watching also has an impact on this.
What is gender policing?
A response to the violation of gender rules aimed at promoting conformity. This is part of our daily lives.
What is accountability?
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)
What provides greater immunity from policing?
Higher social status.
