Chapter 9 Flashcards
sex
the biological and anatomical differences distinguishing females from males.
gender
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. The study of gender relations has become one of the most important areas of sociology in recent years.
gender socialization
the learning of gender roles through social factors such as schooling, the media, and family.
social construction of gender
the learning of gender roles through socialization and interaction with others.
patriarchy
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.
gender inequality
the inequality between men and women in terms of wealth, income, and status.
gender typing
designation of occupations as male or female, with “women’s” occupations, such as secretarial and retail positions, having lower status and pay, and “men’s” occupations, such as managerial and professional positions, having higher status and pay.
comparable worth
policies that attempt to remedy the gender pay gap by adjusting pay so that those in female-dominated jobs are not paid less for equivalent work.
glass ceiling
a promotion barrier that prevents a woman’s upward mobility within an organization.
glass escalator
the process by which men in traditionally female professions benefit from an unfair rapid rise within an organization.
sexual harassment
the making of 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.
housework
unpaid work carried on in the home, usually by women’ domestic chores such as cooking, cleaning, and shopping. Also called domestic labor.
rape
the forcing of non-consensual vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse.
feminist theory
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 intention to explain gender inequalities in society and to work to overcome them.
liberal feminism
Form of feminist theory that believes that gender inequality is produced by unequal access to civil rights and education and employment, based on sex. Liberal feminists tend to seek solutions through changes in legislation that ensure that the rights of individuals are protected.
