Exam 1: Sociology of Gender Theories Flashcards
What is sociology?
The study of human behavior in society.
Teaches us to see how society influences
our lives and the lives of others
What makes sociology scientific? How is sociology an empirical field?
SOCIOLOGY IS THE SCIENTIFIC WAY OF THINKING ABOUT SOCIETY AND ITS INFLUENCE ON HUMAN GROUPS…
1. Intersubjectivity
2. Falsifiability
3. Replication
Define theory.
A set of statements and
propositions that seeks to
explain or predict a particular
aspect of social life.
Know how theory relates to the study of gender with examples of sociological theories
(sex role; gendered organizations; status characteristics; etc.).
Theory is central to sociological analysis.
●People often have a working “theory” about
gender.
○Explanations for “what boys do” and “what
girls do”
●Sociological theory enables us to think formally
and self-critically about how we interpret the
world.
Define confirmation bias. How does bias affect our views of gender? Be able to identify
examples.
Be able to describe the Sociological Imagination and know who coined the term.
a. Know the difference between troubles vs. problems (Mills 1959).
Coined by C. Wright Mills
PRIVATE TROUBLES
Problems we
face that have to
do with personal
lives and
immediate
surroundings.
PUBLIC ISSUES
Exist beyond the
individual and her
or his milieu;
located within the
larger structures of
society.
Be able to give and/or identify examples of fundamental attribution error.
an individual’s tendency to attribute another’s actions to their character or personality, while attributing their behavior to external situational factors outside of their control
Example:if you’ve ever chastised a “lazy employee” for being late to a meeting and then proceeded to make an excuse for being late yourself that same day
Define social structure. Identify examples of social structure/macro level-phenomena.
social institutions and patterns of institutionalized relationships.
The major social institutions recognized by sociologists include family, religion, education, media, law, politics, and economy.
Explain the lack of focus on gender by early sociologists.
Know the waves of feminism (outcomes more important than dates). Compare and
contrast the three (or four) main waves of feminism.
a. Explain the key assumptions and objectives of each wave, taking care to address
their similarities and differences.
- Women’s right
to vote - Equal rights in
the workplace;
sexual violence
against women - Reproductive
rights; equal pay - MeToo
Movement
evidence of new
feminist wave
What is sex role theory?
a. Why was it criticized?
b. Know the difference between sex role and social role.
*Developed within structural–functional approach
*Sex role: Set of expectations attached to an individual’s sex
category.
*Sex roles learned through socialization
*Functionalist theory: Gendered division of labor functional to
society; according to Parsons men are taught to be instrumental
(goal and task oriented) & women are taught to be expressive
(oriented to others)
B) social role is sex differences and similarities in social behavior. the role or behavior learned by a person as appropriate to their sex
What does it mean to analyze gender on an “interactional” level?
a. Explain how status characteristics theory and the “doing gender” perspective are
interactional-level theories in relation to gender, taking care to specify the
differences and similarities among these theories.
Locate gender
metaphorically in the
space between people.
Status Characteristics: Specific to collective, task-driven interactions
*Goal-oriented interactions based on performance expectation
*Performance expectation affects gendered interactions
*Gender is a status characteristic
*Factor in determining competence
*Men considered more competent (gender status belief)
*Gender status belief leads women to doubt their competency
*Women in traditionally male-dominated occupations
*Self-fulfilling prophecy
What is gendered organizations theory? What five ways do organizations produce
gender?
*Organizations create gendered individuals and shape gendered
interactions.
*Organizations produce gender in five ways:
1. Gender divisions: Segregation, inequality
2. Gendered symbols: Language, dress
3. Gender interactions: Conversations, encounters
4. Gender identity: Divisions shape self-perceptions
5. Gender structures: Policies, procedures, practices
What is meant by social network approach?
a. Discuss the gendered nature of social networks.
Homophily:
*Structural approach
*Individuals embedded in relationships with other actors
*Networks have three properties:
1. Size: Number of people
2. Density: Interconnections with alters
3. Diversity: Multiple spheres of activity
*Networks tend to be homophilous
*Men and women benefit differently from networks
Define hegemonic masculinity. What is meant by, “most men do not perfectly conform to
the [hegemonic masculinity] ideals?”
*Part of trend to “study up”
*Examines categories of privilege
*Focus on men and masculinity
*Top of hierarchy - Hegemonic masculinity
*Complicit masculinity - When men do not live up to ideal
*Patriarchal dividend - Gender advantage
*Subordinated masculinity - Bottom of gender hierarchy
*Marginalized masculinity - Masculinities between groups
Hegemonic Masculinity
*Part of trend to “study up”
*Examines categories of privilege
*Focus on men and masculinity
*Top of hierarchy - Hegemonic masculinity
*Complicit masculinity - When men do not live up to ideal
*Patriarchal dividend - Gender advantage
*Subordinated masculinity - Bottom of gender hierarchy
*Marginalized masculinity - Masculinities between groups
