Final Exam Flashcards
What is a “metrosexual”?
A heterosexual man whose lifestyle, spending habits, and concern for appearance are fashionable and similar to a homosexual man’s.
What is the difference between “sex” and “gender”?
Sex is rooted in biological inclinations and gender in social inclinations.
What is “sex”?
Biological distinctions between males and females in terms of physique, reproductive organs etc.
What is “gender”?
The roles/characteristics society attaches to males and females and carries with it the notions of inequality between the two.
What is “gender role”?
A set of attitudes and expectations of behaviour that is deemed as being male or female.
What does it mean to be “heterosexual”?
To be sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex.
What does it mean to be “homosexual”?
To be sexually attracted to people of the same sex.
What are examples of informal words of homosexuality?
Gay, queer. (applicable to both females and males)
What does “lesbian” mean?
A woman homosexual.
What is a “bisexual” person?
A person that is sexually attracted to people of both sexes.
Of the following, which are false about “bisexuality”?
- A homosexual experience during puberty and only heterosexual experiences make you bisexual.
- Bisexuality implies equal attraction
- Homosexuals under denial associate themselves as bisexual.
All of them.
What is a “transgender” person?
Someone who:
1. Does not conform with the gender roles of their biological sex
OR
2.Does not self-identiy with the biological sex assigned to them at birth
What does LGBT stand for and represent?
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender)
Represents a term for anybody who is not heterosexual.
What does it mean to be “intersex”?
To be born with both male and female sexual characteristics.
Is sex a continuum?
Yes
What is the controversy behind early intersex surgery?
- It is considered “genital mutilation” because the child cannot consent to the surgery due to the young age it is done it.
- Removes the potential reproductive ability of the child which is unethical.
What are the four different strains of the feminist theory that approaches the study of gender, according to Kachuck?
- Feminist liberalism
- Feminist essentialism
- Feminist socialism
- Feminist postmodernism
What is “feminist liberalism”?
A feminist approach that typically involves working towards pay and work equity.
What is “pay equity”?
Where women in female-dominated industries recieve compensation similar to the salaries of those working in comparable professions that are typically dominated by men.
What is one major criticism of “feminist liberalism”?
- It only benefits heterosexual, white women.
2. Fails to recognize that social location may enable other women too receive benefits, but not others.
What does “feminist essentialism” focus on?
The differences between the way women and men think, and argues for equality, or female superiority, in that difference. (known to promote female superiority)
What does it mean to start out “tabula rasa”?
A blank slate where our social environment can write and shape our lives.
What is a shortcoming of “feminist essentialism”?
- Universalizes women, assuming that all gender experience is the same.
- Confuses natural phenomena with women’s strategies for coping with patriarchial demands
- Invites continued perceptions of women as social housekeepers in the worlds that men build.
What does it mean when a job is considered “gendered”?
- One sex will be predominant in the job.
2. The work itself involved gendered meanings and is defined in gendered terms. (ex. nursing, nurturing)
What does the “feminization” of an occupational sphere entail?
A particular job, profession or industry becoming dominated and associated with women
If males are in gendered roles, according o R. Connell, what four ways do they act out gender roles?
- Hegemonic masculinity
- Subordinate masculinity
- Marginalized masculinity
- Complicit masculinity
What is “hegemonic masculinity”?
Practices and beliefs that normalize and naturalize men’s dominance and women’s subordination.
What is “subordinate masculinity”?
Behaviours and presentation of self that can threaten the legitimacy of hegemonic masculinity. (ex. effeminate men)
What is “marginalized masculinity”?
Forms of masculinity that, due to class, race sexual orientation etc, are accorded less respect than other forms of masculinity,
What is “complicit masculinity”?
Forms of masculinity that do not conribute to or embody male hegemony, yet still benefit from it (the gender order and local gender regimes)
What is a “boyat”
A tomboy in Arabic
What are the two common East Asian stereotypes?
- Lotus Blossom Baby
2. Dragon Lady
What is a “Lotus Blosso Baby”?
A stereotype that encompasses he image of the China dall, the geisha girl, and the shy Polynesian beauty.
`What is a “Dragon Lady”?
A stereotype that include prostitues and “devious madams”
What image of the geisha did the Lotus Blossom Baby contribute?
The geisha as an expensive prostitute.
What is an “Indian Princess”?
A heroine that forms an integral part of the American story of how their country was built,
What is a “squaw”?
A figure used by white writers to characterize Aboriginal people as savages, providing ample justification for white colonial dominance.
What is “feminism”?
The advocacy of social equality between men and women.
What are the 5 basic ideas of feminism?
- Working to increase equality between men and women.
- Expanding human choice.
- Eliminate gender stratification
- Ending sexual violence
- Promoting sexual freedom.
What is “feminist socialism”?
A feminist approach that looks at oppression through the interplay between class and gender.
What is “feminist postmodernism”?
The feminist approach that involves looking at women more as subjects with voices and standpoints, rather than object being researched. Believe in a continuum of gender. (social-constructionist position)
Which feminist approach argues that not all women are biologically all female and all males are not biological all male?
Feminist postmodernism.
Butler’s “queer theory” is another perspective of feminist postmodernism. What is it?
The approach that rejects the idea of gender identity being connected to biological essence, instead gender reflects social performance on a continuum with male and female on opposite poles, and people act along the continuum depending on different situations and times.
What are two historical examples of the feminization of occupations?
- Gin Craze (18th century)
2. Clerical Work in Canada (1891-1971)
What is the ideology of the fag?
A set of beliefs and sanctions that are invoked to keep people in line of gender roles. (ex. A feminine action you do, and a friend saying “that’s gay”, puts you in line of your gender role)
What is Kachuck’s main criticism of feminist postmodernism?
Leads to no conclusions.
What is “sexual orientation”?
A person’s preference in terms of sexual partners.
What are the 4 main sexual orientations?
- Heterosexuality
- Bisexuality
- Homosexuality
- Asexuality
What are three examples of intersex/transgender in various cultures?
- Hijra
- Kathoey
- de Muche
What is a “transexual”?
A person born male/female, who change their sex because they don’t identify as such.
Who are the “two-spirit” in Aboriginal culture?
Highly regarded members of society who manifest both male and female roles, similar to transgender, except that they have fluidity in moving between roles.
What is an example of a two-spirit person?
A female warrior.
What are “gender roles”?
A set of expectations concerning behaviour and attitudes that relates to being female or male.
What does gender socialization argue?
That gender is learned.
What are four socialization agents for gender socialization?
- Family
- Peer Group
- School
- Mass Media
What is “sexism”?
Belief that one gender is innately superior to the other.
What does sexism mainly achieve?
Establishes inequality between men and women and limits the opportunities and ambitions of an entire population
What is “gender stratification”?
Unequal distribution of wealth, power and prestige between men and women.
Where is there significant gender stratification?
- Education
- Occupation
- Income
What is a “patriarchy”?
A society where the men are in power and in charge.
In terms of patriarchy, Canadian society is:
- Male-dominated
- Male-identified
- Male-centered
What does it mean if something is “male identified”?
Core ideas of good, desirable etc. are located in the male domain. (ex. independence and competition are “male” traits)
What does it mean to be “male-centered”?
Focussed on the accomplishments and activities of men.
What is an “operational definition”?
A working definition that we can use for statistical purposes.
Postmodernist sociological theory teaches us to be suspicious of “binaries”. What is that?
Either/or distinctions that separate people into discrete categories. ex. heterosexual/homosexual.
Do postmodernists believe gender is discrete or on a continuum?
Continuum
What is “disability”?
Any condition, mental/physical and temporary/permanent, that limits a person’s ability to participate in regular activities in the home, work, school or recreational pursuits.
Who is considered the father of the sociology of disability?
Irving K. Zola
Zola’s study combined two things: participant observation and institutional ethnography. Define both.
- Participant observation: Observing people as an outsider and actively participating in various activities of the studied people’s lives.
- Institutional ethnography: Ethnography that challenges a neutral stance, instead claims any institution has two sides: ruling interests, and the interests of the workers in the institution.
What is Dorothy Smith’s Standpoint Theory?
The view that knowledge is developed from a particular lived position/standpoint, making objectivity impossible.
What is “passing” in the context of disability?
Downplaying disabled status and claiming a position in the ablist mainstream.
What are the three generic main models of disability?
- Medical models
- Economic models
- Social Constructionist Models.