Final: Gender Flashcards
Explain the difference between sex and gender.
Sex equals the biological traits of men and women, such as chromosomes, hormones, and sex organs.
Gender refers to social, cultural, and psychological traits linked to males and females.
The Sexual Continuum
Idea coined by Kinsey. People are not simple heterosexual, or homosexual. There is a spectrum. “The living world is a continuum in each and every one of its aspects.”
Who was David Reimer?
Had a circumcision that accidentally burned off his penis. In turn, he was sexual reassigned as a girl, although grouping up still showed signs of masculine and boyish traits. Reimer grew up very unhappy, and even committed suicide.
Essentialism
The idea that there is something natural/biological to gender.
What is the issue with essentialists?
They tend to ignore the historical and cultural variability of gender and sexuality. They also ignore that gender difference are declining rapidly and in some cases have already disappeared without any genetic changes within those societies. Essentialists also tend to generalize for the average, ignoring variations within gender groups.
Aggressiveness
On average, in terms of aggression, males and females are more similar than not. On average, males demonstrate slightly higher levels of aggression.
How do essentialists offer explanations for gender differences?
They offer explanations that ignore the role of power and our structured societies.
Gender Stratification
A system in which men, in general, hold greater power, prestige and wealth than women.
Power
The ability to impose one’s will on others.
Prestige
Social ranking and respect.
Wealth
Economic resources to pay for the necessities in life.
Double-Work Day
The term used to describe the expectation of women to now work at a public job, AND do house work, and child care.
Sex Segregation
The idea that there are certain jobs more fit for women, and certain jobs more fit for men, based on sex typing. Example: Doctors vs. Nurses.
Sex Typing
Essentially, the stereotyping of the sexes.
Glass Ceiling
The idea that females have more difficulty reaching the top in terms of corporate status. They can see the opportunities above them, although can never reach them.
Non-Standard Work
More females contribute in non-standard work. This includes jobs that are less than 40 hours a week, based on contract rather than hourly pay, and are unlikely to involve benefits.
Women in the Labour Force
Women have become more involved in the labour force especially since 1961 because:
1) An increase in the demand for service sector workers.
2) A decrease in the number of children born.
3) Family finances.
What are four reasons that explain why women earn less than men?
1) Gender difference in the characteristics that influence pay rates (education, experience, seniority)
2) Women are involved in sex-segregated non-standard work.
3) Simple discrimination, even in the same jobs women are often paid less than men.
4) A general devaluation of the kind of work performed by women.
What are the two sources of women’s oppression, in terms of the beliefs of socialist feminism?
1) Capitalism
2) Patriarchy
What are the four points of belief of socialist feminism?
1) Both capitialism and patriarchy must be substantially altered or eliminated to free women.
2) Capitalists benefit greatly from women’s work, including raising of children, but do not pay for all this work.
3) State intervened with social programs (raising the federal debt). Current developments.
4) Socialists feminists believe that the laws of the state can be changes for positive social change in society.
What does socialist feminism believe?
We need to view Marx’s proletariat and bourgeoisie but, also how gender inequality seamlessly fall into capitalism.
Radical Feminism
Believes that women are oppressed simply because they are biologically female.
1) Capitalism has little to do with female oppression.
2) The state is the male state.
3) Men, by nature, are aggressive, and need to dominate women.
4) The state is the enemy, not an ally.
Social Images
Shows consequences of the belief of genders. There is social imagery that can be seen in cosmetic ads, ad beauty magazines that place pressure on young females to look a specific way.
The Social Self
“I”, “Me”, and “Generalized Other”. It is constantly changing.
“The Body Beautiful: Adolescent Girls and Images of Beauty”
In 2000, Mathews found:
1) Girls suggested that they are not passive victims of beauty images.
2) Looking better means access to social groups and power.
3) Other girls (not boys) were the most important audience and their harshest critics.
What were the four groups that Mathews identified?
1) The elite. Group that feel confident in their looks, and are attached to beauty norms. Are hot and they know it.
2) The “wannabees”. Believes if they could change one aspect of appearance, they could become elite.
3) “Life in the middle”. Do not care about appearances, and care about improving their being/inner self.
4) The fringe. Believes they will never reach beauty norms, and so never bothers to participate in beauty norms.
