Gender and Identity

Question 1

Sex

Answer 1

Biological differences between men and women

Question 2

Gender

Answer 2

Cultural, socially constructed differences between two sexes

Question 3

Ann oakley - 4 elements of gender socialisation

Answer 3

1) activities - girls encouraged to participate in indoor activities and boys outdoor
2) verbal appellations- use of language to label children, reinforce gender identification (good girl naughty boy)
3) manipulation- parents encourage/dis behaviour if it’s normal for gender ( girls appearance and boys violence)
4) canalisation- parents direct their children’s interests into toys and games appropriate to their gender (dolls/cars)

Question 4

Peers + study

Answer 4

Maszak : children use gender stereotypes to judge behaviour of others – boys who expressed feminine activity interest would be exposed to peer pressure … links to ..

Connell: boys have pressure to present as strong and conceal girly signs of kindness

Hegemonic identity : boys socialised into masculinity which stresses touchiness and aggression

Alder: popularity of girls : looks and academic success
Pop of boys : as above

Question 5

Education + study

Answer 5

Miller: teachers Re-Inforce gender stereotypes within the classroom (expect boys to be noisier ) — results in children learning that girls are expected to be passive whilst boys more loud

Beck labelling

Subjects tend to be gender based

Question 6

Media + study

Answer 6

Johnson - adverts focused on boys emphasised action and destruction whereas female emphasis attractiveness and emotion

Magazines - objectify women’s bodies, should be slim , flawless skin and hair ….links to

Kilbourne: “mannequins”

Also magazines girls encouraged to become the “ideal female” (slimblondeness) and boys encouraged to sexually objectify their bodies

Boys films and games focus on strength and aggression

Question 7

Religion

Answer 7

Sacred texts feature male Gods - suggests dominance ?

Rules of behaviour

Dressing

67 pakis said religion was important

Question 8

Workplace

Answer 8

Job roles are gendered

Billington : jobs and breadwinner related to masculine identity

Question 9

Changing gender identities

Answer 9

Ladette - growing similarity in modern society between masculine and feminine identities

Connel : others forms of masculinity apart from hegemonic ( e.g. Subordinate : homosexual)
Marginalised: unemployed
Feminists : still seen as sex objects – parents still socialise us – lees : fear of Rep “slags “

Crisis of masculinity : men used to establish their identity by wild now challenged by women’s success

Question 10

Gender as a social construct

Contradictory research

Answer 10

1) Bruce Reimer - penis destroyed so was raised as a girl

Eventually reverted back to a boy

Contradiction…..

2) Margaret mead tribes
Boys were more passive and girls were aggressive