Gender And Sexual Identities Flashcards
Sex
Biological traits which society uses to assign someone as male or female : chromosomes, reproductive organs
Gender
Cultural classifications of masculinity and femininity, socially constructed characteristics, norms, relationship. Society sees them as more appropriate for one sex than another
Sexuality
Sexual identity, attraction and experiences which may or may not align with sex and gender. Includes but not limited to heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, queer and so on
Femininity
The attributes, behaviours and roles associated with women and girls in society. = socially constructed so characteristics can be negotiated and changed
Masculinity
Social expectations of being a man. Roles, behaviours, attributes appropriate for boys and men in society. Constructed and defined socially characteristics can be negotiated or changed
Hegemonic femininity
Most dominant/traditional style of femininity, requires a woman to be heterosexual, child-bearing, attentive, passive subordinate, quiet
Hegemonic masculinity
Most dominant form of masculinity that is privileged and upheld by society characterised by strength, being the breadwinner, courage, aggression
Social constructionism
Biological characteristics such as sexuality and gender are products of human definition and interpretation and are shaped by social, cultural and historical contexts
Biological determinism
Individual characteristics and behaviour are dictated by some aspects of biology, human behaviour is innate (fixed from birth) and determined by genes
Instrumental role
Male’s role which is based on physical strength and being the breadwinner or protector of the family
Expressive role
Female’s role which is natural and based on their child-bearing role
Patriarchy
Society that is dominated by men
What does Parsons say?
Traditional gender identities
Females have an expressive role based on their child-bearing role
Males have an instrumental role based on their physical strength
Anne Oakley
TRADITIONAL GENDER IDENTITIES
Gender role socialisation takes place in 4 main ways and that primary socialisation is key to developing a sense of gender identity. Supports argument that children are socialised into hegemonic femininity/masculinity
Manipulation, canalisation, verbal appellations, domestic activities
Manipulation
Encouraging or discouraging gender appropriate behaviour
Canalisation
Parents directing child’s interest into certain toys and play
Verbal appellations
Parents using stereotypical feminine and masculine descriptions such as ‘gentle’ girls and ‘strong’ boys
Domestic activities
Daughters have cultural expectations of future responsibilities (helping out with house work)
What does McRobbie suggest?
Bedroom culture
TRADITIONAL GENDER IDENTITIES
What is bedroom culture
Females are confined to their bedroom and this is where they spend their leisure time alone or with friends
What is the culture of femininity
Friendship and shared culture with other girls. Used to overcome their knowledge and their future will be restricted
What does Sian Lincoln say
Bedroom culture does still exist but significantly less privatised
What does Billington?
TRADITIONAL GENDER IDENTITIES
The media presents masculinity as dominant and femininity as subordinate.
Nakuamara
TRADITIONAL GENDER IDENTITIES
Although women are stereotyped in the media, digital communication and the internet are increasingly being used by women, from a range of different ethnic and class backgrounds, as a forum for support when they face discrimination and inequality
Content analysis
Method used by sociologists to research media and now it represents groups or issues. Involves categories and counting up number of times different topics are featured within a media text
Ferguson
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TRADITIONAL GENDER IDENTITIES
conducted content analysis of women’s magazine- cult of femininity
Cult of femininity
Promoted the idea that excellence is achieved through caring for others, family, marriage and appearance
Mitsos and Browne
TRADITIONAL GENDER IDENTITIES
Suggest a reason for boys doing less well than girls in education is that teachers tended to be less strict with boys = more leeway.
What was reinforced by teachers in school and socialised boys into their gender roles where behaviour between boys and girls was seen as distinctly different
Anti-learning culture
Skelton
TRADITIONAL GENDER IDENTITIES
Argues that the ‘hidden curriculum’ is responsible for perpetuating gender differences in subject choice
How does the hidden curriculum transmit traditional gender roles
-people persuaded by teachers + peers
-teachers make assumptions
Kelly
-TRADITIONAL GENDER IDENTITIES
science is seen as a masculine subject
-due to textbooks showing pictures of boys and examples that would interest boys
-boys dominate science classrooms by shouting out answers and grabbing equipment first
Colley
TRADITIONAL GENDER IDENTITIES
Argues that school subject choices are affected by three things, their perception of gender roles, subjects preferences and learning environment
Perception of gender roles
Whether pupils choose typically masculine and feminine subjects depends on the extent to which they have been socialised into a typically masculine or feminine identity. Those which strong identities are more likely to choose stereotypical subjects
Subject preferences
Males and females choose subjects based on their perception of the types of tasks and activities required in the subject.
Learning environment
Subject choices influenced by whether school is single sex or mixed sex. Girls more likely to choose maths and science subjects in single sex schools
Horizontal segregation
Men and women are expected to do different types of jobs. Males = high speed ride operatives, females = catering roles
Connell
CHANGING IDENTITIES Argues that there are 4 different types of masculinity, hegemonic, complicit, subordinate and marginalised
Hegemonic masculinity
Traditional heterosexual masculinity tends to be dominant now
Complicit masculinity
Men who believe men and women should share roles within the family
Subordinate masculinity
Masculinities which are less powerful and carry a lower status
Marginalised masculinity
Masculine identity held by those men who did traditionally masculine jobs and now their masculinity is under threat as many of these jobs have been lost
Tony Sewell
Hyper-masculinity= adopt exaggerated version of hegemonic traditional masculinity due to being from matriarchal backgrounds.
Sean Nixon
CHANGING IDENTITIES Men can care about their appearance and how they present themselves
Mort
CHANGING IDENTITIES
Changes in men’s style create a new masculine identity and cause men’s consumption patterns to change as a result of the male body in the media
Sue Sharpe
1970s=girls priorities were love, marriage, husbands and children
1990s=girls priorities were job, career and being able to support themselves
Jackson
CHANGING IDENTITIES
Ladettes
Assertive femininity
Weeks
SEXUAL IDENTITIES
Many would not say heterosexual but would say gay or lesbian making a statement about belonging and their relationship to dominant sexual codes
Plummer
-SEXUAL IDENTITIES
homosexual career
-males accept label of homosexual and will join a subculture where stereotypical homosexual characteristics become the norm.
Mc Cormack
-SEXUAL IDENTITIES
declining homophobia is due to the rise of conservative politics, backlash from the AIDS crisis and the banning of promotion of homosexuality in schools.
Mac an Ghail
SEXUAL IDENTITIES
Suggests the 3 F’s as a way of avoiding the reality of their sexual identity
Mc Intosh
SEXUAL IDENTITIES
Suggests that the homosexual role may include effeminate mannerisms (higher voice and attention to appearance)
Also says once a male has accepted the label or identity or ‘homosexual’ he will start to fulfil these expectations
Rich
SEXUAL IDENTITIES
Suggests women’s sexuality is oppressed by men in patriarchal society through institutions such as marriage, sexual violence and rape and through sexual objectification of women.
Also suggests compulsory heterosexuality
