GENDER AND SOCIETY Flashcards
Biological sex
Determined by physical attributes, such as chromosomes, sex organ and hormone levels
Gender
Refers to a more sophisticated relationship between:
- someone’s physical characteristics
- the way people choose to behave
- the way they percieve themselves
What is gender identification and gender expression often heavily influenced by?
The ways society expects its members to behave and feel
Socialisation
The process by which people learn cultural norms
Who contributes to our socialisation?
- Our parents, siblings, peer group and other members of our society
What has socialisation traditionally put emphasis on in Western Culture?
The distinction between male and female
(as a result trad views on gender deeply embedded in Western cult.)
What is a patriarchal society?
A minority of men tend to hold most of the postions of power in government and in the workplace
How are patriarchal societies organised and what do they offer?
- Organised in ways that allow men to hold onto the power
- Offer ways of looking at the world that are from a male perspective, expressed through male voices
How did Aquinas support patriarchy? (2)
- Argued that women are inferior to men in physical strength and intelligence
- Used the word ‘defective’ when describing women to men- that they were created to be inferior to men
1) Men created directly
Plato quote supporting patriarchy
“It is only men who are created directly by the gods and are given souls”
How did Aristotle support patriarchy?
- Argued that reproduction is male centred as they produce the semen; women are merely recievers of the life-giving force.
- As they were unable to produce semen, he considered women as infertile and defective
Higher, lower, rules and ruled
Aristotle quote on patriarchy
“The relationship between male and female is… that the male is higher, the female is lower that the male rules and the female is ruled”
Men vs Women
According to patriarchal society
- WvsM= emotional vs rational
- Men- better suited to making important decisions
- Women- better suited to caring roles- looking after children and elderly
Feminist movement
A term to encompass a range of diff beliefs and ideologies that share the aim of improving rights and opportunities for women
Feminism
The name given to a wide range of beliefs that seek freedom for women
Why do some feminists argue changes needed to be made within the structure of Christian practice, worship and leadership?
To give women more equality with men
Some feminists argue religious worship should focus on God as feminine? How would this come about?
Using language of motherhood rather than fatherhood
Why do some feminists argue that Christianity and other religions are completely incompatible with feminism?
Religion is a social construct that is heavily intertwined with patriarchy and they argue that feminists should abandon religion together
How do traditional gender roles link to Christianity
Some Christians argue that the diff skills men and women have mean that women shouldn’t take roles, such as priests, where they represent Christ (Eucharist)
Why do the Catholic and Orthodox church not ordain women to the priesthood
They argue Jesus chose to come into world as man and so therefore only a man can represent him in the sacraments
How does the Church of England and United Reform Church challenge Catholic and Orthodox Church?
They have ordained women as well as men, arguing that God calls people to ministry without gender discrimination
What is the traditional Christian teaching on the roles of men and women in family and society
God created men and women in order that they should have different, complementary roles