Gender and society Flashcards
Define ‘feminism’
Term given to a range of views in favour of equality for women
Define ‘gender biology’
The physical characteristics that identify someone as male or female
Define ‘gender identification’
The way people perceive themselves as male, female or neither
Define ‘gender expression’
The ways in which people behave as a result of their gender identification
Define ‘patriarchal society’
A society dominated by male interests
Why is ‘gender’ a complex concept?
It refers to the relationship between someone’s physical characteristics, their perception and their behaviour, it does not define their sexuality, some babies are born with ambiguous sex
Give an example of gender roles by socialisation
Gender reveal parties and toy stores separating boy and girl toys by theme and colour
Give an example of patriarchy in politics
Rwanda - only country to allow over 50% of seats in government to be allocated to women
USA - 23% women in cabinet
What arguments make the basis for patriarchy?
Men are rational whereas women are emotional
What was the name and aim of Mary Wollstonecraft’s book?
‘A vindiction of the rights of women’ 1792 to promote women’s education
- One of the first feminist movements
Describe first wave feminism
Movement for women’s right to vote in the late 19th century
Describe second wave feminism
1960s including sexual health, contraception, abortion, domestic violence, rape and equality in the workplace
Describe third wave feminism
1990s-now questions the entire notion of gender roles and equality for women
1928 legislation
Women could vote with equal footing to men in the UK
1974 legislation
Prescription of the pill allowed to all women and not just those already married with children over the age of 30
1967 legislation
Abortion was legalised
1970 legislation
Women were legally entitled to equal pay
1965 French legislation
Women were allowed to be employed without the consent of their husband
Define liberal feminism
Seeks equality by campaigning for change
Define radical feminism
Advocates a total uprooting and rebuild of society to liberate from patriarchy
Define marxist feminism
Women’s oppression is a symptom of privatisation of production means
Define black, post-colonial and indigenous feminism
Giving women voices in cultural contexts
Define ecofeminism
Connection between women and nature placing environmental damage on patriarchy
Define separatist feminism
Freedom through isolation and promotion of homosexualism
Describe Plato’s views on equality
Women are inferior because they are second generation of failed men from a previous life
“Only males are created directly by the gods and given souls”
Describe Aristotle’s views on equality
Women are naturally inferior because they are receivers of men’s life giving force and so they are defective and passive in reproduction
Describe Aquinas’ views on equality
Women are inferior in strength and intelligence because God created them inferior e.g. Eve’s sin is not solely responsible but there is a high place in Heaven for women
What mainstream Christian teachings support gender equality?
Equal in worth but have different roles but some Christian denominations prohibit women from being priests and representatives of Christ because Jesus chose only male disciples
Why does Daly believe women are superior to men?
Their knowledge and abilities are superior and if women were allowed to govern the world would be more peaceful
Why do some believe that gender is a choice?
- Women can show male qualities just as men show female attributes
- Cultural norms are not intuitive
- ‘Binary’ shows gender as a spectrum and choice
Give a quote from Genesis 2:20-2:22
“God made woman from a rib he had taken out of the man and he brought her to the man”
What happens in Genesis 3:1-6?
Eve takes the apple from the garden of Eden showing a woman’s weaker will even though Adam ate it
Give a quote from Ephiseans 5:22
“Wives submit to your husbands as you do to the Lord”
- The husband should in return love his wife as Christ loved the Church and for her be self-sacrificing
Describe Pope John Paul’s beliefs about motherhood
Wrote an open letter in 1988 on dignity and women’s rights called ‘Mulieris Dignitatum’ to clarify the Catholic’s position on issues raised by feminism, he said “Motherhood is the fruit of marriage” and it is the fulfilment of female personality
Why did Pope John Paul believe motherhood is the fulfilment of a woman?
A woman’s personality is more capable of tending to others than a man, women safeguard the message of God due to Mary’s obedience every human comes through the threshold of motherhood, women also cope better with pain
How do sociologists define ‘family’?
A social unit that provides protection and socialisation for its members
What does the Catholic Church teach about marriage?
A sacrament (outward sign of God’s grace) and cannot be undone but they recognise it may fail but cannot divorce, they don’t insist married couples live together but they cannot marry new partners in the Church
What are the divided views of homosexuals within the Christian Churches?
- unnatural
- support rights but not sam-sex marriage
- all love comes from God
Why do some Christian denominations believe homosexuality deprives children?
Destablish and deprive children of security and clear gender roles and established hierarchy
How is agape sometimes used to oppose Christian tradition?
Christians need to acknowledge the challenges of traditional gender roles and so agape is used to give Christians the duty of make society fairer
What is controversial about Christianity adapting its traditions?
It should to appeal to younger generations to fit with secularism but a non-distinctive religion is not worth following
What are Simone de Beauvoir’s views of motherhood?
Forces a woman to suspend her own interests and personality as motherhood is forced upon them and so restricting
What are Ann Oakley’s views of motherhood?
There is no such thing as a maternal instinct, this is a product of socialisation. She published work from interviews with mothers to evaluate its restriction
