Gender identities Flashcards
What is ‘gender’?
Describes the ways in which men and women are expected to behave in society, and is often socially constructed, through the socialisation process
What is ‘sex’?
Classifies people as being male or female, based on their biological or physical characteristics
What are some traditional masculine characteristics?
- Strong
- Brave
- Assertive
- Independent
- Rational
- Non-emotional
What are some traditional feminine characteristics?
- Caring
- Nurturing
- Submissive
- Unconfident
- Irrational
- Emotional
What do functionalists think about the construction of gender?
Gender is biologically determined
What does Parsons say about the construction of gender
- ‘Sex role differentiation theory’:
- men are best suited to an ‘instumental role’
- women are best suited to an ‘expressive role’
What does Mead say about the construction of gender?
- Gender roles are socially constructed
- They are learnt through the socialisation process
- E.g: Tchambuli tribe
What does Hakim say about gender identities?
- Postfeminism theory
- Women can choose between being: home-centered, adpative or work-centered in terms of their work or lifestyles
What does Seidler say about gender identities?
- Asian girls adopt different types of femininity within their home and outside of the home, as they do not want to go against ‘izzat’
Who argues gender is biologically determined?
Wilson
What do feminists think about the construction of gender?
- Patriarchy socially constructs gender identity
- Male dominated society creates and reinforces stereotypes of how men and women should be
What did Mac an Ghaill say about gender, as a result of socialisation?
- Boys learn to be men, in their peer groups
- Hyper masculinity was the main source of identity for the ‘macho lads’
- Taught the 3 F’s (football, fighting, f*ing)
What do postmodernists think about the construction of gender?
- Stanley and Wise- argue gender identity is socially constructed, through the socialisation process, and as a result of the decisions and choices we make ourselves (the way in which we exercise agency)
What are the 5 types of masculinity?
- Hegemonic
- Marginalised
- Complicit
- Subordinate
- Metrosexual
What are the 2 types of femininity?
- Passive
- Assertive
What did Faludi say about gender identity?
- There is a decline in male jobs and breadwinner roles
- ‘Male backlash’, due to threatened patriarchy and male dominance
What type of femininity supports the view that ‘feminities are changing’?
- Assertive femininity
What type of femininity supports the view that ‘feminities are not changing’?
- Passive femininity