Gender Identity

Question 1

Instrumental role (Parsons

Answer 1

Male role within the family “breadwinner” and “protector”

Question 2

Expressive role (Parsons)

Answer 2

Childbearing and nurturing female role within the home

Question 3

How does the family encourage gender identity (agent of socialisation)

Answer 3

Men expected to be breadwinner

Women expected to cook and clean

Motherhood seen as main part of female identity

Gendered toys

Question 4

How does religion encourage formation of gender identities (agents of socialisation)

Answer 4

Having children seen as main purpose of women

Women seen more as possession “I promise to obey you”

Question 5

How the media encourages formation of gender identities (agents of socialisation)

Answer 5

Men can be shamed for posting selfie’s or focusing on appearance

Women have supporting roles in movies, men have lead

Women ‘damsel in distress’ male ‘hero’

Question 6

How the workplace encourages gender identities (agents of socialisation)

Answer 6

Gender pay gap

Men more likely to be promoted to higher positions

Children view doctors, police, mechanics as male jobs that women can’t do

Question 7

How your peers encourage gender identities (agents of socialisation)

Answer 7

Male only or female only friendship groups

Sexual double standards

Sexist jokes

Question 8

How education encourages gender identities (agents of socialisation)

Answer 8

Girls uniform (skirts) boys (trousers)

Books
Bad behaved girls viewed as annoying or problematic, whereas boys bad behaviour can be laughed off and viewed as ‘loveable rogue’

Question 9

Anne Oakley 4 main ways primary socialisation develops gender identity

Answer 9

Manipulation
Canalisation
Verbal appellations
Domestic activities

Question 10

Anne Oakley concept of manipulation within the home

Answer 10

Encouraging or discouraging gender appropriate behaviour

• manners (female)
• loudness strict on females
• business/maths subjects and careers
• English/art subjects or careers
• sports (male)

Question 11

Anne Oakley concept of Canalisation within the home

Answer 11

Directing children to gender specific toys
Girls:
Dolls, babies, prams, pink, fluffy/soft

Boys:
Robots, action figures, blue, dragons, cars, trains, planes, DIY

Question 12

Anne Oakley concept of verbal appellations within the home

Answer 12

Stereotypical feminine and masculine descriptions
 Boys: 
Lad, mate, bro, son, handsome, big boy 
Girls:
Love, darling, sweat pea, little girl

Question 13

Anne Oakley concept of domestic activities within the home

Answer 13

Creates cultural expectations of future responsibilities
Girls:
Dishwasher, ironing, cleaning, hoovering
Boys:
Bins, DIY, plumbing&electrics

Question 14

McRobbie femininity

Answer 14

Bedroom culture- young girls are more private and stay in their rooms
Culture of femininity- friendship between girls and having a bestfriend. String emphasis on fashion and makeup. Idolisation of male pop stars

This is why there’s a lack of research into women in subcultures

Question 15

Parsons- hegemonic identity- family

Answer 15

Females have expressive role in the family based on natural child bearing role
Males have instrumental role: that of bread winner and protector

Question 16

Oakley- hegemonic identity- family

Answer 16

Family uses different ways to socialise into hegemonic roles
Manipulation- encouraging or discouraging gender appropriate behaviour
Canalisation- directing kids to gender specific toys
Verbal appellation- stereotypical language/ descriptions
Domestic activities- creates cultural expectations of future responsibilities

Question 17

Ferguson- hegemonic identity- media

Answer 17

Analysis of women’s mags
Cult of femininity
Value is through family, marriage& appearance

Question 18

Skelton- hegemonic identity- education

Answer 18

Hidden curriculum transmits gender roles eg. Uniform

Socialises into gender appropriate subjects eg. Textbook pictures

Question 19

Willis- hegemonic- workplace

Answer 19

Males see blue collar jobs and being breadwinner as key source of identity

Question 20

Nixon/Mort- new man- media

Answer 20

Laundrette advert: 
Sexualises males (seen as desirable) 
Domestic (laundry) 
Styled hair (Care in appearance)
Care in hygiene
Men can be seen as fashion icons 
*complicit masculinity

Question 21

Jackson- new ladette- media/peers

Answer 21

*assertive femininity:
Binge drinking, boisterous, aggressive, swearing, open about sex
- this is demonised in the media and deemed ‘unattractive’ creates stereotype
McRobbie’s bedroom culture declining
Male lads in school seen as loveable rogue when misbehaving whereas females are treated as annoying and problematic
Leads to peer pressure to be hegemonic

Question 22

Weeks- sexuality- peers

Answer 22

Heterosexual assumptions
Having to ‘come out’ makes it abnormal
Forcing labels/stereotypes
Seen as dominant label

Question 23

McCormack- sexuality- education

Answer 23

Less homophobia in sixth forms
Believe in equal rights
Seen as a smaller part of identity