Gender Stratification Flashcards
Margaret Mead’s research on gender in 3 societies in New Guinea illustrates that…
What is feminine to one society might be masculine to another
Throughout life course, gender shapes…
Human feelings, thoughts and actions
In observing children at play, Janet Lever concluded that…
Boys favor games with clear winners and losers
Which factor accounts for most of differences in earnings of working women and men in US
Kind of work people do
“Pink-collar” work refers to what type of jobs?
Clerical
Gender
Personal traits and social positions that embers of society attach to being female or male; evidence that it’s rooted in culture includes global comparisons by Margaret Mead and other showing how societies define what is feminine and masculine in many ways and is important dimension of social stratification
Gender stratification
Unequal distribution of wealth, power and privilege between men & women
Russia
Physicians are expected to be female
Iran
Women are cold and logical sex
New Guinea
Men enjoy playing with babies
India
Housework considered sacred task that only men can handle
Africa’s Ivory Coast
Masculine routine of “washing day” is observed
The “Israeli Kibutz”
Has been important setting for gender research because gender equality is one of stated goals; men and women share in both work and decision making
Margaret Mead’s research
Carried out groundbreaking research that if gender is based on biological differences between men and women, people everywhere should define “feminine” and “masculine” in same way; if gender is cultural, these concepts should vary
George Murdock’s research
Found some global agreement on which tasks are feline and which are masculine. Hunting and warfare generally fall to men, and home-centered talks such as cooking and child care tend to be women’s work.
Matriarchy
Form of social organization which females dominate males
Sexism
Belief that one she’s is innately superior to one another
Patriarchy
Form of social organization in which males dominate females
Gender roles
Attitudes and activities that society links to each sex
Minority
Any category of people distinguished by physical or cultural difference that society sets apart and subordinates
Sexual harassment
Comments, gestures and physical constants of sexual nature that are deliberate, repeated and unwelcome; mostly victimizes women because our culture encourages men to be assertive and see women in sexual terms
Feminism
Support of social equality for women and men, in opposition to patriarchy and sexism; endorses social equality of women and men and opposes patriarchy and sexism; seekers to eliminate violence against women and advocates giving women control over reproduction
Basic feminist ideas
- Taking action to increase equality
- Expanding human choice
- Eliminating gender stratification through the society
- Ending sexual violence
- Promoting sexual freedom
Pornography
Portrays women as sexual objects that many see it as moral issue; because it dehumanizes women, it’s also a power issue
Symbolic-interaction theory
Individuals use gender as one element of personal performances as they socially construct reality through everyday interactions; gender plays part in shaping almost all everyday experiences
Intersection theory
analysis of interplay of race, class and gender, which often results in multiple dimensions of disadvantage
Structural-functional theory
In preindustrial societies, distinctive roles for males and females reflect biological differences between sexes; in industrial societies, marked gender inequality becomes dysfunctions and gradually decreases
Social-conflict theory
Gender is important dimension of social inequality and social conflict; gender inequality benefits men and disadvantages women
Liberal feminism
Seeks equal opportunity for both sexes within existing society
Socialist feminism
Claims that gender equality will come about by replacing capitalism with socialism
Radical feminism
Seeks to eliminate concept of of gender itself and create egalitarian and gender free society
Multicultural feminism
Expands focus on gender stratification to take into account intersection of gender stratification to take into account the intersection of gender with race and ethnicity
Global feminism
Points out that gender inequality also involves varying positions of women around world in system of global stratification
