Key Terms and Concepts from Lecture Flashcards
Intersectionality
race, class, gender
most of us are privileged in some categories and marginalized in others
Sex
biological features that distinguish female and male
intersex = exception
Gender
social overlay of sex differences
more visible than sex
Gender Identity
Internal
Gender expression
external – how we present ourselves
Biosocial perspective
evidence – prenatal hormones influence gender identity and gendered behaviors via brain development
interaction between “nature” and “nurture”
parents interact differently with male and female infants
Social constructivist persepctive
see gender as a “social construct”
– people believe in gender and act in accordance with those beliefs
Gender socialization
learn gender norms at a very young age
parents: behaviors that are encouraged/discouraged, gender-appropriate behaviors/dress
peers: social sanctions for “deviant” practices
media/popular culture: toys, movies, TV, books
The second shift
labor performed at home
typically by women
in addition to paid work performed in the formal sector
Time availability
More hours = less time to do housework
Relative resources
Who makes more $$ = less household chores
Doing gender
gender difference is maintained via interaction
something we perform rather than what we are (housework)
Egalitarian ideal
Equality and equal treatment
Paid work factors and unpaid work factors that keep couples from enacting their egalitarian ideals
– gender wage gap, occupational segregation, motherhood penalty, fatherhood premium, gendered division of labor (unpaid work factors)
Self-reliant
Women can take of themselves
Neo-traditional
Men prioritize their career despite the woman working
Gender wage gap
Narrowed but remains substantial
occupational segregation and discrimination contribute to this
Occupational segregation
men and women go into different jobs
women have gone into male-dominated fields but rare for men to do the same
men’s jobs pay more
primary driver of wage gap
Motherhood penalty
Example of discrimination
mothers make less than comparable non-mothers
reduced human capital
– working part-time
lower work effort
– less productive because devote more energy to kids
discrimination
– employers assume others are less committed
Fatherhood premium
Fathers make more than comparable non-fathers
Cognitive labor
mental labor
anticipate, identify, decide, monitor
focus on time and activity leads to underestimates of gender gaps in unpaid work
interruptions and multi-tasking
Race
visible features, phenotype
racial categorization depends on where societies draw “boundary” lines
definition has changed over time
Ethnicity
refers to common cultural identification – language, religion, traditions
Endogamy
marriage and reproduction within the same group
key to maintaining racial boundaries over time
correlated with inequalities among families
majority-minority
majority – white
minority – Black, Latino, Asian families
Deindustrialization
shapes class and gender
men of color and working class
Familism
stronger emphasis on family obligations than individual needs
Intermarriage
Rates are increasing
3% to 17%
More common among Asian and Hispanic families than Black and white people
“New” immigration
Most legal immigration is family-related
change in the national origins of immigrants
– pre-1970: mostly European
– post-1970: Latin American and Asian
Acculturation
Acquiring the culture and language of the destination country
what immigrants themselves do
Assimilation
Gradual reduction of distance between immigrants and host society
society sees them as more American
Feel more American
Generation (immigrant)
where an immigrant sits relative to family’s original migration
– first generation, 1.5 generation
The paradox of assimilation
first-gen immigrants are heathier than U.S born residents of the same ethnicity
acculturated youth tends to do better than native-born peers on many measures
over time effects fade and immigrant youth “catch up” to their American-born peers
Social class
group of individuals who share a similar economic position
combo. of income, wealth, education, occupation
Six American classes
Upper-class
Upper-middle-class
Middle-class
Working-class
Working poor
Underclass
Ascribed vs. Achieved characteristics
Ascribed characteristics: we have no control over
Achieved characteristics: those we accomplish through our efforts and abilities
Upward mobility
tends to be modest
less common
Social and cultural capital
Social capital: resources that that come via relationships and interpersonal connections
Cultural capital: resources that come via knowledge of dominant insitutions – school
– how you can support your kids
Why does social and cultural capital matter?
parent’s ability to access programs and institutions that facilitate children’s development
Sexual preferences
attraction, desire, and arousal
Sexual behavior
How preferences and opportunities translate into sexual acts
Sexual identity
The classification of people based on their sexual preferences and behaviors
labels and social construction
Dramatize teen sex (American approach)
growing acceptance of premarital sex (not teen sex)
focus on abstinence and fear-mongering
teens say they have lack of control in early sexual encounters
Normalize teen sex (Dutch approach)
widespread acceptance that sex is a part of growing up
sex ed emphasized positive aspects of sex
teens feel more in control of their sexual encounters
have more emotional guidance
Social script
interaction patter that serves as model for appropriate behavior in a given context
trying to find romantic/sexual partners
show us how we might want to act
help us interact others’ actions
Courtship/calling era
coming to someone’s house to “pay a visit”
female needs to reach eligible age –> men are welcome
invited by mother – heavily supervised
rules designed to assess background and class (cultural capital)
Dating era/dating system
originated in the working class b/c crowded living conditions, hanging out outside
benefits: freedom from parents and motion (cars)
by 1930s it was the norm to go out in public to do something together
Shift in dating system
changes the balance of power:
– parents to children
– women to men
public sphere
money = sense of obligation/control
dating system declined: no longer the primary way to find sexual partners, lost power, lost clarity
Hookup culture
Wade argues this
college culture endorses and facilitates casual sexual encounters (partying and alc. access)
casual (no commitment)
often involves alc.
men instigate more of the interaction – sexual component
The orgasm gap
men’s sexual pleasure tends to be prioritized
more men than women receive sexual favors and have orgasms
gap exists in committed relationships
Gendered double standard
hooking up with multiple partners carries different level of repuational risk for men and women
men = expected, women = frowned upon
Benefits of Online dating
alternative
intentions are more transparent
opportunities to express sexual boundaries/preferences
safer
helps people in smaller communities
Drawbacks of online dating
safety concern for smaller communities
impicit bias
racism
