Lecture 6 - Gender Inequality

Question 1

What are master statuses?

Answer 1

(Everett Hughes, 1940s) Any status that affects someone in all of their social situations, which can overpower some other statuses (Ex. Race)

Question 2

Define verstehen.

Answer 2

Empathetic understanding of human behaviour (subjectivity)

Question 3

What is standpoint theory?

Answer 3

(Sandra Harding) The idea that knowledge stems from social positions

• Science isn’t objective bc marginalized groups are excluded from academia (macro-analysis is seen as more “objective”, marginalized scholars feeling alienated bc micro issues aren’t the norm)
• Focus on epistemology (branch of philosophy that examines the nature + origins of knowledge)
• Dorothy Smith –> ignoring women has brought the opportunity to ask questions grounded in women’s everyday experiences
• Challenge for scholars from marginalized communities bc there’s a disconnect b/w experience of the world and academia

Question 4

What is the matrix of oppression?

Answer 4

(Patricia Hill Collins) Black women have a unique experience/perspective to draw from

Question 5

What are the 4 tenets of feminist theory?

Answer 5

1. Focus on aspects of patriarchy (system of male domination)
2. Male domination/Female subordination are structures of power/social convention (not a biological necessity)
3. Looks at micro + macro settings
4. Existing patterns should change for benefit of all members of society

Question 6

Define sex.

Answer 6

Biological classifications as male/female based on genetic makeup

Question 7

Define gender.

Answer 7

A socially constructed identity that traditionally corresponds to the binary sexes, but also includes non-binary identities

Question 8

Define gender identity.

Answer 8

Each person’s internal + individual experience of gender (person’s sense of being on the gender spectrum)

Question 9

Define gender expression.

Answer 9

The way in which a person presents themselves in terms of gender

Question 10

Define sexuality.

Answer 10

Sexual orientation (person’s sexual attraction, behaviour and identity)

Question 11

Define gender roles.

Answer 11

Parts of gender prescribed by society, outside of oneself (rules made by society, not individual)

Question 12

Define non-binary.

Answer 12

Any gender identity that isn’t strictly male/female all the time (so outside the gender binary)

Question 13

Define cisgender.

Answer 13

A person whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth

Question 14

Define lexical gap.

Answer 14

Absence of a word in a particular language (Ex. Xenogender)

Question 15

Define intersex.

Answer 15

A person born w/ anatomy that doesn’t fit conventional definitions of male/female (1.7% of the population)

Question 16

What 5 things are biological sex most commonly defined by?

Answer 16

1. Chromosomes (XX, XY, X, XXY, XXYY)
2. Internal reproductive organs (primarily responsible for hormone production)
3. Sex hormones (testosterone, estrogen [+ their effects])
4. External reproductive genitals (commonly thought of + used to determine sex at birth)
5. Ability to bear children

Question 17

Define social construct.

Answer 17

Ideas created + accepted by ppl. in society through interactions + social processes

Question 18

What is evolutionary theory?

Answer 18

• Rejects notions that humans are above/separate from nature (humanity extends from nature so we’re subject to processes like evolution)
• Nature creates diversity through species for survival (thus, diversity w/ sex should be seen as natural)

Question 19

Define heteronormativity.

Answer 19

The belief that sexual activity b/w ppl. of the “opposite sex” is the natural expression of sexuality

Question 20

Define transgender.

Answer 20

Ppl. whose gender identity does not match their assigned sex at birth

Question 21

Define cultural diffusion.

Answer 21

Spreading of ideas + issues b/w countries
Ex. 84% of Canadians support gender identity being added as a protected status under the Human Rights Act, 70% for a fluid concept of gender, 59% for removing gender from ID cards, 67% for trans ppl. using whatever washroom they want

Question 22

Define culture.

Answer 22

symbolic expressive dimension of social life (beliefs that ppl. hold abt. reality, norms that guide behaviour, values influencing morals, symbols through which beliefs/norms/values are communicated)

Question 23

What is post-modernism?

Answer 23

• Skepticism of “objective” universal explanations of how society + culture operate
• Emerged in the 1970s - 1980s
• Part of symbolic interactions (focus on how things are constructed)
• Helps to get an abstract/philosophical understanding of culture
• Culture can’t exist w/o us, yet it exists independently of us (can influence it, but can’t decide if/how long ideas take hold or what they turn into)

Question 24

(Post-modernism) How does Jean Baudrillard define hyperreality?

Answer 24

Inability to separate reality from its representation (When a representation distorts reality yet comes to create it)

Question 25

Define liquid modernity.

Answer 25

The constant state of flux/change w/ no ability to impose order/stability on it

Question 26

Define socialization.

Answer 26

The lifelong process of individual/group learning expected norms/customs through social interaction

Question 27

Define privilege.

Answer 27

Advantage based on ascribed trait

Question 28

Define male privilege.

Answer 28

Social, economic, political advantages/rights available to men solely based on their sex
Ex. Less chance of SA/abuse, less physical appearance expectations, less sexual shaming, wage gap, less hiring discrimination, less harassment, less “emotional”, less domestic work
- 11 women as heads of state for 195 countries
- 88% of billionaires are men
- More prominent in TV/movies

Question 29

Define sexism.

Answer 29

The belief that innate psychological, behavioural and/or intellectual differences confirm the superiority of men over women

Question 30

What are 3 examples of sexist beliefs?

Answer 30

1. Men as less emotional (due to women’s hormones, menstrual cycles, other biological processes, men being told to “man up”)
2. Women having greater parental instincts (biologically geared to care more for kids, mother’s instincts, used to justify unequal parenting arrangements)
3. Women as more compassionate (justifies passive women VS tough men)

Question 31

What 2 categories can sexist beliefs be sorted into?

Answer 31

1. Structural (Institutional) sexism –> organization of society subordinating individuals based on sex, due to gender socialization (stereotypes, diff. values [income VS family])
2. Cultural sexism –> culture perpetuating subordination based on sex (domestic labour goes to women commonly, diff. toys, second shift for women bc of paid + domestic labour)

Question 32

How are we socialized into gender roles?

Answer 32

1. Primary sources –> transmission of expectations through first-hand observation
2. Secondary sources –> TV, media, books, etc.
3. Learning femininity/masculinity as opposites

Question 33

What are the 3 types of masculinity?

Answer 33

1. Traditional masculinity –> normal societal expectations (Ex. Rape culture, although there are things that aren’t negative)
2. Hegemonic masculinity –> promotes the dominant social position of het men at the cost of queer men/women
3. Toxic masculinity –> hegemonic masculinity but its name outside of academia (negative parts of traditional masculinity)`

Question 34

How are issues of sexual harassment/violence seen by the different theories?

Answer 34

Symbolic interactionism –> how assaults affect people on a personal level (labelling theory –> how locker talk is labelled)

Conflict theory –> imbalance of power b/w genders (how men use it to promote sexual violence)

Structural functionalism –> looking at the problem in the larger system

Question 35

What 2 areas create/perpetuate toxic masculinity?

Answer 35

1. Mixed messages in society –> upholding equality/respect for all, but the objectification of women is rampant
   - Images can be complex (body positivity, sex positivity)
   - Societal values as counter to business/economics (Sex sells –> $11B profit for porn business in America)
   - Creates cognitive dissonance
   - All the shitty men are idolized
2. Lack of sex education –> lack of discussion on confronting issues (sexual objectification, proper sexual conduct, consent. etc.)
   - Sex ed is controversial
   - Culture that doesn’t openly talk about sex issues (leads to young ppl. figuring it out for themselves from bad sources)

Question 36

(Toxic masculinity - mixed messages) Define cognitive dissonance.

Answer 36

Being confronted by/simultaneously holding conflicting beliefs

Question 37

Why does the gender gap exist?

Answer 37

1. Differences in occupational choices –> socialized women to value work-life balance, men to value income
   - Ties into structural sexism (women not comfortable in male-dominated occupations)
2. Societal expectations around childbirth –> women are more likely to leave the workforce for maternity leave + take more time/leave work after kids
   - Societal expectations for mothers VS fathers, especially considering the woman is typically giving birth
   - Helps men (more work hours to compensate for the loss of income)
3. Discrimination –> women are offered fewer jobs + lower starting salaries
   - Statistical discrimination (logical discrimination bc statistics “justify” the action)
   - Logically, women are more likely to leave jobs bc culture tells them to care for children, so men are preferred for profit