Module 9 Flashcards
Sex
-The anatomical or other biological differences distinguishing females from males
~Chromosomal, hormonal, and anatomical differences between males and females shapes reproductive capabilities and body shape and size
~However, even nature complicates this natural binary. *See readings intersex
Gender
-Social expectations (norms) and behavior regarded as appropriate males and females
~You are born with your sex (for the most part) but you learn your gender
~A complex interaction between biology, culture, and socialization shapes behavioral differences associated with gender
*Gender does not mean the same as sex
Social construction of gender
-Gender identity and roles are culturally influenced and socially constructed and thus vary across time and space
~We learn male and female typed roles through agents of gender socialization and social interactions in general
~Social pressures make us conform to these identities and roles
Gender roles
-The attitudes and behaviors considered appropriately “masculine” or “feminine” in a particular culture
~Masculinity
~Femininity
Masculinity
-How men are expected to behave. Associated with rationality, activity, objectivity, and the public sphere
~Politics, economics, etc.
Femininity
-How women are expected to behave. Associated with irrationality, passivity, subjectively, and private sphere
~Household
The !Kung of the Kalahari desert
-Both men and women gather and hunt. Both parents participate in child rearing, and neither men nor women tolerate violent conflict or physical punishment
The Bacha Posh in Afghanistan
-Social norms place greater value on boys. Families with only daughters’ practice “bacha posh,” which allows girls freedoms only reserved for boys and men.
~Cut the hair of the eldest daughter and is allowed to go to school
Social Construction of Gender
-Gender is constructed around a sex binary, with the categories of males and females ~Intersex ~Transgender ~The Dine (Navajo) recognize 3 genders ~Hijras in India
Intersex
-Infants born with ambiguous sex characteristics and/ir an abnormal chromosomal makeup. Often have both male and female genitalia. 1 out of every 1,500 babies are intersex
Transgender
-Denotes a range of gender experiences. subjectivities and presentations that fall across, between, and beyond the categories of men and women
The Dine (Navajo) recognize 3 genders
-Masculine men, feminine women, and the Nadle
Hijras in India
-Phenotype men who renounce sexual desires and practice
Sexuality
-Gender and sexuality are fluid, dynamic, and socially constructed concepts
-The way in which people construct their sexual desires and relationships, including the norms governing sexual behavior
~Extends beyond simple biological drives
~Sexuality is socially constructed and explains how and why practices and beliefs considered legitimate or “correct” change and are challenged over time
~Example
*Cohabitation
**Living with a romantic partner under the same roof
Agents of Gender Socialization
-Family
~Factories of gendered personalities
~Gender socialization begins before birth
~Sons taught to complete tasks and independence
~Daughters taught to ask for help or for someone else to complete the task
Peers
~Teach stereotypical gender from an early age
~Peer pressure reflects and affirms gender stereotypes
~Engage in gender policing, stigmatizing violations
-Mass Media
~Highly sexualized images of women who exhibit passivity and dependency
~Cartoons: Males represented 4x more and use physical aggression. Females more likely to display fear, romance, politeness, and acting supportive
Gender inequality
-The inequality between men and women in terms of status, power, and prestige within groups, collectives, and society
Patriarchy
-The dominance of men over women
~Men favored in almost all societies; however, the degree of patriarchy varies
Hypermasculinity
-The exaggeration of male stereotypical behavior, such as an emphasis on physical strength, aggression, body appearance, and virility
~Current expressions found in the US
*Accumulating multiple partners, rejection of caretaking behaviors, sexuality without emotional bonding, strength, domination, and aggression
The four “basic rules of manhood”
- No “sissy stuff”: avoid any hint of femininity
- Be a “big deal”: acquire wealth, power and status
- Be a “sturdy oak”: never show your emotions
- “Give’em hell”: exude a sense of daring and aggressiveness
Gendered Inequalities in the workplace
-Gender influences the jobs we hold, the pay we earn, and the treatment by coworkers and management
~In 1910, women who worked were young, single, poor immigrants or ethnic minority. In 2010, women outnumbered men in the workforce for the first
* Article “What gender is science”
-Female labor force participation over time
~1960: 38%
~1975:40%
~2011: 58.6%
-14% of married mothers with children worked fulltime year around in 1970. Today it is 64.8%
Gender and the Prestige of work
- Universality, greater prestige is given to male activities-regardless of what those activities are
- It is not the work that provides the prestige, but the sex with which the work is associated
- Delivering babies
Article “What gender is science”
-Refers to the uneven concentration of men and women in different occupations, industries, and fields
~Women often hold occupations of lower status and pay, such as secretarial retail positions, while men hold jobs of higher status and pay, such as managerial or professional positions
*Women have historically been overwhelmingly concentrated in routine, poorly paid occupations
*Social inertia aids in the continuance of these trends
*Example: delivering babies
The “glass ceiling”
-States that is more difficult for women then men to be promoted to the upper levels of organizational hierarchies within the workplace
~According to Forbes Magazine, in 2014, 24 Fortune 500 companies had female CEOs
~Men who enter female-dominated professions enjoy what is referred to as the “glass-escalator”
Gender pay gap
-Depends on your sex, people will either benefit from the pay gap or be victimized by it
~Job dominated by men are paid more than jobs dominated by women
The ratio of women’s to men’s earnings among fulltime, year-round workers was
- 1970: made 62% of what men made
- 2011: made 81% of what men made
Elements contributing to the gender pay gap
- Sex segregation and gender typing
- The glass ceiling
- Gender discrimination and the “child penalty”
- Career selection
Housework
- In 1976, women performed 26 hours and men performed 6 hours of housework per week
- By 2005, this has changed to 16.5 hours for women and 12 hours per week for men
Gendered Inequalities in Politics
- Women are underrepresented in all levels of government
- More women involved in local rather that national politics
- The Democratic Party has the highest number of women politicians
- Women are underrepresented in governments everywhere
- The US ranks 70th out of 187 countries in women’s political representation
Age, gender, and Compensation: A Study of Hollywood Movie Stars
-Findings: The average earnings per film for female movie stars increases until age of 34, but deceases rapidly after that. For male movie stars, the average earnings per film are highest when they are 51 years of age. Growing older does not negatively affect their average earnings per film
