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
