Sex And Gender Flashcards
Sex
- Natural, you are born with a sex.
- Biological distinctions/categories (chromosomes, reproductive capacity)
- Born male/female/intersex
- Sex differences are consistent across cultures, societies and historical periods.
Gender
- Nurture (not natural and not born with)
- Cultural distinctions/ categories
- Are feminine/ masculine; behaviour attitudes, expectations, occupations, language, clothes, toys, hair all based on sex; all learned and acquired.
- Gender differences vary widely across cultures and historical periods, are subject to change.
Theory
Tentative explanation to critique, change and debate.
Truth
Claim to truth/ truth claim.
Reality
Claim about reality/reality claim; claim about what is going on.
Socio-biological theory of gender
Key thinker: Edward O. Wilson
States that on one level sex=gender; there are biological roots of social behaviour (biological determinism)
Thesis: Social Darwinism
Typical behaviours of males and females that help them survive are passed on. Those traits were different for males and females.
Animal research: rheesus monkeys
The infants have never bee nurtured. When they were mixed together the males were more aggressive than females.
Critiques of the Socio-biological theory
- Speculation: these cannot be tested and are based on imagination.
- Dated: notions of what was needed to survive many years ago are from a different context than today.
- Selective evidence: use of evidence that best supports claims (baboons vs rheesus monkeys)
- Generalization from animals to humans: humans have unique intelligence and capacity.
- Social basis of aggression: the hormones fluctuate depending on social context
- Equal opportunities for teamwork: we need a longer span of time to make the claim; there are not enough women for data.
- Ignores cultural differences; does not explain them
Functionalist theory
Key thinker: Emile Durkheim
Infants are born with a sex and they learn gender through socialization.
There are roles that need to be filled in society which are divided by sex.
Agents of socialization
People and institutions that are responsible for teaching us roles.
Primary agents of socialization
Family through language, appropriate norms, values and attitudes assigned to sex.
Secondary agents of socialization
Peer groups, school, religious groups, mass media etc.
Gender stratification
Unequal distribution of wealth, power and privilege between men and women
Margret Mead’s research
Observed three societies
1. Arapesh: both sexes are sensitive and cooperative (feminine)
2. Mundugmar: both sexes are selfish and aggressive (masculine)
3. Tchambuli: females are dominant, aggressive and rational (masculine); males are submissive, emotional and nurturing (feminine)
Conclusion: culture is key
George Murdock’s Research
Observed 200 societies with agreement in feminine and masculine tasks with variety in farming, building shelters and agriculture.
Patriarchy
Men dominate women; justify sexism; is built into institutions.
Costs of patriarchy
- Limit of talent and ambition of women.
- Men engage in high risk behaviour.
- Men seek control of themselves through suicide, violence and stress-related decisions.
- Men lose intimacy and trust by separating themselves from others.
Men and women in the workforce
Women’s employment increased while there was a drop in men’s employment.
Factors: decreased farming, increased cities, post-industrial economy, increased education, decreased family size, increase of divorce, more couples depend on two incomes.
Women’s occupations
Increase in business, engineering, science, medicine and veterinary medicine.
Decrease in traditional occupations (clerical, service)
Women’s education
Increase in women obtaining diplomas, certificates, bachelors, doctorate and Ph.D
Often health, humanities, social science, natural science, fine arts and education. Also law, commerce, business and administration as men.
Intersectional theory
Interplay class, gender and race as expressions of inequality.
Violence against women
Society devalues feminine. Women experience violence often from a partner and sustain the most injuries.
Can range from catcalling to sexual abuse.
Violence against men
Are twice as likely to suffer and are more likely victims because life involves more stress and isolation.