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Sociology 1121 > Sex And Gender > Flashcards

Sex And Gender Flashcards

1
Q

Sex

A
  1. Natural, you are born with a sex.
  2. Biological distinctions/categories (chromosomes, reproductive capacity)
  3. Born male/female/intersex
  4. Sex differences are consistent across cultures, societies and historical periods.
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2
Q

Gender

A
  1. Nurture (not natural and not born with)
  2. Cultural distinctions/ categories
  3. Are feminine/ masculine; behaviour attitudes, expectations, occupations, language, clothes, toys, hair all based on sex; all learned and acquired.
  4. Gender differences vary widely across cultures and historical periods, are subject to change.
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3
Q

Theory

A

Tentative explanation to critique, change and debate.

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4
Q

Truth

A

Claim to truth/ truth claim.

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5
Q

Reality

A

Claim about reality/reality claim; claim about what is going on.

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6
Q

Socio-biological theory of gender

A

Key thinker: Edward O. Wilson

States that on one level sex=gender; there are biological roots of social behaviour (biological determinism)

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7
Q

Thesis: Social Darwinism

A

Typical behaviours of males and females that help them survive are passed on. Those traits were different for males and females.

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8
Q

Animal research: rheesus monkeys

A

The infants have never bee nurtured. When they were mixed together the males were more aggressive than females.

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9
Q

Critiques of the Socio-biological theory

A
  1. Speculation: these cannot be tested and are based on imagination.
  2. Dated: notions of what was needed to survive many years ago are from a different context than today.
  3. Selective evidence: use of evidence that best supports claims (baboons vs rheesus monkeys)
  4. Generalization from animals to humans: humans have unique intelligence and capacity.
  5. Social basis of aggression: the hormones fluctuate depending on social context
  6. Equal opportunities for teamwork: we need a longer span of time to make the claim; there are not enough women for data.
  7. Ignores cultural differences; does not explain them
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10
Q

Functionalist theory

A

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.

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11
Q

Agents of socialization

A

People and institutions that are responsible for teaching us roles.

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12
Q

Primary agents of socialization

A

Family through language, appropriate norms, values and attitudes assigned to sex.

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13
Q

Secondary agents of socialization

A

Peer groups, school, religious groups, mass media etc.

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14
Q

Gender stratification

A

Unequal distribution of wealth, power and privilege between men and women

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15
Q

Margret Mead’s research

A

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

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16
Q

George Murdock’s Research

A

Observed 200 societies with agreement in feminine and masculine tasks with variety in farming, building shelters and agriculture.

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17
Q

Patriarchy

A

Men dominate women; justify sexism; is built into institutions.

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18
Q

Costs of patriarchy

A
  1. Limit of talent and ambition of women.
  2. Men engage in high risk behaviour.
  3. Men seek control of themselves through suicide, violence and stress-related decisions.
  4. Men lose intimacy and trust by separating themselves from others.
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19
Q

Men and women in the workforce

A

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.

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20
Q

Women’s occupations

A

Increase in business, engineering, science, medicine and veterinary medicine.
Decrease in traditional occupations (clerical, service)

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21
Q

Women’s education

A

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.

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22
Q

Intersectional theory

A

Interplay class, gender and race as expressions of inequality.

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23
Q

Violence against women

A

Society devalues feminine. Women experience violence often from a partner and sustain the most injuries.
Can range from catcalling to sexual abuse.

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24
Q

Violence against men

A

Are twice as likely to suffer and are more likely victims because life involves more stress and isolation.

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25
Sexual harassment
Compliments, gestures and physical contact of unwanted nature that are deliberate, repeated and unwelcome.
26
Pornography
Sexually explicit material for arousal. It was traditionally a moral issue. Now it's a power issue- men dominate while women are sexual playthings often dehumanized. There is a correlation to sexual violence.
27
Transgender
Someone who does not agree with the gender assigned at birth.
28
Incest taboo
Forbidden relationship between family members to prevent inbreeding and the confusion of ties and kinship.
29
Sexual revolution
Change in attitudes towards sexuality. This movement came of age in the late 1960's. The result was a narrowing double standard with more women engaging in premarital sex.
30
Sexual counter revolution
Attempt to return to "family values" and opposing free love, cohabitation, children from unmarried couples and single moms.
31
Premarital sex
Increasing approval among people. Frequency among teens has decreased while use of condoms increased.
32
Extramarital sex
As an attitude, it is widely condemned; fidelity within marriage is ideal. In reality, men and women would cheat; 63% of divorces result from affairs.
33
Sexual orientation
Romantic and emotional attraction to another person.
34
Heterosexual
Attraction to another sex. Is the norm
35
Homosexual
Attraction to same sex.
36
Bisexual
Attraction to both sexes.
37
Asexual
No sexual attraction
38
Sexual orientation as a product of society
Meanings vary by society. | Foucault says there was no distinct category until 100 years ago.
39
Sexual orientation as a product of biology
Is innate. Differences are seen in the size of the hypothalamus and patterns in the X chromosome.
40
Gay right's movement
Arose in the 1969's when no one discussed it; gay people were fired and deemed "sick" by mental health professionals. In the late 1960's it was removed from the criminal code. In 2001 gay marriage was legal in Toronto. In June 2003 there was legal extension of spouses. It became legal everywhere in Canada in 2005.
41
Teen pregnancy
Teens may not be socially mature to appreciate consequences. Most are unplanned; more than half end in abortion. Decrease from 50 to 34 in 1000 in last decade.
42
Prostitution
Selling of sexual services Types (call girl, parlour/brothel, street walker) Violence: abuse, spread of STI, poor women are trapped and put life in danger Robert Picton's murders Ontario overturned laws to put security and safety first.
43
Sexual assault
Also rape 10% men are raped but women are often in statistics. Consent: clear statement from both parties.
44
Rape myths
1. It involves strangers- usually 1 in 5; often acquaintances or dates. 2. Women provoke the attacker- going to dinner is no more consent than getting beaten. 3. It's simply sex- sex involves trust, communication and intimacy; forcing someone is a violent crime 4. Only women get raped- over 40%of men get raped, women are mostly represented in statistics.
45
Abortion controversy
Illegal until mid-1900's Legal in Canada 1988 1973- Roe v Wade provides all access to abortion in United States Canada only country with no abortion laws. Support (40% should have unrestricted access, majority only if danger, sexual assault or birth defect, 5% prohibit under all circumstances)
46
Monitoring strategies
Getting people back in the gender box with positive and negative reinforcement.
47
Who has more rigid gender typing?
Boy have more pressure to fit in the gender box. Both types of reinforcements are extreme and over the top.
48
How is deviance from gender behaviour explained?
Faulty socialization from ineffective agents. Single-parent households and same sex parents get the most blame.
49
What advantage does the functional theory have over sociobiology?
1. Cultural differences are explained. Different parts of the world teach things differently. 2. Reform through time and history. The scripts change different things.
50
Limitations/ Critique for functional theory
1. Implies consensus regarding script- we can agree what the script is but no one fits neatly and it can be disputed. 2. Assumes consistency between and within: different views within family, parents monitor secondary agents. 3. Insufficient evidence for faulty socialization: successful people who fall outside script are rewarded. 4. Assumes awareness is the same as internalization: not everyone acts and accepts scripts
51
History of Karl Marx and Frederich Engels
Timeframe: mid to late 1800's until 1883 when Marx died Marx was an abstract thinker while Engels was orderly and concrete. This collaboration brought order to Marx by making sense in understanding.
52
Social Conflict theory on gender
key thinkers: Karl Marx and Frederich Engels Explores why we have gender differences. In the capitalist economy, females worked unpaid labour in the domestic sphere as consumers. Males worked in the public sphere in production to earn a "family wage" from paid labour. In contrast, the sexes were equal in hunting and gathering societies in terms of prestige, power and wealth because all task were important for survival.
53
Dimensions
Includes income/wealth, unequal opportunities and power (power, prestige, wealth)
54
Power
The capacity to impose your will on others despite resistance. Men have more support from institutions/organizations/companies which "back" their exercise of power.
55
Wealth
Material possessions/material well-being Resources = wealth + work related earnings Can be inheritance Women generally have less access
56
Prestige
Amount of respect, honour, deference given to those who occupy certain positions. Men generally have more than women.
57
Stereotype
An exaggerated description of a given category of people.
58
Male work and norms of masculinity
Business man/executive is neat, professional, hard-nosed, aggressive, competitive and unemotional. The blue collar/ factory worker has an exaggerated sense of masculinity. It involves toughness, swearing and rough behaviour. This is known as shop floor culture.
59
Female work and norms of femininity
Flight attendant/receptionist/secretary involves being visible "expressive work" and being attractive. Homemaker involves expressive work, managing tensions, emotional skills and putting others first.
60
Advantages over functionalist theory
There is a more complex why answer
61
Limitations of social conflict theory
1. Dubious assumption of causality: assumes capitalism causes gender stratification although it is seen in communism and socialism. 2. Gender is seen as a social evil and ignores positive examples. 3. If women are paid less why not hire only women?

Sociology 1121 (5 decks)

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