Sex, Gender, and Sexuality Flashcards
the act or processes whereby an individual or group is seen as sexual in nature or persons become aware of their sexuality
sexualization
refers to the biological and anatomical differences between females and males
sex
refer to the genitalia used in the reproductive process
primary sex characteristics
refer to the physical traits that identify an individual’s sex
secondary sex characteristics
an individual who is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that does not correspond to typical definitions of male or female; the person’s sexual differentiation is ambiguous
intersex person
an individual whose gender identify does not match the person’s assigned sex
transgender person
a male who dresses as a woman or a female who dresses as a man but does not alter his or her genitalia
crossdresser
refers to an individual’s preference for emotional–sexual relationships with members of the different sex, the same sex, or both
sexual orientation
the extreme prejudice and sometimes discriminatory actions directed at gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender persons, and others who are perceived as not being heterosexual
homophobia
refers to the culturally and socially constructed differences between females and males found in the meanings, beliefs, and practices associated with “femininity” and “masculinity”
gender
refers to the attitudes, behavior, and activities that are socially defined as appropriate for each sex and are learned through the socialization process
gender role
a person’s perception of the self as female or male
gender identity
how a person perceives and feels about his or her body
body consciousness
legitimated by religion, science, law, and other societal values
gender belief system
men and women are inherently different in attributes, behavior, and aspirations
gender stereotypes
the subordination of one sex, usually female, based on the assumed superiority of the other sex
sexism
a hierarchical system of social organization in which cultural, political, and economic structures are controlled by men
patriarchy
a hierarchical system of social organization in which cultural, political, and economic structures are controlled by women
matriarchy
women had relative equality
economic characteristics included hunting game, gathering roots and berries
hunting-and-gathering society
women’s status decreased moving into pastoralism
economic characteristics included planting crops, domestication of animals for food
horticultural and pastoral societies
low status of women
economic characteristics included labor-intensive farming
agrarian societies
low status of women
economic characteristics included mechanized production of goods
industrial societies
women’s status varies by class, race, and age
economic characteristics included information and service economy
postindustrial societies
consists of showing favoritism toward one gender over the other
gender bias
the division of jobs into categories with distinct working conditions—results in women having separate and unequal jobs
labor market segmentation
the disparity between women’s and men’s earnings
pay gap
the believe that wages ought to reflect the worth of a job, not the gender or race of the worker
pay equity (comparable worth)
- wages are higher in male-dominated jobs, occupations, and segments of the labor market, regardless of whether women take time for family duties
- in any job, women and people of color will be paid less
wage discrimination
the belief that women and men are equal and should be valued equally and have equal rights
feminism
