Topic 4-gender And Identity

Question 1

Gender

Answer 1

the culturally created difference between men and women which are learnt through socialisation
Gender different are socially constructed by the agents of socialisation

Question 2

Gender role

Answer 2

Is the behaviour which is expected from individuals of either role

Question 3

Gender identity

Answer 3

Refers to how people see themselves and how others see them in terms of their gender and biological sex

Question 4

What did mead find out on research done onn3 different tribes from nee guinea

Answer 4

• many masculine and feminine characteristics are not based on fundamental sex differences but reflect the cultural conditioning of societies
• e.g in one of the tribes traditional gender roles found in Britain were reserved-it was men= showed traditional feminine characteristics e.g makeup,shopping. Women=masculine characteristics e.g aggressive

Question 5

How is there diversity of masculine and feminine behaviour in Britain today?

Answer 5

Women who present themselves as traditional feminine figures, while others are tomboys, in gangs, ladettes
Men may be sharing, caring, emotional ‘new men’, ‘macho men’
Clear that masculine and feminine gender identities are constructed through socialisation

Question 6

How is gender importance as a source of identity

Answer 6

Enables individuals to share things with other e.g playing sport or going shopping and gives guidelines for identifying with and relating to others like themselves e.g thought the way they dress, the language they use, the way they sit, their body language

Question 7

Stereotype

Answer 7

A generalised over simplified view of the typical features of a social group allowing few individual differences among members of the group. The assumption is made that all members of the group share the same features e.g all women are bad drivers

Question 8

Hegemonic identity

Answer 8

Is one that is so dominant that it makes it difficult for Individuals to assert alternative identities

Question 9

Cornell ‘hegemonic masculity’ and hegemonic femininity features of both

Answer 9

Hegemonic masculine characteristics: sexual dominance, emotionless, physical strength,naggers soon, independence , competitive, lack of concern with interest on personal appearance diet etc

Hegemonic feminine characteristics: sexually passive, expression of emotions, caring and sensitive, fragile, weak, gentleness, non-competitive , major concern even the physical appearance

Question 10

View of feminist sociologist on hegemonic masculinity and femininity

Answer 10

• processes of socialisation into hegemonic masculine and feminine identities reproduce&reinforce male dominance (patriarchy )
• make it difficult for men and women to construct gender identities different to the hegemonic stereotypes

Question 11

The social construction of hegemonic gender identities through socialisation:
1.the role of the family
Oakley identifies four processes during primary socialisation

Answer 11

• manipulation: boy&girls handled differently e.g boys=likely to be bounced in physical play, girls= treated gently and likely to be cuddled
• canalisation: directed towards different toys&games or specific colours chosen
• verbal appellations:diff language used and praised for different things e.g you’re such a sweet girl
• differential activity exposure: encouraged to do different activities e.g by watching and imitating the role models provided usually mother and father

Question 12

The social construction of hegemonic gender identities through socialisation:
2.the role of the school

Answer 12

• hidden curriculum
• teachers attitudes: teachers encouraging boys more in sciences&computing,
• more emphasis on progress than on girls&different career advice to boys&girls,
• treating disruptive behaviour between the two differently
• subject choice: told to take different subject: girls=arts subjects (history, English lit) boys=sciences

Question 13

The social construction of hegemonic gender identities through socialisation:
3.the importance of the peer group

Answer 13

-try to gain acceptance amongst their peers by conforming to the norms of their peer group>conform to stereotyped masculine or feminine identity

Question 14

The social construction of hegemonic gender identities through socialisation:
4.the role of the mass media
The way women are presented

Answer 14

• as a sex object: the image of the slim, sexually seductive figure. Celebrity culture>strong role models for the way girls should dress&behave. key to happenings=how much they appeal to me
• emotional and unpredictable
• the housewives/mother role: as the content and caring housewife and mother. (main concerns are the cleanliness of house&keeping family together)

Question 15

How males and females are adopting gender identities which combine elements of both genders

What writers suggest about the old hegemonic identities

Answer 15

• more unisex hairstyles and clothing
• more men wearin jewellery or women’s clothes, and using cosmetics
• old hegemonic conceptions of masculinity and femininity are outdated as more people are choosing to ignore the traditional gender stereotypes&to adopt new identities

Question 16

How female identities have changed

Answer 16

• females are now doing better than males in education>more positive role models replacing traditional stereotypes in daily life and In the media
• women becoming more successful than men on many areas of the labour market e.g music, business, law and medicine
• girls&women have better communication skills
• woman no longer needs a man through marriage and the family to achieve status in society

Question 17

New female identities

Answer 17

• ladettes: females taking on characteristics of lads e.g loudness, heavy drinking&aggressive
• violent girl gangs
• found laddette behaviour in school &anti-school activity more traditionally found in boys

Question 18

Changing male identities

Features of why men are losing the traditional stereotype of men

Answer 18

• males are underachieving in education
• traditional employment in ‘macho’ manual work is disappearing as heavy industries closing e.g mining
• women are increasingly doing better than men in labour market, particularly in the new service industry
• men’s dominant position in the family as bread winner and decision maker is declining
• equal opportunities:laws and policies undermined male power

Question 19

New male identities

Answer 19

• new man: more caring, sharing, emotional, sensitive in his attitudes to women, children&more concerned with appearance(cosmetic surgery), growth of eating disorders
• new lad:a reaction against the new man aggressive
• new bloke: a new lad who has become a recent father but: pub also helps with kids
• new dad: a new man who discovers the joys of father hood
• metrosexuals: hetrosexual men who embrace their feminine side are in touch with their feelings

Question 20

What is the crisis of masculinity

Answer 20

Refers to the way men are facing uncertainty and confusion about what their roles and identity are in today’s society. Men feeling lost and searching for a gender identity which fits in the modern world

Question 21

Sex

Answer 21

Refers to the biological difference between men and women

e.g differences in genitals, internal reproductive organs and body hair

Question 22

Causes of the crisis of masculinity

Answer 22

• Underachievement in education
• Rising equality for men and women e.g equal pay
• declining importance in traditional male bread winner/provider role in the family
• Rise of new man and other masculine identities
• decline of traditional male employment

Question 23

Importance of gender as a source of identity

Answer 23

• postmodernist: Not important as people are now free to choose what ever identity they like&picknmix gender identity
• more choice over the elements of femininity and masculinity they adopt
• Traditional stereotyped gender roles still held by individuals today &children grow up forming their identities based on this e.g women still earn less&do the housework