Week 5:Gender & Sexuality.

Question 1

When gender differences are seen as products of biology rather than culture this process is called?

Answer 1

To ‘naturalise’ gender,

Question 2

What is the basis of social divisions and inequalities between men & women?

Answer 2

Gender

Question 3

What common idea on sexuality does sociology seek to debunk?

Answer 3

In modern Western societies there is a strong belief that our sexuality involves having indwelling sexual desires (for a person of a particular gender), we act on those
desires and we have an identity that matches those desires and practices.

Question 4

What is the central argument of the sociological approach to gender?

Answer 4

that it is a cultural and social category not a natural one. The differences that we observe between men and women are largely created through social processes.

Question 5

What are ‘masculine’ & ‘feminine’ referred to as in Sociology?

Answer 5

Cultural categories.

Question 6

Expectations or behaviours of a gender are called?

Answer 6

Gender role

Question 7

The sense of self in gender (boy, girl, trans etc) is called?

Answer 7

Gender identity.

Question 8

Ann Oakley: 4 ways in which gender socialisation takes place?

Answer 8

1. Manipulation: Treated as boy or a girl.
2. Canalisation: Direction towards boy/girl objects. E.g. girl/boy toys.
3. Verbal appellations e.g. A naughty boy or a good girl.
4. Exposed to different activities. E.g. domestic work vs construction.

Question 9

What is the main critique of essentialism?

Answer 9

That they are said to use ‘a method which

attempts to explain the properties of a complex whole by reference to a supposed inner truth or essence