Sociology Chapter 10

Age of awareness of gender

Age 2

Peers

Age 3: preference for same sex groups Boys more likely to be mocked by peers for violating gender norms

Men's rights movement

Because of feminism, men suffer discrimination o Men overlooked as victims o False accusation o Unfair courts

Conflict Theorist Perspective on Gender

Because of the traditional division of labor in families, males have had more access to resources and privileges and have sought to maintain their dominance.

Human sexual dimorphism

Belief that the experiences of women and men differ as a result of differences in anatomy

Constructionalists

Believe that gender is socially constructed 2 gender system is one possibility Inequality is not natural Masculinity / Femininity vary in history and societies (Margaret Mead Study)

Essentialists

Believe that gender roles have a genetic or biological origin & cannot be changed. Gender is two categories- Male & Female "Gender is immutable and derived solely from biology"

Sex

Biologically distinct categories of male or female

Girls vs. Boys in School

Boys: o Challenging questions o Praise for intellectual work o Receive more attention o More likely to be called on o More likely to be punished Girls: o Higher grades in elementary school o Credited for hard work over ability- which affects success after graduation

Frederich Engel's perspective

Conflict Theorist. Noted that capitalists benefited from maintaining patricharchal families, with women in the private sphere and men in the public workplace.

Third wave of feminism

Diversity and rights of women globally

Expressive roles

Emotional support & nurturing

Second wave of feminism

Equal access to education and jobs o Equal Rights Amendment: Passed by Congress but not ratified by enough states 1972-1979 (extended to 1982) o Was not ratified

Family

Men are more likely to report never having been married Women more likely to be primary caregiver after divorce Women more likely to be single parents

Pro-feminist men's movement

Men should support feminism because: o It is fair o Men are constrained by gender rules too o Male superiority ideology is a burden o Men would be happier if society was less sexist

Teacher- Student influence

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Intersexed

17 out of 100 are not born exclusively male or female (hermaphrodites) Surgery and sex assignment viewed as one "remedy"

Grade in which gender norms are firmly established

5th Grade

Feminism

A belief in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes

Symbolic interactionist perspective on gender

Gender is learned through the process of socialization; gender inequalities are reproduced through interactions with family, peers, schools, and the media

Talcott Parson's Perspective

Instrumental Role: Task oriented, authority, breadwinner Expressive Role: emotional support & nurturing Necessary for child rearing & stabilizing the instrumental partner

Gender

Physical, behavioral, and personality traits a group consider to be normal and right for male and female members. Masculine vs. Feminine

Gendered Language

Positions of power & authority use male language Gender maker: Lady policeman, Male secretary Gender messages: Bob and Sue instead of Sue and Bob

Functional perspective on gender

Social roles are suited better for one gender Society is stable with these norms Gender segregation upholds traditional family

Instrumental roles

Task oriented, authority, breadwinner

Gender identity

The Roles and behaviors that are associated with a particular gender. Gender identity is about what we do

Social learning

The process of learning behavior and meanings through social interactions.

Gender role socialization

The subtle, pervasive process of becoming masculine or feminine. Begins early and continues throughout our lives.

Health

Women live longer Women more likely to suffer from depression Heart disease & cancer similar men/women

Feminization of poverty

Women more likely to live in poverty than men o Gender wage gap o Childcare o Higher proportion of single women heading household

First wave of feminism

Women's suffrage (campaign to vote) o Ratified 19th Amendment 1920

Ways schools socialize students

• Women are rarely objects of study • Books by women are rarely assigned • Textbooks- sexist language/stereotypes • Women concentrated in lower teaching • Interaction between teachers and students most important