Sociology Chapter 9
Symbolic Interactionism
Gender is learned through the process of socializations; gender inequalities are reproduced through interactions with family, peers, schools and the media
Men's rights movement
an offshoot of male liberationism whose members believe that feminism promotes discrimination against men
Pro-Feminist Men's Movements
an offshoot of male liberationism whose members support feminism and believe that sexism harms both men and women
Sexual Orientation/identity
the inclination to feel sexual desire toward people of a particular gender or toward both genders
Suffrage Movement
the movement organized around gaining votes and rights for women
Second Wave
the period of feminist activity during the 1960's and 1970's often associated with the issues of women's equal access to employment and education
Gender
the physical, behavioral, and personality traits that a group considers normal for its male and female members. For example, men are supposed to act aggressive and competitive and females nurturing and emotional. Society dictates the behavior of what is masculine and feminine
Homophobia
fear of or discrimination toward homosexuals or toward individuals who display purportedly gender- inappropriate behavior
Symbolic Interaction on Theories of Gender and Sexuality
gender is socially constructed and maintained in our everyday lives
Transsexuals
individuals who identify with the other sex and have surgery to alter their own sex so it fits their self-image
Bisexuality
sexual attraction to both genders; bisexuals are sexually attracted to both men and women
Heterosexuality
sexual desire for the other gender
Intersexed
term to describe a person whose chromosomes or sex characteristics are neither exclusive male nor exclusively female
Gender role socialization
the lifelong process of learning to be masculine or feminine, primarily through four agents of socialization: families, schools, peers, and the media.
Expressive Role
the position of the family member who provides emotional support and nurturing
Instrumental Role
the position of the family member who provides the family's material support and is often an authority figure
Third Wave
the most recent period of feminist activity, focusing on issues of diversity and the variety of identities women can posses
Transgendered
Term describing an individual whose sense of gender identity transgresses expected gender categories
Gender Identity
an individual's definition or sense of gender.
Social Learning
the process of learning behaviors and meanings through social interaction. By age 2 children are aware of each other's genders and their own. By age 3 children begin to identify specific traits associated with each gender. By 5th grade gender norms are firmly established.
Sex
An individual's membership in one of two biologically distinct categories- Male and Female. The distinction is based on biological factors: chromosomes, hormones, and reproductive organs.
Conflict Theory approach to Gender Inequality
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
Feminism
Belief in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes; also the social movements organized around that belief
Functionalism approach to Gender Inequality
Sex determines which roles men and women are best suited to; it is more appropriate for men to play instrumental roles and for women to play expressive roles
Queer Theory
Social theory about gender identity and sexuality that emphasizes the importance of difference and rejects as restrictive the idea of innate sexual identity
Male Liberationism
a movement that originated in the 1970's to discuss the challenges of masculinity
Aseuxality
involves the lack of sexual attraction of any kind; asexual people have no interest in or desire for sex
LGBTQ
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer; sometimes "A" is added to include "allies"
Patriarchy
literally meaning "rule of the father"; a male-dominated society
Functionalism on Theories of Gender and Sexuality
men and women should remain in traditional social roles to keep society stable
Conflict Theory on Theories of Gender and Sexuality
men have control over most of society's resources and privileges and will continue to maintain their dominant status through the exploitation of women
Civil Union
proposed as an alternative to gay marriage; a form legally recognized commitment that provides gay couples some of the benefits and protections of marriage
Sexuality
the character or quality of being sexual
First Wave
the earliest period of feminist activism in the US, including the period from the mid-19th century until American women won the right to vote in 1920
Feminization of Poverty
the economic trend showing that women are more likely than men to live in poverty, caused in part by the gendered gap in wages, the higher proportion of single mothers compared to single fathers, and the increasing costs of child care.
Human Sexual Dimorphism
the extent, much debated in recent years, to which inherent physical differences define the distinctions between the 2 sexes. Men and Women are truly built differently but biology cannot tell us everything about how sex and gender work. Biology is neither the sole nor the primary factor in determining masculinity and femininity
Homosexuality
the tendency to feel sexual desire toward members of one's own gender
Second Shift
the unpaid housework and child care often expected of women after they complete their day's of paid labor
Essentialists
those who believe gender roles have a genetic or biological origin and therefore cannot be changed. There is no other option besides being male or female from birth to death.
Constructionists
those who believe that notions of gender are socially determined, such as a dichotomous system is just one possibility among many. Used by most mainstream sociologists