Sociology 001 Chapter 11

Chapter Summary

How Do Sociologists Distinguish Sex and Gender? Sociologists use the term sex to refer to biological identity and gender to refer to the socially learned expectations associated with members of each sex. Biological determinism refers to explanations that attribute complex social phenomena entirely to physical or natural characteristics. How Is Gender Identity Learned? Gender socialization is the process by which gender expectations are learned. One result of socialization is the formation of gender identity. Overly conforming to gender roles has a number of negative consequences for both women and men, including eating disorders, violence, and poor self-concepts. Homophobia plays a role in gender socialization because it encourages strict conformity to gender expectations. What Is a Gendered Institution? Gendered institutions are those where the entire institution is patterned by gender. Sociologists analyze gender both as a learned attribute and as an institutional structure. What Is Gender Stratification? Gender stratification refers to the hierarchical distribution of social and economic resources according to gender. Most societies have some form of gender stratification, although they differ in the degree and kind. Gender stratification in the United States is obvious in the differences between men's and women's wages. How Do Sociologists Explain the Continuing Earnings Gap between Men and Women? There are multiple ways to explain the pay gap. Human capital theory explains wage differences as the result of individual differences between workers. Dual labor market theory refers to the tendency for the labor market to be organized in two sectors: the primary and secondary markets. Gender segregation persists and results in differential pay and value attached to men's and women's work. Overt discrimination against women is another way that men protect their privilege in the labor market. Are Men Increasing Their Efforts in Housework and Child Care? Many men are now more engaged in housework and child care than was true in the past, although women still provide the vast majority of this labor. Balancing work and family has resulted in social speedup, making time a scarce resource for many women and men. What Is Feminist Theory? Different theoretical perspectives help explain the status of women in society. Functionalist theory emphasizes how gender roles that differentiate women and men work to the benefit of society. Conflict theory interprets gender inequality as stemming from women's status as a supply of cheap labor and men's greater power in social institutions. Feminist theory, originating in the women's movement, refers to analyses that seek to understand the position of women in society for the explicit purpose of improving their position in it. Doing gender and queer theory interpret gender as accomplished in social interaction and enforced through powerful institutions. Liberal feminism is anchored in an equal rights framework. Radical feminism sees men's power as the primary force that locates women in disadvantaged positions in society. Multiracial feminism, or intersectional theory, emphasizes the linkage between gender, race, and class inequality. When Seen in Global Perspective, What Can Be Observed about Gender? The economic condition of women and men in the United States is increasingly linked to the status of people in other parts of the world. Women provide much of the cheap labor for products made around the world. Worldwide, women work as much or more than men, though they own little of the world's property and are underrepresented in positions of world leadership. What Are the Major Social Changes that Have Affected Women and Men in Recent Years? Public attitudes about gender relations have changed dramatically in recent years. Women and men are now more egalitarian in their attitudes, although women still perceive high degrees of discrimination in the labor force. A legal framework is in place to protect against discrimination, but legal reform is not enough to create gender equality.

Gendered Institutions

The total pattern of gender relations that structure social institutions, including the stereotypical expectations, interpersonal relationships, and the different placement of men and women that are found in institutions.

Equal Rights Amendment

a constitutional principle, never passed, guaranteeing that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged on the basis of sex.

Liberal Feminism

a feminist theoretical perspective asserting that the origin of women's inequality is in traditions of the past that pose barriers to women's advancement.

Gender Identity

one's definition of self as a woman or man.

Gender Segregation

the distribution of men and women in different jobs in the labor force.

Gender Socialization

the process by which men and women learn the expectations associated with their sex.

Transgender

those who deviate from the binary (that is, male or female) system of gender.

Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009

law stating that discrimination claims on the basis of sex, race, national origin, age, religion, and disability accrue with every paycheck.

Title IX

legislation that prohibits schools that receive federal funds from discriminating based on gender.

Discrimination

overt negative and unequal treatment of the members of some social group or stratum solely because of their membership in that group or stratum.

Gender Apartheid

the extreme segregation and exclusion of women from public life.

HomoPhobia

the fear and hatred of gays and lesbians.

Gender Stratisfication

the hierarchical distribution of social and economic resources according to gender.

Feminist Theory

analyses of women and men in society intended to improve women's lives

Multiracial Feminism

form of feminist theory noting the exclusion of women of color from other forms of theory and centering its analysis in the experiences of all women.

Labor Force Participation Rate

the percentage of those in a given category who are employed.

Sex

used to refer to biological identity as male or female.

Intersexed

a person born with the physical characteristics of both sexes.

Matriarchy

a society or group in which women have power over men.

Patriarchy

a society or group where men have power over women.

Doing Gender

a theoretical perspective that interprets gender as something accomplished through the ongoing social interactions people have with one another.

Queer Theory

a theoretical perspective that recognizes the socially constructed nature of sexual identity.

Dual Labor Market Theory

a theory that contends that the labor market is divided into two segments—the primary and secondary labor markets.

Human Capitol Theory

a theory that explains differences in wages as the result of differences in the individual characteristics of the workers.

Feminism

a way of thinking and acting that advocates a more just society for women

Biological Determinism

explanations that attribute complex social phenomena to physical characteristics.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

federal law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, or sex.

Radical Feminists

feminist theory that locates the source of women's inequality in the power that men hold in society.

Equal Pay Act of 1963

first legislation requiring equal pay for equal work.

Gender

socially learned expectations and behaviors associated with members of each sex.