Sociology Quiz 10-23

Gender and stratification

"In any field, the greater a job's income and prestige, the more likely it is to be held by a man" (Macioins, 2015:316) More women, however, are entrepreneurs today (have their own businesses)

George Murdoch's research (1937)

A study of more than 200 preindustrial societies Murdock's findings Fond some global agreement on which tasks are feminine and which masculine Hunting and warfare generally fall to men Home centered tasks tend to be women's work Simple technology facilitates the assignment of tasks based on biological differences between the sexes Murdock's findings Beyond this general pattern. However, Murdock found much variety Examples of men and women working together in preindustrial societies Farming Building Shelters Tattooing the body Murdock's conclusion Gender is too variable to be a simple expression of biology; hence its socially constructed nature

Dependency theory

According to Immanuel Wallerstein's world systems theory Dependency involves three factors within the framework of the "capitalist world economy" Narrow, export oriented economies Lack of industrial capacity Foreign debt

Critique of modernization theory

An extension of capitalism Favors a free-market/ free trade approach to development and no government intervention Modernization has not occured in many poor countries Rich Nations lock the path to development for poor countries Example Colonialism, neocolonialism, imperialism

Minority

Any category of people distinguished by physical or cultural difference that a society sets apart and subordinates Women typically have less income, wealth, education, and power than men; hence, their subordinate status in US society. Patriarchy may be to blame for this.

Flaws of the "three worlds" model

Based on Cold War rivalries The first world is declining in power The second world no longer exists The third world is quite diverse in terms of income and wealth

Dependency theory

Based on the idea that the economic positions of rich and poor nations of the world are linked and thus cannot be understood apart from each other Poor nations are not simply lagging behind rich ones on the "path of progress," as modernization theory claims.

High income countries

Capital intensive and technologically oriented

High mass consumption stage

Characterized by the "need" to consume

Five types of slavery

Chattel State Imposed Child Slavery Debt Bondage Servile Forms of Marriage

Socialist feminism

Claims that gender equality will be achieved only when capitalism is replaced by socialism

Modernization theory

Claims that tradition is the greatest barrier to economic development

The new model

Classifies countries based on income levels High income countries (HIC's) Middle income countries (MIC's) Low income countries (LIC's)

Gender in global perspective

Culture plays a major role in defining the two sexes

Intersection theory

Defined as analysis of the interplay of race, class, and gender, which often results in multiple dimensions of disadvantage It is gaining ground as a perspective in the US

Feminism

Defined as support for social equality for women and more, in opposition to patriarchy and sexism

Gender

Defined as the personal traits and social positions that members of a society attach to being female or male Like social class, gender is a major dimensions of cultural patterns and social stratification.

Colonialism

Defined as the process by which some nations enrich themselves through political and economic control of other nations Example Western European countries colonized Latin America beginning just over five centuries ago.

The cost of sexism

Deprives women of many opportunities Masculinity becomes a breeding ground for the type A personality Marked by chronic impatience, competitiveness and free floating hostility which can lead to heart disease.

Gender and education

Despite progress, men still predominate in some professional fields In 2010, men received (53% of law degrees, 52% of medical degrees, and 54% of dental degrees)

World systems theory

Divides the world into three regions The core The periphery The semi-periphery

Debt bondage

Employers pay less for what they were charge for company provided food and housing "Under such an arrangement workers can never pay their debts, so... their workers are enslaved"

Dependency theory

Explains global inequality in terms of the historical exploitation of poor nations by rich ones Follows the social conflict approach.

Gender and social stratification

Factors contributing to a rise in female employment Decline of farming Growth of cities Shrinking family size A rising divorce rate

Advantages of new model

Focuses on economic development rather than political structure Provides a better picture of the relative economic development of countries around the globe.

The Israeli Kibbutz

From Kibbutzim, meaning collective settlements Used o be an important setting for gender research because it allowed men and women to share in work and decision making For example, both sexes partook in child care, building repair, and armed security A good model of social equality between the two sexes, though Kibbutzim have become less collective over time.

Conclusion

Gender affects the opportunities and constraints we face throughout our lives.

Social conflict theory

Gender is an important dimension of social inequality and conflict Gender inequality benefits men (especially at higher class levels) and disadvantages women

Symbolic interaction theory

Gender plays a part in daily interactions between men and women Being patriarchal in nature, US culture values men more than women, thus affording men more power in social situations.

State imposed slavery

Government imposed forced labor Occurs in US prison system a s well as China and North Korea

Drive to technological maturity

Growth oriented stage of development Characterized by a diversified economy and industrialization The US reached this stage about 1860.

The role of rich nations in global economic development (according to the modernization theory).

Help control the population in the ILC's Increase food production in the world Introduce industrial technology Provide foreign aid/investment capital.

Margaret Mead's research

Her hypothesis If gender is biologically based, then femininity and masculinity should be similarly defined everywhere If gender is cultural, however, these concepts should vary. She studied in the 1930's, three societies in New Guinea (a large island in the South West Pacific region) each with different roles attached to being male and female. Mead's research In the mountainous home of the Arapesh Men and women showed similar attitudes and behavior Both sexes were cooperative and sensitive to others What US culture would label feminine The Mundugumor stood out in striking contrast to the gentle ways of the Arapesh Both sexes were typically selfish and aggressive Traits labeled masculine in US society The Tchambuli Reversed many of our ideas of gender Females were considered dominant and rational Males were submissive, emotional, and nurturing towards children. Her conclusion Culture is the key to gender distinctions between what one society defines as masculine another may see as feminine

The core

High income countries Enriched by colonialism Transfer of raw materials MNC's or TNC's

Global power relations

Historically, wealth flowed from poor societies to rich nations through colonialism.

Traditional stage

Honoring the past Resisting change via technological advancement and new ideas Community is more important that individual freedom.

Housework

Housework is considered women's "second shift" Overall, women average 15.7 hours a week of housework, compared to 9 hours for men (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012)

Male-Female differences

In 1848 women were denied the vote because many assumed that women did not have any intelligence or interest in politics A reflections of the cultural patterns of that time and place, rather than biology.

Gender in US History

In 1848, women Did not enjoy a high standing in US society Could not own property Could not keep their own wages if married, or draft a will Could not file lawsuits in court or go to college Were very much controlled by men Husbands had unquestioned control over their wives and children Were considered second class citizens

Gender

Involves a hierarchy Men and women are placed in different positions in terms of power, wealth, and other resources Gender hierarchy leads to gender stratification. The unequal distribution of power, wealth, and privilege between men and women.

Child slavery

Labor imposed on children in impoverished countries Industries using child labor Tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, coffee, and many others. Multinational corporations (MNC's) are often involved Many of them are US based

Middle income countries

Less capital intensive with large poor populations living in rural areas

Types of feminism

Liberal feminism Socialist feminism Radical feminism

The periphery

Low income countries Drawn into the world economy by global exploitation Source of cheap labor Vast market for industrial products

Servile forms of marriage

Marriages that lead to forced labor or prostitution Relates to human trafficking The moving of men, women, and children from one place to another for the purpose of performing forced labor.

Gender and mass media

Men generally play brilliant detectives, fearless explorers, and skilled surgeons Racial and ethnic minorities were all but absent from televisions until the early 1970's

The semi-periphery

Middle-income countries Have closer economic ties to the global economic core Examples India Brazil

Modernization theory (1950's)

Model of economic and social development Explains global inequality in terms of technological and cultural differences between nations Follows the structural function approach

Patriarchy

Rule by fathers as opposed to matriarchy, which means rule by mothers.

Liberal feminism

Seeks equal opportunity for both sexes within the existing society

Radical feminism

Seeks to eliminate the concept of gender itself and to create and egalitarian ad gender free society.

Take-off stage

Shaking off the grip of tradition Characterized by greater individualism, rise of the marker and the profit motive along with the desire for material goods Outcome The weakening of family ties and traditional norms and values.

Gender and socialization

Sociologists believe gender is socially constructed A process that begins in childhood By about age three, children begin to think of themselves in gendered terms.

Theories of Gender

Structural functional theory Symbolic interaction theory Social conflict theory Intersection theory Feminism

Basic feminist ideas

Taking action to increase inequality Expanding human choice Eliminating gender stratification throughout society Ending sexual violence Promoting sexual freedom

Relative poverty

The lack of resources of some people in relation to those who have more Exists in every society rich or poor More emphasized in rich countries

The second world

The less industrialized socialist countries

Modernization theory

The middle ages saw the expansion of world exploration and trade Followed by the industrial revolution (late 1700's/early 1800's) in Western Europe and North America Some countries prospered, while others were left behind In HIC's, the standard of living jumped at least fourfold during the 20th century

The third world

The non industrialized, poor countries of the world

The first world

The rich industrialized countries of the world

Gender and occupations

There is a high concentration of women in administrative support (pink-collar jobs, 73%) and service work (food services, child care, health care, 16%) Men dominate most other job categories

Culture in the global perspective

Three important studies highlight how ender is based in culture The Israeli Kibbutz Margaret Mead's research George Murdoch's research

World systems theory

Traces the roots of the global economy to the beginning of colonization more than 500 years ago, when Europeans began gathering wealth from the rest of the world.

Rostow's stages of modernization

Traditional stage Take off stage Drive to technological maturity stage High mass consumption stage

Gender and socialization

Traditionally Women have been viewed as emotional, passive, and cooperative Men have been described as rational, active, and competitive "One sex seems to be the opposite to the other."

Theories of Global Stratification

Two major sociological explanations for global inequality Modernization theory Dependency theory

Structural functional theory

Views gender as means to organize social life In preindustrial societies, distinctive roles for males and females reflect biological differences between the sexes In industrial societies, gender inequality becomes dysfunctional ad gradually decreases, as meritocracy gains ground. Talcott Parsons described gender differences in terms of complementary roles that promote the social integration of families and society as a whole

Gender and mass media

Women are often portrayed as sex objects Play the less capable characters Earn less than their male counterparts ($875,000 vs. 400,000 per episode for the highest paid actors)

Gender and the military

Women have served in the US army since the colonial times In 1940 Just 2 percent of armed forces personnel were women In 2012 Women represented 15 percent off all deployed US troops as well as people serving in all capacities in the armed forces.

Gender and politics

Women were barred from voting in national elections until the passage of the 19th amendment to the constitution in 1920

The "three worlds" model

Put forward by the French demographer Alfred Sauvy after WWII (1952)

Global stratification

Relates to level of economic development Classified in terms of development models

Low income countries

49 low income countries Per capita GNI less than 2500 Mostly poor, rural economies Agrarian, with some industry Faced with very short life expectancy, hunger, disease, and unsafe housing Examples Afghanistan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sudan, Mali

Middle income countries

72 middle income countries Per capita GNI greater than 2500 but less than 12500 About 52% urban population, with industrial jobs About 48% rural population engaged in agricultural activities Faced with a general lack of access to schools, medical care, and safe drinking water Examples China, India, Brazil

High income countries

74 High income countries Per capita GNI greater than 12500 Products of the industrial Revolution two centuries ago Enjoy 64% of the world's income Control financial markets Examples Britain, Germany, and the US.

Patriarchy

A form of social organization in which males dominate females Prevalent throughout the world as opposed to matriarchy which is rare Rooted in sexism The belief that one sex is innately superior to the other.

Absolute poverty

A lack of resources that is life threatening Prevalent in LIC's where about one half of the people love on about $1.25 a day In ILC's, two in ten children do not survive to the age of 5; one quarter is malnourished

Slavery

A reality today for at least 20 million men, women, and children. (International Labor Organization 2012) The British Empire banned slavery in 1833 The us banned slavery in 1865 ( thought not completely)

Gender

A sociological concept, which relates to how societies are organized around the concepts of feminine and masculine Not a product of biological differences between men and women

Gender and peer group

Research suggests Peer group pressure begins in school Young children form single-sex play groups Female peer groups promote interpersonal skills (communication/cooperation); male peer groups promote team sports (aggression/control) (Lever, 1978)

Gender and socialization

Research suggests that most people develop personalities that are a mix of feminine and masculine traits (Bem, 1993)

Low income countries

Mostly agrarian societies, with some industry

Neocolonialism

Noe means new in Greek A new form of global power relationships that involves not direct political control (though it could also be the case) but economic exploitation but multinational corporations.

Third world countries

Often victims of the Cold War rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union in both political and economic terms

Chattel Slavery

One person owns another Against the law almost everywhere Several million people fall under this category Prevalent in parts of Africa and Asia.

Global stratification

Patterns of social inequality in the world as a whole

Gender income and wealth: Policy of "comparable worth"

Paying people not according to the historical double standard, but according the the level of skill and responsibility involved in the work It has not been successful in the US, thus women in the US lose about $1 billion in income annually One reason: US culture gives more parenting responsibility to women