gender terms

gender dysphoria

medical term used to describe the experience of feeling that one's emotional and embodied identity is different to that which as assigned at both

genderflux

people experience their gender identity more or less intense at different times

sociobiologists

theorists who believe humans have a genetically innate concept of how social behavior should be organized -aim to explain social behaviors in animals and humans through a biological and evolutionary lens -social behaviors have evolved in each species over time through natural selection Ex. men are more naturally inclined towards promiscuity because they have limitless sperm, and women are more inclined towards monogamy since with their limited supply of eggs they have a narrower window of opportunity to pass on genes and must pick partner careful Ex. since females make large investment and production and survival of offspring, they approach sex and reproduction differently

transgender

umbrella term describing people whos innate gender identity or gender expression is different to the sex they were assigned at birth. Some decide to transition from one biological sex to another- sometimes referred to as transexual. Others prefer not transition physically

gender expression

"FEMININE OR MASCULINE" - how a person presents their gender to the world and also how the world interacts with and shapes their gender. -Related to gender roles and how society enforces conformity to these roles.. -Can remain fixed or can fluctuate over time. - Can be aligned with sex at birth or contrast it. -the way which we manifest or DO gender -Each of us express our gender in particular ways every day. Our appearance, speech, behavior, movements all signal gender -does not necessarily match biological sex or gender identity

gender identity

- each person's internal sense of being male, female, combination of two, neither. Core part of who people know themselves to be -Can match one's biological sex- CISGENDER -Can differ- transgender, non-binary, gender fluid, gender expansive, agender, etc. -Never assume you know someone's gender identity -The term "transgender" is a big umbrella that includes a lot of other terms -Not monolithic. Most people's gender identities are established in early childhood, it is something that can shift over time -Gender is assumed to be natural- but it is, in fact, highly regulated.. -Huge part of how we learn gender- we learn what not to do

gender role change 19th and 20th centuries

-Middle class ideal of man as provider and woman as career was displaced during industrial revolution then firmly entrenched into 19th 20th centuries -Marix feminists- argue that this model suited capitalism- women provide unpaid domestic labor as a means for producing the next generation of workers. "Ideal" natural order backed up by two-sex model Capitalism: economic and political system in which trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit -Idea was that to educate working-class women was to civilize them through the offering of domestic duties, instilling middle-class domestic standards -To be a "good woman" is often equated with being a respectable woman, displaying restraint, control and a lack of "excess"

agragarian and gender

-Society's economy is focused primarily on agriculture- raising livestock and cultivating crops. Majority of societies after hunter-gatherer were agrarian until industrialization in 1800s and 1900s. -Land ownership or control was main source of wealth and status. Property, not labor, was source of social status. Property was most often owned or managed by highest status male of a family group -Early societies based around a family or communal unit- each person had distinct role in food production. Common for men to do work in fields and women to manage the house, prepare food, or spun wool or produced clothing. May have been around factors of male upper body strength of female reproductive role (without birth control may often be pregnant). Men were mostly always the head of family unit -As agrarian societies grew more advanced- in Egypt, Greece, Role- roles from early cultry were combined with religious and cultural norms, even though circumstances had changed. Female sphere domestic and male sphere public. -In Greece- women were not allowed to own property, expensive things, were not allowed to vote -Women were subordinated to men, forcing them to rely on men for food, protection, and support Aristotle: philosophy and science in ancient greece. His contributions shaped many areas of though in western world. Said that the male by nature is superior and the female interior, the male ruler and the female subject

gender role change with industrialization

-Women and children worked alongside men in the developing industries -Working-class women had always had to find work, but the nature changed now -New technologies industries produced food and clothing displaced skilled men who had dominated them. Women and children (willing to work for less initially and less resentful of new methods) began to replace men -Trade unions opposed idea of women taking up traditionally masculine role of breadwinner. Leaders of some religion were concerned that the feminine gender role appeared to be in flux, contradicting their teachings -The ideal femininity where women stated at home and cared for family was solution of these fears -Religious leaders and trade unions had significant influence on society. The working woman (working-class) was presented in dominant gender discourse as failing woman Discourse: formal discussion of particular topic. Accounts for dominant ways we think about it

gender systems

-assign different activities, roles and positions to men and women within a particular society. - In the west have largely followed binary models- where male and female are understood to be only gender categories and fundamentally different from each other -differences in many societies.. look at notes

essentialist viewpoint

-based on the belief that each thing has a set of characteristics- it's "essence" that defines it and is fundamental to its identity and makeup -proposes that gender differences emerge from the innate disparaties of biological makeup of men and women -men and women possess distinct chromosomal and hormonal variations that impact on their specific social roles- the "essence" of masculinity and femininity. argued that.. Women are instinctively caring and emotionally attuned, whereas men are inherently more competent providers and protectors

gender

-cultural and social -The socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that society considers as men and women

sexuality

-desires -sexual orientation: pattern of sexual desire of the same gender, other genders, all genders, no genders, etc. regardless of behavior -Sexual identities: a culturally organized conception of self- "lesbian/gay" "bisexual" "heterosexual" "pansexual" "poly" "asexual" etc. behaviors

masturbation

-gendered phenomenon- that is also often seen as biological phenomenon -More men than women report masturbating across the life course.. Assumptions are often made -May be biological phenomena.. Testosterone may cause more sex drive. BUT it has become gender norms -Boys are taught about masturbation more -Boys are expected to masturbate -Industries have developed around male masturbation.. Porn is widely marketed towards boys and men and its consumption is normalized as masculine behavior. -Girls also far less likely to admit to masturbating -Girls are not given information about or access to sex toys until early adulthood- often stigma attached to them CONSEQUENCES -Boys are expected to learn how to pleasure themselves- as part of process as becoming men. Masturbation is considered natural, normal part of growing up as a guy- as is having sex desires -Not the case for girls. Girls nOT expected to learn how to please themselves. Instead, they are expected to find a partner who can provide them pleasure, reinforcing dependency rather than sexual autonomy.

Development of sexology in Europe and US in 20th century

-new ways of understanding gender-diverse people. Sexology made move away from understanding sexuality through religious and moral frameworks. Doctors and scientists became the experts. Redefinition of sexuality according to type and identity rather than acts and behavior -RATHER THAN BEING SOMETHING WE DID, SEXUALITY BECAME A KEY FACET OF WHO WE ARE -Sexuality became classified as "normal" and "deviant" (not heterosexual). -Crossdressing was initially understood within same framework as homosexuality. Homosexuality seen as threat to heterosexuality. Homosexuality and anal discourse looked down upon

genderfluid

-people experience their gender identity changing over time or between different situations, and may not feel restricted to one gender or another denoting or relating to a person who does not identify themselves as having a fixed gender.

gender is combination of three things

-physicality -how they experience their body -how others experience their body

different religions with gender roles

-shinto -purdah -sati -post colonial

invert

-term developed in early study of sexology to refer to homosexual men or women. -Presenting homosexuality as an inner reversal of a person's exterior gender traits. -Male inverts were inclined to traditionally female pursuits and dress. -Gender and sexuality seen to be inherently connect: the male homosexual was artistic and effeminate, and the lesbian artistic and mannish

evolutionary biology

A specialty within the field of biology; the study of the process of change in organisms. study of evolutionary processes in nature, such as natural selection, common descent and the ways in which life forms have diversified and adapted over time

sexual dimorphism

Differences in physical characteristics (size, color, etc.) between males and females of the same species beyond their sexual organs -Theorists believe differences in behavior of women and men are biologically driven and reflect the same traits found in the animal world

Biological makeup of men and women impacting gendered behaviors was misunderstood for long time.. how it got there

Enlightenment: 17th-early 19th centuries where Europe science, philosophy, and politics went under radical changes. Emphasized science and realism over religion and tradition -shifted from "one-sex" to "two-sex" model. Prevailing belief that men and women represented one sex. -Men and women were characterized by possessing variations in one type of human body (men genitals on outside, women's on inside). Belief that female body was an inferior/ imperfect version of male body supported by studies of men in roman empire in 16th century -Changes with enlightenment- science advancement showed differences between men and women beyond their productive systems. Discovered and defined sex differences in every bone, muscle, etc.

Common confusion in west of gender-diverse practices with homosexuality

Gender and sexuality are seen as closely linked -Transgender person who transitions from male to female but stays attracted to women is seen as going from straight to gay even though their sexual orientation hasn't changed

sex spectrum

male, intersex, female

Sexuality continuum

Kinsey Reports in 1940s and 1950s- prospeed that sexuality lay on a continuum. Some people are firmly on one end (heterosexual or gay/lesbian) many are on different points on continuum (bisexual). "the world is not divided into sheeps and goats" -Research from social sciences also suggest sexuality is fluid and that people can and do choose their sexuality

gender identity spectrum

man, transgender, woman

patriarchy

a form of social organization in which a male is the family head and title is traced through the male line -originally referred to a society or system of government led by men, in which property was inherited through the male line and the eldest male headed the family unit. Now used to refer to social system in which men hold more power than women 1. State- women have less formal power and representation in government. 2. Household- women more likely to do house work. 3. Violence- women more prone to abuse. 4. Paid worse- women more likely to be paid less. 5. Sexuality- women's sexuality seen as more negative. 6. Culture- women more misrepresented in pop culture

Intersectionality

account for ways in which social categories, including race, class, and gender sexuality, embodiment, and ability to produce overlap systems of oppression or disadvantage. Instances of oppression in one or more of these categories should be analysed together, incontext with one another.. Takes account for what it means to be a woman, man, or non-binary person and the relationships between these and other aspects of culture. BUT CULTURE IS NEVER STATIC

LBGTQI

acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or questioning), intersex. Other letters can be added to make for more inclusive. "A" for agency or asterisks

sexual orientation spectrum

attracted to men, attracted to none/both/all, attracted to women

sex

biological characterstics -femaleness and maleness -the classification of people as male or female at birth based on bodily characteristics, chromosomes, hormones, internal reproductive organs, and genitals

agency

capacity of a person or group to act indepdently or to make choices. Refers to their power to choose to act in a particular way, and to carry out their chosen action

gender expression spectrum

masculine, androgynous, feminine

genderqueer

describes someone whose gender identity does not sit within social norms of masculine or feminine, but in between these binaries

transexual

describes women and men who undergo gender transition. More recently been replaced by "transgender"- "transexual" coming to mean specifically people who have undergone or wish to undergo surgery

Androgyny

displaying both traditional masculine and feminine psychological characteristics -combination of characteristics considered masculine and feminine. Most often used to describe a person or thing with no gender, mixed gender, or ambiguous gender. Greek mythology includes these practices.. Ex. showing god Aphroditus having breasts and penis

united nations

founded in 1945 to achieve international cooperation in promoting peace, human rights, and fundamental freedoms, along other matters. Currently comprises of members from 193 states

social constructivist findings

human understandings of social reality are created jointly, rather than stemming from a natural external "truth." humans actively construct their social world -view of gender proposes that gender roles- the patterns of behavior prescribed as "normal" or "ideal" for each sex- are not entirely determined by human biology and evolution, but are to some degree created and perpetuated for each sex by the society we live in. gender identities and expressions that fall outside this prescribed behavior are presented as "abnormal"

inclusive writing

in French aims to neutralize grammatical gender by including both gendered forms in plurals for mixed groups

intersex

individuals who exhibit sexual organs and functions somewhere between male and female elements, often including elements of both - various conditions which a person has reproductive sexual anatomy that does not fit typical definitions of male or female. DSD (disorders of sexual development) is currently used by medical established to describe conditions, but others prefer intersex. Hard to assert the number of babies born intersex because typical medical advice to have "correction" surgery at birth- around 1.7-2% of the world

trans

now transgender. Umbrella term that includes all gender nonconforming people.

cisgender

people experience their gender identity, gender expression and biological sex as consistent with each other. Person performs gender role that social convention dictates appropriate to their se

agender

people identify as having no gender, or feel that their gender is absent or neutral

agender 2

people that do not feel they have a gender identity

gender diversity

person does not conform to their society's norms or values when it comes to their gender physicality, gender identity, gender expression, or a combination of these factors. This is a wide category encompassing a huge variety of people and practices.

asexual

person experiences little or no sexual desire or attraction. A sexual orientation like homosoexuality or heterosexuality. May or may not feel romantic attraction, which is not the same as sexual interaction

nurturance

providing emotional and physical care to another person, meeting their need for such care. A social behavior present in humans and many animals.. Often constructed as "feminine" but can be displayed by people of all genders -Lower testosterone levels are linked to it. But also successful nurturance creates lower testosterone levels. Cycle of cause and effect makes it difficult to disentangle the biological causes of gendered behavior from the social or experimental ones

gender.. sameness and difference

sameness -is about fitting in- acting like a woman or man -'One is not born, but rather becomes a woman" (or man) -When one doesn't fit in, one is called to account for why they don't -social process that is often invisible (so it is powerful) difference -Gender statuses are differentiated -constructed in opposition- men do A, women do B -Difference is perceived- constantly looking for it -difference is institutionalized- the way we build buildings, create space for people, etc. -difference is regulated

gender socialization

sociology and gender studies term to describe the process of learning the norms and values traditionally associated with one's gender. GENDERED BEHAVIOR IS LEARNT, NOT INNATE -We praise particular behaviors in girls and boys, encourage them to use gendered toys, etc. Wider social structures are key -Weight of history, religion, and what is presented as "natural" -Systematic expectations that girls or boys will perform better or worse in particular subjects leads to them to choose different subjects based on their gender UNDERSTANDINGS OF GENDER ARE DEEPLY TIED UP WITH CHANGING POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS, WHICH STRUCTURE EVERY DAY GENDER EXPERIENCE -Gendered norms, values, roles and expectations are assigned by a particular society or cultural and presented as ideal characteristics. They are perpetuated by the structures and learnt values of that society by the individuals who perpetuate it. Gender does not remain consistent since there is a difference between cultures and eras

gender binary model

system that classifies gender into two categories (male and female). Categories are discrete and opposite. Rather than female body being imperfect version of male's -men and women's social roles came to be distinct. As science said gender is binary, biology was used to justify men's association with rationality and culture and women's with emotion and nature.. women's liberty in question -do not account for people whose biological sex seems to fall between or outside categories of men or women -complete maleness and complete femaleness represent the extreme ends of a spectrum of possible body types. Multiple variations within. Biological sex can be construed as spectrum- majority of people clustered towards one side or another. There are many intersex people too

embodiment

the experience and the fact of living in one's body. Relates to both the way a person experiences the body in the context of societal expectations, and also the way those expectations influence their body

Ethnomethodology

the study of how people use background assumptions to make sense out of life - study of ways which people make sense of their world and create the social environment which they live. Views people as rational actors who employ pragmatic reasoning to enable them to function in society. Examined how gender was located in social interaction and everyday activity. Seen as rooted in "the things we do" (not universal experience). -Gender is "omni relevant"- the need to "do" gender correctly in relation to society's expectations of what is approvate gender behavior weighs heavily in all activities. Failure to perform has social stigma has un-masculine or un-feminine

evolutionary psychology

the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection -proposes that some or all human behavior is based on psychological adaptions that, like physical traits, developed as a response to environmental pressures as humans evolved Studies on animals show that male is naturally included to be protector/ provider and female is one to nurture. Examples of animals outside model- Emperor penguin: mom lays egg, then goes to ocean for two months and dad keeps it warm -Common approach from evolutionary psychology- assigns sex roles in modern world from "naturally prescribed" pattern from history of men hunting while women cared for children. Argued that each is sex is suited for role because they have developed characteristics to carry it out

Kin and reproductive practices

ways in which organisms interact with their relatives and the way in which they reproduce. may differ between species -Seeing practices that challenge evolutionary psychological studies.. Ex men participating in childcare. Increasing number of women not having kids