Intro to Soc 200 Ch 12 Gender, Sex, and Sexuality

DOMA

Defense of Marriage Act, a 1996 U.S. law explicitly limiting the definition of "marriage" to a union between one man and one woman and allowing each individual state to recognize or deny same-sex marriages performed in other states

Only women are affected by gender stratification. True False

False. According to the symbolic interactionist perspective, we "do gender":

To which theoretical perspective does the following statement most likely apply: Women continue to assume the responsibility in the household along with a paid occupation because it keeps the household running smoothly, i.e., at a state of balance?

Functionalism

sex

a term that denotes the presence of physical or physiological differences between males and females

gender

a term that refers to social or cultural distinctions of behaviors that are considered male or female

homophobia

an extreme or irrational aversion to gay, lesbian, bisexual, or all LGBTQ people, which often manifests as prejudice and bias

Homophobia

an extreme or irrational aversion to homosexuals

heterosexism

an ideology and a set of institutional practices that privilege straight people and heterosexuality over other sexual orientations

Transsexual

an individual who undergoes sex reassignment surgery and hormone treatments

social construction of sexuality

socially created definitions about the cultural appropriateness of sex-linked behavior which shape how people see and experience sexuality

gender role

society's concept of how men and women should behave

misogyny

the hatred of or, aversion to, or prejudice against women

Misogyny is:

the hatred or dislike of women and is manifested through abusive language, violence, and sexual discrimination

doing gender

the performance of tasks based upon the gender assigned to us by society and, in turn, ourselves

sexism

the prejudiced belief that one sex should be valued over another

socialization of gender

the process of learning the social expectations and attitudes associated with one's sex -starts at birth -gender stereotypes-sexism -occurs at both the micro- and macro-levels. -sociologists focus on discrimination that is built into the social structure; this type of discrimination is known as institutional discrimination -major agents of socialization: family, education, peer groups, and mass media. Each agent reinforces gender roles by creating and maintaining normative expectations for gender-specific behavior. Exposure also occurs through secondary agents such as religion and the workplace. Repeated exposure to these agents over time leads men and women into a false sense that they are acting naturally rather than following a socially constructed role. -Family is the first agent of socialization. There is considerable evidence that parents socialize sons and daughters differently. boys are allowed more autonomy and independence at an earlier age; given fewer restrictions on appropriate clothing, dating habits, or curfew. Sons are also often free from performing domestic duties such as cleaning or cooking

Gender

the socially constructed roles and characteristics by which a culture defines male and female

gender expression

the way in which a person expresses their gender identity, typically through their appearance, dress, and behavior.

In the 115th Congress of the United States (2018), what percentage of the elected officials were women?

21.2%- even though women make up around half the population

Why do sociologists find it important to differentiate between sex and gender? What importance does the differentiation have in modern society?

A person's sex, as determined by his or her biology, does not always correspond with his or her gender. Therefore, the terms sex and gender are not interchangeable.A baby boy who is born with male genitalia will be identified as male. As he grows, however, he may identify with the feminine aspects of his culture. Since the term sex refers to biological or physical distinctions, characteristics of sex will not vary significantly between different human societies. Generally, persons of the female sex, regardless of culture, will eventually menstruate and develop breasts that can lactate. Characteristics of gender, on the other hand, may vary greatly between different societies. For example, in U.S. culture, it is considered feminine (or a trait of the female gender) to wear a dress or skirt. However, in many Middle Eastern, Asian, and African cultures, dresses or skirts (often referred to as sarongs, robes, or gowns) are considered masculine. The kilt worn by a Scottish male does not make him appear feminine in his culture.

Stratification

A structured ranking of entire groups of people that perpetuates unequal economic rewards and power in a society.

Which theoretical perspective stresses the importance of regulating sexual behavior to ensure marital cohesion and family stability?

Functionalism

gender dysphoria

a condition listed in the DSM-5 in which people whose gender at birth is contrary to the one they identify with. This condition replaces "gender identity disorder"

Sociologists associate sexuality with _______.

a person's capacity for sexual feelings

sexuality

a person's capacity for sexual feelings

According to the symbolic interactionist perspective, we "do gender":

all of the time, in everything we do

transgender

an adjective that describes individuals who identify with the behaviors and characteristics that are other than their biological sex

glass ceiling

an invisible barrier that women encounter when trying to win jobs in the highest level of business

Of these, which country is thought to be the most liberal in its attitudes toward sex? a. United States b. Sweden c. Mexico d. Ireland

b. Sweden

Which of the following is the best example of the role peers play as an agent of socialization for school-aged children? a. Children can act however they wish around their peers because children are unaware of gender roles. b. Peers serve as a support system for children who wish to act outside of their assigned gender roles. c. Peers tend to reinforce gender roles by criticizing and marginalizing those who behave outside of their assigned roles. d. None of the above

c. Peers tend to reinforce gender roles by criticizing and marginalizing those who behave outside of their assigned roles.

. Which of the following is the best example of a gender stereotype? a. Women are typically shorter than men. b. Men do not live as long as women. c. Women tend to be overly emotional, while men tend to be levelheaded. d. Men hold more high-earning, leadership jobs than women.

c. Women tend to be overly emotional, while men tend to be levelheaded.

The idea that gender inequality comes from the division of labor fits with which Sociological theory?

conflict theory

Compared to most Western societies, U.S. sexual attitudes are considered _______.

conservative

Which of the following factors can affect the pay gap? a. having children b. lower education level c. being married d. all of the above

d. all of the above

The terms "masculine" and "feminine" refer to a person's _________.

gender

The term _______ refers to society's concept of how men and women are expected to act and how they should behave.

gender role

more open approach to sex has

helped countries avoid some of the major social problems associated with sex. For example, rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease are among the world's lowest in Switzerland and the Netherlands - lower than other European countries and far lower than the United States

Research indicates that individuals are aware of their sexual orientation _______.

in early adolescence

gender roles are based on

norms, or standards, created by society. In U.S. culture, masculine roles are usually associated with strength, aggression, and dominance, while feminine roles are usually associated with passivity, nurturing, and subordination. Role learning starts with socialization at birth. Even today, our society is quick to outfit male infants in blue and girls in pink, even applying these color-coded gender labels while a baby is in the womb. -gender stereotypes

but there has been no evidence that links sexual orientation to

one factor

gender identity

a person's deeply held internal perception of one's gender.

sexual orientation

a person's physical, mental, emotional, and sexual attraction to a particular sex (male or female)

Identify three examples of how U.S. society is heteronormative.

-"It's just a phase" Assuming that someone who comes out as trans, homosexual, or queer is "just going through a phase is damaging. -Refusing to use pronouns. -Intersex surgeries. (parent defines gender at birth at that point) -Media representation. -Legal status. (The LGBTQ+ community has often been left out of the legal, social, and economic privileges) . -Assumptions as fact. Parental and religious disapproval.

sex education in schools

-In the US, individual school systems can choose the content -programs that emphasize contraceptive knowledge do not increase the incidence of sex and are more likely to reduce the risk of adolescent pregnancy and STIs compared to abstinence-only programs -- 93% of Americans support the teaching of sex education in high schools, and 84% support its teaching in middle/junior high schools. -Even with clear majorities in favor of comprehensive education, the Federal government offers roughly $85 million per year to communities that will drive abstinence-only sex education

Discrimination against LGBTQ people

-While the disbanding of anti-LGBTQ laws in the United States has reduced government or law enforcement oppression or abuse, it has not eliminated it. -data indicates that crimes against LGBTQ people have been increasing, and that those crimes account for nearly one in five hate crimes committed in the United States -LGBTQ people are also treated differently from straight and cisgender people in schools, housing, and in healthcare. This can have effects on mental health, employment and financial opportunities, and relationships. For example, more than half of LGBTQ adults and 70 percent of those who are transgender or gender nonconforming report experiencing discrimination from a health care professional; this leads to delays or reluctance in seeking care or preventative visits, which has negative health outcomes

feminist theory of gender

-type of conflict theory that examines inequalities in gender-related issues. It uses the conflict approach to examine the maintenance of gender roles and inequalities -Radical feminism, in particular, considers the role of the family in perpetuating male dominance. In patriarchal societies, men's contributions are seen as more valuable than those of women. Patriarchal perspectives and arrangements are widespread and taken for granted. As a result, women's viewpoints tend to be silenced or marginalized to the point of being discredited or considered invalid..- -Gender is socially constructed -Attempt to identify the ways in which institutionalized and internalized norms limit women's behaviours and opportunities -patriarchy is the cause of womens oppression - emphasizes the centrality of gender in analyzing the social world and particularly the uniqueness of the experience of women -societies some consider to be matriarchies (where women comprise the dominant group), women and men tend to work cooperatively rather than competitively regardless of whether a job is considered feminine by U.S. standards. The men, however, do not experience the sense of bifurcated consciousness under this social structure that modern U.S. females encounter

What can be done to lessen the effects of gender stratification in the workplace? How does gender stratification harm both men and women?

1. Educate Your Workers on Gender Bias 2. Evaluate and Standardize Pay 3. Review Your Recruiting Process 4. Stand Up to Gender Bias in the Workplace When It Happens 5. Offer Flexible Work Options de-stigmatise shared parental leave 6. Have a clear policy on discrimination 7. Ensure you're actively encouraging women to progress, mentors/sponsorships gender stratification effect mens health: -Traditional stereotypes are difficult for many men to live up to. They feel pressure to be a 'real man', to be physically and emotionally strong, and be the main income earner. -Many workplaces don't offer men extended parental leave or flexible hours. -Men are more likely to drink too much, take unhealthy risks and engage in violence. -They are less likely to seek professional help or talk about their problems with friends or family. -Men are more likely to commit suicide. Gender stratification effects women with more and continuing inequalities: -women earn around 87.6 cents to every dollar earned by men. -Although more women than men complete tertiary education, their graduate salaries are lower. -1 in every 2 mothers experiences discrimination during pregnancy, on parental leave or when returning to work. -women do nearly twice as much unpaid work as men -more prone to mental illness

Structural Functionalism theory on gender

Functionalists argue that gender roles were established well before the pre-industrial era when men typically took care of responsibilities outside of the home, such as hunting, and women typically took care of the domestic responsibilities in or around the home. These roles were considered functional because women were often limited by the physical restraints of pregnancy and nursing and unable to leave the home for long periods of time. Once established, these roles were passed on to subsequent generations since they served as an effective means of keeping the family system functioning properly. -After WWII-Many women had to assume the role of breadwinner (or modern hunter-gatherer) alongside their domestic role in order to stabilize a rapidly changing society. When the men returned from war and wanted to reclaim their jobs, society fell back into a state of imbalance, as many women did not want to forfeit their wage-earning positions

symbolic interactionism on gender

Gender is learned through the process of socialization; gender inequalities are reproduced through interactions with family, peers, schools, and the media -Because the meanings attached to symbols are socially created and not natural, and fluid, not static, we act and react to symbols based on the current assigned meaning. -we are always "doing gender." Thus, gender is something we do or perform, not something we are. -In other words, both gender and sexuality are socially constructed. The social construction of sexuality refers to the way in which socially created definitions about the cultural appropriateness of sex-linked behavior shape the way people see and experience sexuality. This is in marked contrast to theories of sex, gender, and sexuality that link male and female behavior to biological determinism, or the belief that men and women behave differently due to differences in their biology.

Why is it important to have women in political roles?

Involving women in political processes is beneficial for all. Women in positions of authority tend to allocate more budget to health and education, champion social issues, and resolve national crises without resorting to violence. In fact, when women are at negotiation tables, peace lasts longer. -Better representation will ensure women's voices are heard and their issues fairly recognized, as studies show that women legislators are more likely than men to address women's interests. Representation in government affects more than just policy - it's a tool for social empowerment.

In what way do parents treat sons and daughters differently? How do sons and daughters typically respond to this treatment?

Parents may not intend to treat sons and daughters differently, but the research shows that they do. Sons appear to get preferential treatment in that they receive more helpful praise, more time is invested in them, and their abilities are often thought of in higher view when compared to daughters. -parents have lower expectations of their daughters than their sons. -type of praise for girls is less on effort and strategies than boys -stereotypical beliefs held by parents influence their child's beliefs about their own abilities in education (i.e. boys r better at math) -parents are more likely to be involved with the school, such as attending school meetings and contact teachers, when they have a son. -fathers are prepared to invest more time in a son than a daughter -The reinforcement of gender roles and stereotypes continues children become agents who actively facilitate and apply normative gender expectations to those around them. When children do not conform to the appropriate gender role, they may face negative sanctions such as being criticized or marginalized by their peers. Though many of these sanctions are informal, they can be quite severe.

What can be done to narrow the pay gap for women?

Raise the minimum wage. ... Increase pay transparency. ... Unionize workplaces. ... Implement fair scheduling practices. ... Expand paid family and medical leave. ... Increase access to child care. ... Stop basing employee pay on salary history. ... Improve work-life balance. Fix pay disparities

Sex vs. Gender vs. Sexuality

Sex is one's biological classification as male, female, or intersex Gender is the social construction associated with being masculine or feminine Sexual orientation refers to the sex and gender to whom a person is romantically attracted

According to national surveys, most U.S. parents support which type of sex education program in school?

Sexual safety without promoting abstinence

Consider the types of derogatory labeling that sociologists study and explain how these might apply to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Society has many derogatory labels that are used to discriminate and many times insult people that have a different sexual orientation than heterosexuals. Masculinity in the US society is valued, and people use derogatory labels to ridicule other men that are gay calling names such as "f*g" or "queen," among other names. Although the American Psychology Association (APA) considers homosexuality as a normal trait of sexuality in humans, people insist on ridicule gay and lesbian people and this affects the morale of these people. These labels are derogatory b/c of the cultural heteronormative assumption. Being anything other than heterosexual goes against the mores or norms and are considered inferior or abnormal. -Individuals are socialized to sexual attitudes by their family, education system, peers, media, and religion. Historically, religion has been the greatest influence on sexual behavior in most societies, but in more recent years, peers and the media have emerged as two of the strongest influences, particularly among U.S. teens

gender identity

a person's deeply held internal perception of one's gender

Feminist Movement

Sought various legal and economic gains for women, including equal access to professions and higher education; came to concentrate on right to vote; won support particularly from middle-class women; active in Western Europe at the end of the 19th century; revived in light of other issues in the 1960s. -fight against misogyny -Many advances in women's rights were the result of women's greater engagement in politics -Feminists engaged in protests and actions designed to bring awareness and change.

why are people transgender?

Transgender expressions and experiences are so diverse that it is difficult to identify their origin. Some hypotheses suggest biological factors such as genetics or prenatal hormone levels as well as social and cultural factors such as childhood and adulthood experiences. Most experts believe that all of these factors contribute to a person's gender identity

Prior to the 19th Amendment being ratified, women were not considered a legal person on their own. True False

True--coverture

How is children's play influenced by gender roles? Think back to your childhood. How "gendered" were the toys and activities available to you? Do you remember gender expectations being conveyed through the approval or disapproval of your playtime choices?

children learn gender roles is through play. Parents typically supply boys with trucks, toy guns, and superhero paraphernalia, which are active toys that promote motor skills, aggression, and solitary play. Daughters are often given dolls and dress-up apparel that foster nurturing, social proximity, and role play. Studies have shown that children will most likely choose to play with "gender appropriate" toys (or same-gender toys) even when cross-gender toys are available because parents give children positive feedback (in the form of praise, involvement, and physical closeness) for gender normative behavior -I had an older brother growing up and was exposed to both gendered toys and activities. When I wanted to go hunting with my brother and father I was discouraged was denied permission to go. I also wanted to play football in middle school and was not allowed by my school due to being female. I had to play a girls sport, which did not include football, with other females. My mother would buy me only feminine clothes and I could not pick out my own clothes. I used to sneak my brothers T-shirts in my bookbag and change in the school bathroom as soon as I got to school.

Heterosexism

discrimination or prejudice against homosexuals on the assumption that heterosexuality is the normal sexual orientation

Belief that men have—or have the right to—more sexual urges than women creates a

double standard (as prohibiting premarital sexual intercourse for women but allowing it for men) -This standard has evolved into allowing women to engage in premarital sex only within committed love relationships, but allowing men to engage in sexual relationships with as many partners as they wish without condition -future of a society's sexual attitudes may be somewhat predicted by the values and beliefs that a country's youth expresses about sex and sexuality.

Conflict Theory of gender

gender roles are long established roles of inequality as consequences of male dominance -society is a struggle for dominance among social groups (like women versus men) that compete for scarce resources. - social problems are created when dominant groups exploit or oppress subordinate groups. Consider the Women's Suffrage Movement or the debate over women's "right to choose" their reproductive futures. It is difficult for women to rise above men, as dominant group members create the rules for success and opportunity in society -Engels suggested that the same owner-worker relationship seen in the labor force is also seen in the household, with women assuming the role of the proletariat. This is due to women's dependence on men for the attainment of wages, which is even worse for women who are entirely dependent upon their spouses for economic support. Contemporary conflict theorists suggest that when women become wage earners, they can gain power in the family structure and create more democratic arrangements in the home, although they may still carry the majority of the domestic burden, as noted earlier

males vs females with sexuality and sexual orientation

in U.S. culture, males are subject to a clear divide between the two sides of this continuum, whereas females enjoy more fluidity. This can be illustrated by the way women in the United States can express homosocial feelings (nonsexual regard for people of the same sex) through hugging, handholding, and physical closeness. -men are subject to more social disapproval for being physically close to other menGen

Transphobia

intense dislike of or prejudice against transsexual or transgender people.

Beyond the language of gender, the language

of society and culture itself can be either a barrier or an opening to inclusivity. Societal norms are important sociological concepts, and behaviors outside of those norms can lead to exclusion. By disassociating gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation from the concept of norms, we can begin to eliminate the implicit and explicit biases regarding those realities. In everyday terms, this can take the form of avoiding references to what is normal or not normal in regard to sexuality or gender

intersex

people born with sex characteristics (including genitals, gonads and chromosome patterns) that do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies.

The dichotomous or binary view of gender (the notion that someone is either male or female) is

specific to certain cultures and is not universal.

social stratification and inequality

system of inequality in which people/groups have varying access and privileges to resources; divided into layers (multi-layered) based on one's access to resources -pay gap -glass ceiling (The idea that women are unable to reach the executive suite) -women underrepresented in politics

Heteronormative

the assumption that the "default," or "correct" sexual orientation is straight (heterosexual). It assumes that "normal" relationships exist only between a man and a woman. In a heteronormative society, anything outside of these norms is considered abnormal or inferior

biological determinism

the belief that men and women behave differently due to inherent sex differences related to their biology

double standard

the concept that prohibits premarital sexual intercourse for women but allows it for men

pay gap

the difference in earnings between men and women

Society, particularly in the United States, has been reluctant to accept transgender identities at any age, but

we have particular difficulty accepting those identities in children. Many people feel that children are too young to understand their feelings, and that they may "grow out of it." And it is true that some children who verbalize their identification or desire to live as another gender may ultimately decide to live in alignment with their assigned gender. But if a child consistently describes themselves as a gender (or as both genders) and/or expresses themselves as that gender over a long period of time, their feelings cannot be attributed to going through a "phase" -Some children, like many transgender people, may feel pressure to conform to social norms, which may lead them to suppress or hide their identity. Experts find evidence of gender dysphoria—the long-term distress associated with gender identification—in children as young as seven (Zaliznyak 2020). Again, most children have a limited understanding of the social and societal impacts of being transgender, but they can feel strongly that they are not aligned with their assigned sex. And considering that many transgender people do not come out or begin to transition until much later in life—well into their twenties—they may live for a long time under that distress.