Chapter 12: Gender, Sex, and Sexuality

Conflict theory on gender

According to conflict theory, society is a struggle for dominance among social groups (like women versus men) that compete for scarce resources. When sociologists examine gender from this perspective, we can view men as the dominant group and women as the subordinate group. *According to conflict theory*, social problems are created when dominant groups exploit or oppress subordinate groups.

Feminist Theory on gender

Feminist theory is a 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.

Structural functionism on gender (when were gender roles first established? functionality of gender roles?)

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. When men came back from WWII, women did not want to give up their wage-earning positions

Symbolic Interactionism on sex and sexuality

Interactionists focus on the *meanings associated with sexuality and with sexual orientation*. also interested in *how discussions of homosexuals often focus almost exclusively on the sex lives* of gays and lesbians; homosexuals, especially men, may be assumed to be hypersexual and, in some cases, deviant. also *slurs against gays* [fag]

Gender socialization (four major agents)

The means to which boys and girls are socialized to behave according to gender (family, education, peer groups, and mass media)

doing gender (related to what other concept?)(when are we "doing gender?")

Whether we are expressing our masculinity or femininity, West and Zimmerman argue, we are always "doing gender." Thus, *gender is something we do or perform, not something we are*. (looking glass self) (all the time)

12. Compared to most Western societies, American sexual attitudes are considered _______. a. conservative b. liberal c. permissive d. free

a

Sexuality

a person's capacity for sexual feelings.

Sexual orientation

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

Sex

a term that denotes the presence of physical or physiological differences between males and females. Biologically determined and can never be changed

Transgender

a term that refers to individuals who identify with the behaviors and characteristics that are opposite of their biological sex

Gender

a term that refers to social or cultural distinctions of behaviors that are considered male or female (masculine vs feminine)

Symbolic interactionism on gender

aims to understand human behavior by analyzing the critical role of symbols in human interaction. With masculinity and femininity as "symbols", differing interactions are examined based on the symbols that are interacting.

Homophobia

an extreme or irrational aversion to homosexuals

14. According to national surveys, most American parents support which type of sex education program in school? a. Abstinence only b. Abstinence plus sexual safety c. Sexual safety without promoting abstinence d. No sex education

b

Research indicates that individuals are aware of their sexual orientation _______. a. at infancy b. in early adolescence c. in early adulthood d. in late adulthood

b

Structural Functionalism on sex and sexuality

functionalists stress the importance of *regulating sexual behavior to ensure marital cohesion and family stability*. Since functionalists identify the *family unit as the most integral component in society*, they maintain a strict focus on it at all times and argue in favor of social arrangements that promote and ensure family preservation.

Queer Theory (goal)

reject the reduction of sexuality to a single factor: one's desired partner. queer theory strives to question the ways society perceives and experiences sex, gender, and sexuality, opening the door to new scholarly understanding.

Sanday's study of the Indonesian Minangkabau

revealed that in societies that 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 American standards. The men, however, do not experience the sense of bifurcated consciousness under this social structure that modern U.S. females encounter (Sanday 2004).

Conflict Theory on sex and sexuality (2 key dimensions to same sex marriage?)

sexuality is another area in which power differentials are present and where dominant groups actively work to promote their worldview as well as their economic interests. [gay marriage] For conflict theorists, there are two key dimensions to the debate over same-sex marriage—one *ideological* (dominant groups want traditional marriage) and the other* economic* (legal marriage brings with it certain entitlements, many of which are financial in nature, like Social Security benefits and medical insurance. denial of these benefits to gay people is wrong)

Gender role (how do children learn them?)

society's concept of how men and women should behave. These roles are based on norms, or standards, created by society. (through play with gender specific toys and positive feedback from parents for playing with the correct toys)

What Western country is thought to be the most liberal in its attitudes toward sex?

sweden

Gender identity

the extent to which one identifies as being either masculine or feminine

Sexism

the prejudiced belief that one sex should be valued over another. Sexism varies in its level of severity.

Transsexuals

transgendered individuals who wish to alter their bodies through medical interventions such as surgery and hormone therapy.