Transcript Chapter 11
Chapter 11 Sex and Gender Sex: The Biological Dimension Gender: The Cultural Dimension Gender Stratification in Historical and Contemporary Perspective Gender and Socialization Contemporary Gender Inequality Perspectives on Gender Stratification Gender Issues in the Future Sex Sex refers to the biological and anatomical differences between females and males At birth, infants are distinguished by Primary Sex Characteristics: _______________________ Secondary Sex Characteristics: At puberty, hormones result in development of secondary sex characteristics: Women: larger breasts, wider hips, and narrower shoulders; a layer of fatty tissue throughout the body; menstruation Men: enlarged genitals; a deeper voice; greater height; a more muscular build; more body and facial hair Hermaphrodites/Intersexed Person Persons in whom sexual differentiation (physical characteristics) is ambiguous or incomplete Transsexual: A person in whom the sex-related structures of the brain that define gender identity are opposite from the physical sex organs of the person’s body Transsexuals often feel that they are the opposite sex from that of their sex organs Transvestite : A male who lives as a woman or a female who lives as a man but does not alter the genitalia Sexual Orientation Refers to preference for emotional–sexual relationships with: The opposite sex: ___________ The same sex: _____________ Both sexes: _______________ Homosexual and gay are most often used with males who prefer samesex relationships Lesbian is used in association with females who prefer same-sex relationships Homophobia Defined as:_____________________________________________ Gender The culturally and socially constructed differences between females and males found in the__________________________________________.” Embedded in the images, ideas, and language of a society Used as a means to divide up work, allocate resources, and distribute power ____________refers to attitudes, behavior, and activities that are defined as appropriate for each sex and learned through the socialization process In U.S. society, males are expected to demonstrate aggressiveness, whereas females are expected to be passive and nurturing _____________is a person’s perception of the self as female or male _________________________describes how a person perceives and feels about his or her body Sexism Sexism is the subordination of one sex based on the assumed superiority of the other sex Sexism toward Women Three components: Negative attitudes toward women Stereotypical beliefs that reinforce, complement, or justify the prejudice Discrimination: acts that exclude, distance, or keep women separate Sexism is interwoven with _____________: Hierarchical system of social organization in which cultural, political, and economic structures are controlled by men _________: Hierarchical system of social organization in which cultural, political, and economic structures are controlled by women Gender Stereotypes Men: Strong, rational, dominant, independent, and less concerned with appearance Women: Weak, emotional, nurturing, dependent, and anxious about appearance Gender Socialization We learn gender-appropriate behavior through the socialization process Parents and Gender Socialization Children's clothing and toys reflect their parents' gender expectations Children are often assigned household tasks according to gender Peers and Gender Socialization _________help children learn gender-appropriate and inappropriate behavior During adolescence, peers often are more effective at gender socialization than adults College student peers play an important role in career choices and the establishment of long term, intimate relationships Teachers provide messages about gender through classroom assignments and informal interactions with students ________consists of showing favoritism toward one gender over the other Mass Media and Gender Socialization On television: Male characters typically are more aggressive, constructive, and direct Females are deferential toward others or use manipulation to get their way Men still outnumber women as leading characters Men are still usually portrayed in the dominant roles Changes are beginning to emerge Advertising tends to reinforce traditional gender ideas Adult Gender Socialization Gender socialization continues through education, training, and entrance into the work world A double standard of aging puts more pressure on women to remain young-looking Gendered Division of Paid Work ________________________refers to the concentrations of men and women in different occupations, jobs, and places of work • Most women work in lower-paying less prestigious jobs • Men who enter traditionally female occupations must fight gender stereotypes The __________is the disparity between women’s and men’s earnings Also called the earnings ratio Women make 79 cents for every $1 earned by men Women receive less pay than men with the same education Pay equity or comparable worth is the belief that wages should reflect the worth of a job, not the gender or race of the worker Most married women share the breadwinner role The sexual division of labor in the family remains essentially unchanged Women perform "double duty" or the "second shift" Functionalist and Neoclassical Economic Perspectives According to Talcott Parsons, women’s roles as caregivers are more pronounced in contemporary industrialized societies The husband provides economic support and makes decisions The wife provides affection and emotional support for the family This division of family labor provides stability for family members The human capital model suggests that individuals vary widely in the amount of human capital they bring to the labor market. • Human capital is acquired by education and job training; it is the source of a person’s productivity and can be measured in terms of the return on the investment (wages) and the cost (schooling or training). Conflict Perspectives The gendered division of labor in families and the workplace results from male control of and dominance over women Marxist conflict theorists argue that gender stratification results from the private ownership of the means of production Feminist Perspectives Feminism is the belief that women and men are equal and should be valued equally and have equal rights In liberal feminism, gender equality is equated with equality of opportunity According to radical feminists, male domination causes all forms of human oppression, including racism and classism Socialist feminists Believe that women’s oppression results from their dual roles as paid and unpaid workers in a capitalist economy Multicultural feminists analyze race, class, and gender Believe that equality will occur only when all women, regardless of race/ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, or ability (or disability), are treated more equitably