Transcript Inequality, Stratification and Gender

Inequality, Stratification and Gender
www.educationforum.co.uk
Gender and Stratification
• Traditionally gender and stratification was a
neglected area of sociology. Feminist
sociologists however have identified it as an
important area which should be studied in its
own right
Sociologists say that sex and gender are
different things
• Sex refers to the physical and biological
differences between men and women whereas
gender refers to the socially constructed roles of
what is considered ‘masculine’ and what is
considered ‘feminine’ in society.
• Gender roles are not seen as either fixed or
inevitable. Instead they are created by society
(socially constructed) and the reasons for their
construction can be understood. Gender roles
can therefore change through time and can be
very different in different cultures.
Evidence of Gender Inequality
• Women earn less and are less likely to be in top
jobs
• The ‘glass ceiling’
• The Job Market is ‘vertically’ segregated – men
at high level – women at low level e.g. NHS
• The Jobs market is ‘horizontally segregated’ –
some jobs seen as ‘female’ e.g. Nurse/primary
teacher, service sector clerical other male – some
male. ‘Female’ jobs relatively lower paid, worse
conditions, less unionised, less secure (part
time/temporary)
Feminists suggest that women as a group experience
inequality in the stratification system
• There are three ‘types’ or ‘schools’ or
feminism offering explanations for gender
stratification;
Liberal
Radical
Marxist
Liberal Feminism
The first liberal feminists e.g. JS Mill and Harriet Taylor were
heavily influenced by the ideas of political liberalism,
specifically equal rights, individualism and liberty. Liberal
feminists suggest that once genuine equal rights have been
established ‘accidents of birth’ like sex will become
irrelevant in society. Liberal feminism has therefore been
concerned with changing laws and reforms from votes for
women to the more modern anti discrimination legislation
such as the Sex Discrimination Act.
• Liberal Feminism has successfully resulted in measures
which have raised expectations, narrowed (but not closed)
the pay gap, and enshrined women’s rights in law
Radical Feminism
• Patriarchy Theory is favoured by radical feminists.
Radical feminists suggest that that power in every
society resides in men. Men are the Ruling Class
and women are oppressed.
• Sexual oppression is seen as the most
fundamental form of inequality with all others
such as class and ethnicity being seen as
secondary.
• Radical feminists call on women to unite globally
against male power.
Radical feminists say the cause of gender inequality can
be culture and/or biology
• Sherry B Ortner in ‘Is female to male as nature is to culture’ (1974) says
that because women give birth they are seen as closer to nature and
further from culture than men and are therefore seen as inferior and
treated thus in society.
• Shulamith Firestone in ‘The Dialectic of Sex’ (1970) asserts that gender
inequalities are the direct result of biology. A woman’s biology (pregnancy,
childbirth etc.) leads to physical, psychological and social disadvantages
and is the source of gender inequality. Firestone claims that gender
inequality can only be righted when women break free from the biology
which oppresses them by seizing control of the reproduction process. She
advocates therefore the extension of abortion and contraception and
ultimately calls for ‘engineered’ human reproduction in laboratories.
• Shulamith Firestone famously described pregnancy as ‘barbaric’ and
likened childbirth to ‘shitting a pumpkin’ – a lady not happy with her
biology!
Dual Systems theory favoured by Marxist
feminists says there are two sources of gender
inequality – capitalism and patriarchy
•
Marxist Feminism says that patriarchy and gender inequality can only be
understood in a social and economic context. It suits capitalism that women are
exploited by men on many levels. Engels even went as far to suggest that the
emergence of capitalism had resulted in ‘the world historical defeat of the female
sex’. (The Origins of the Family, private property and the State).
• The bourgeois family (the product of capitalism) is patriachical and unequal
because with the emergence of private property men wished to ensure that their
property was passed onto to their sons. Men therefore restricted women’s
sexuality in monogamous unequal marriages. The logic of this argument suggests
that without private property there would be no need to do this. Capitalism is
therefore seen as the main source of women’s oppression.
• Oppressed women also carry out a number of other important functions for
capitalism. They provide unpaid domestic labour, nurture and socialise future
generations of workers and provide a ‘reserve army’ of cheap labour should the
need arise.
• For Marxist feminists the solution to gender inequalities is therefore the ending of
capitalism through socialist revolution
Three systems theory (Black feminism) say ethnicity should be ended to dual systems
theory to recognize the inequality of black women in a racist society
Rally Coach
• 1.What is the difference between sex and
gender?
• 2.What evidence is there of gender inequality
in society today?
• 3.Outline the similarities and differences
between Liberal, Marxist and Radical feminism
• 4. Using page 452 of your textbook outline a
functionalist view of gender stratification