Transcript Chapter 10, Gender

Chapter 10, Gender
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Distinguishing Sex and Gender
Mechanisms of Perpetuating gender Ideals
Gender, Ethnicity, Race and the State
Sex As a Biological Characteristic
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Sex is determined by anatomical traits
necessary for reproduction.
Biological sex is not a clear cut category, some
babies are born intersexed.
On the basis of variations in external genitalia,
there could be as many as 98 subcategories of
“true hermaphrodite”.
Gender As a Social Construct
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Gender is based on culturally conceived and
learned ideas about appropriate appearance,
behavior, and mental or emotional
characteristics for males and females.
Differences between males and females are
often socially created.
Penalties Associated With Being
Male: Student Voices
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Lower life expectancy.
Breadwinner responsibility.
Most dangerous occupations.
Higher insurance rates.
More likely to pay for dates.
Constraints on emotions.
Expected to be successful and athletic.
Penalties Associated With Being
Male: Student Voices
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Expected to have high tolerance for discomfort.
Less likely to get help when in trouble.
Pressured to ask women out and to ask for
their hand in marriage.
Expected and pressured to take on a role as
protector.
More difficult for men to get custody of
children.
Penalties Associated With Being
Female: Student Voices
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Childbearing experience (if unplanned and
unwanted).
Lower pay.
Fewer career choices.
Career choices likely to conflict with family
responsibilities.
More time and attention paid to physical
appearance.
Penalties Associated With Being
Female: Student Voices
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Strength and athletic ability less likely to be
developed to full potential.
Have to work harder to be taken seriously.
Child more likely to carry father's name.
More likely to be responsible for housework
and child care.
More likely to have to wait for men to ask them
out and ask them to marry.
Privileges Associated With Being
Male: Student Voices
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Better pay.
Career not as likely to interfere with family.
Greater career opportunities.
Greater opportunities and respect in world of
sports.
Fewer constraints on physical appearance.
Privileges Associated With Being
Male: Student Voices
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Less expensive to dress for success.
More likely to be taken seriously.
Less likely to have multiple sexual experiences
evaluated harshly.
More likely to be labeled as role models and
heroes.
More likely to experience independence at an
earlier age.
Privileges Associated With Being
Female: Student Voices
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Childbearing experience (when planned and
wanted).
Less likely to be considered a crime suspect.
Fewer social costs for choosing not to work
and being supported by husband.
Privileges Associated With Being
Female: Student Voices
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Can use physical appearance to “get results”
from a man.
More likely to receive help if in trouble.
Easier for women to behave and dress in ways
considered masculine.
Easier for women to freely express a wide
range of emotions.
Factors in Perpetuating Gender
Ideals
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Socialization - parents, schools, other kids
Situational constraints - occupations
segregated by sex, gender appropriate
assignments at work
Ideologies-ideas that support sexism, but are
not supported by scientific investigation
Labor Market Practices that
Disadvantage Women
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Positions that are considered sex-appropriate
(teacher, secretary).
Specializing in fields that require working with
children and young adults, supervising other
women.
Part-time jobs that offer flexible hours to meet
care-giving responsibilities.
Sexism: Three Notions
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People can be classified into two categories:
male and female.
Primary sex characteristics explain emotional
activity, body language, personality,
intelligence, sexual desire and athletic ability.
Primary sex characterizes explain social
economic and political inequalities between
the sexes.
Areas of Women’s Lives Over
Which the State May Exert Control
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Sociologists Anthias and Yuval-Davis argue
that women’s link to the state is complex
because of their role in human production.
Women as biological reproducers of babies of
a particular ethnicity or race.
Women as reproducer of the boundaries of
ethnic or national groups.
Areas of Women’s Lives Over
Which the State May Exert Control
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Women as transmitters of social value and
culture.
Women as symbols of urgent issues.
Women as participants in national, economic
and military struggles.