Transcript a-sociological-understanding-of-gender

Understanding Sex,
Gender & Sexuality
Condensed from Chapter 5, “Socialisation”
Fulcher & Scott, 2007
sex
determining sex
basic biological difference is: XY and XX
this chromosomal difference results in:
internal sexual organs - i.e.. ovaries/testes
external sexual organs - i.e.. penis/vagina
“intersex” refers to people who cannot be
clearly classified biologically at birth.
“transsexuals” refers to others feel they are
trapped in the wrong biological bodies.
sexes
two-sex model
traditionally, men & women are thought of as one sex with the
women being the more under-developed of the two.
“Men are from Mars, women are from Venus” emphasising distinct
differences ...
helps give rise to feminism that tried free women from thinking
they are inferior versions of men.
however, sociologists believe that sex is not just due to
biological but social differences that are culturally
programmed.
perfomativity refers the formation of men & women
through the repeated “performance” of what’s cultural
expected of them as men and women.
gender
gender socialisation
gender-roles are learnt through the process of
socialisation.
these are reinforced through education and
other agencies of socialisation like media etc.
Brewer (2001) conducted an experiment
where one baby is first dressed in pink, then
blue:
in pink, the baby is described as “beautiful”
in blue, the baby is described as “strong”
Treated differently, grow up in separate world.
media guide to...
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
gender socialisation
behaviourists believe that genderisation
occurs through a process of rewards and
punishments.
psychoanalysts focus on the relation between
the child and its mother.
boys are encouraged to break their close attachment to their
mother.
acquisition of values of independence and achievement.
girls encouraged to copy their mothers
grow up with a more emotional and sensitive outlook.
gender socialisation
•
Problems with socialisation theories:
Social change: doesn’t take into the account
of how the social realities in our lives
changes.
Individual choice: doesn’t take into account
people’s activity and creativity in shaping
their own lives.
patriarchy
Patriarchy originally meant domination by the father.
Feminism refines this to mean male domination.
Marxist feminists argued that the subordination of
the women in household = free domestic labour.
Note: free/ = unimportant
Radical feminists sees patriarchy as men the
dominant class oppressing women and exploiting
them economically, politically, and sexually.
the family is seen as the main institution helping to exploit
women
patriarchy
Walby (1990) identifies 6 patriarchal structures that
cumulatively produce male domination:
household production
employment relations
the state
male violence
sexual relations
cultural institutions
separating
identities
separating spheres
The separating of male and female spheres are central
to separation of identities.
PUBLIC
Identities
active
rational
independent
Work/Po
litics
Identities
passive
emotional
dependent
Home
PRIVAT
E
media guide to...
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
separating sexes
Patriarchal exclusion
historical development: factories were built far away from
residential areas facilitating a spatial separation
reinforced by ideology: religion in the 19th century
portrayed working women as “undesirable”
In England, the Anglican church started a “religion of the
household”
Women of the working class (lower class) were
employed along with children at cheaper rates (since
they’re not “gifted” for work).
Created backlash by male workers who further excluded
them through unions.
separating sexes
Challenging patriarchy: the feminists
The first feminists in 19th century were middle-class
women who were confined to home and can afford to
hire domestic helpers.
in their free time, they met and form organisations such as
Society for Promoting the Employment of Women (1859)
As a result, a separatist policy to participate in the
public sphere was pursued resulting in:
girl’s schools for education
charities, care of the sick (later becoming nurses) and the
poor becoming areas that women monopolised.
separating sexes
•
revisiting the two sex model & female
superiority
the belief that females are fundamentally different to
males allowed feminist to:
argue they are more virtuous than men
morally superior
fight for the right to vote because of their moral authority!
captured employment in the public sphere in jobs that
required the females’ “maternal instincts” such as nursing
etc.
separating sexualities
•
The two sex model emphasised male-female
differences. This leads to changes in male and
female sexuality.
The “Active” male & “Passive” female
men should now take the lead while the women awaits.
the active penetration of the passive female vagina is now
seen the only acceptable and natural practice.
male-on-top “missionary position” (domination) became
the norm
men being sexually active reinforced the idea that men
should be active in the world (male dominance).
women being sexually passive reinforced the idea that
they should wait patiently for their men at home (female
exclusion).
separating
sexualities
Heterosexuality vs homosexuality
•
Prior to the 19th century, there is no notion of a two
sex model.
Homosexuality during this time were considered no
worse than non-reproductive sex acts between men
and women.
With the advent of the two sex model, homosexuals
began to be stigmatised.
Homosexuality refers not just to the act of engaging
in the sexual activity but to groups of men who were
considered homosexuals in nature.
Homosexuals are then started to be seen as
“deviant” who has something wrong with them.
Homosexuals are seen as “ill” individuals who must
be cured.
blurring identities
women in
employment
Before the second half of the last
century, women hardly participated
in the workforce.
Now, women are represented in all
work strata and has feminised
previously patrichal institutions.
But there’s still inequalities as seen
from western figures.
women in
employment
Women in
constructions called
dykes.
In Britain - 10 lowest
paying jobs are in
catering, caring, and
cleaning.
80% are
women
Men in
caring jobs
are called
sissy...
90 % of
part-time
work
done by
women
because
they have
domestic
responsibilit
ies
Income gap
increases between
couples with
children
women in
employment
While women have gained access
to the public sphere, men have not
gone into the private sphere.