1. Gender
Chapter 2

2. Discussion Outline Terminology of Gender Studies
Theories of Gender Role development
Socialization Agents and Gender
Consequences of Traditional Socialization
Gender Inequality

3. Sex and Gender
What is the difference?

4. Sex Biological distinction between females and males.
Factors used to determine biological sex:
Chromosomes: XX for female; XY for male
Gonads: Ovaries for female; testes for male
Hormones
Internal sex organs
External genitals
What does it mean if an individual is born intersexed?

5. Gender
Gender is more fluid—refers to the social and psychological characteristics associated with being male or female
it represents learned attitudes and behaviors that characterize people as men or women.
The nature-nurture debate?
The story of David Reimer
The work of Margaret Mead

6. Gender and Socialization
The process through which we learn attitudes, values, beliefs, and behaviors appropriate to the social positions we occupy
Gender roles: The social norms that dictate what is socially regarded as appropriate female and male behavior
When does gender role socialization begin?

7. Gender Roles in the United States
Gender-Role Socialization
Boys must be masculine
Active
Aggressive
Tough
Daring
Dominant
Girls must be feminine
Soft
Emotional
Sweet
Submissive

8. Gender Myths
We tend to associate stereotypically female characteristics with weakness and typically male characteristics with strength.
He’s firm, but she’s stubborn.
He’s careful about details, but she’s picky.
He’s honest, but she’s opinionated.
He’s raising good points, but she’s “bitchy.”
We tend to see men as strong, not emotional and women as emotional and not strong.
Do these stereotypes continue to exist?

9. Gender Identity
Gender identity is the psychological state of viewing oneself as a girl or boy, man or woman.
Gender dysphoria
Transexuals
The pregnant man?

10. Gender Role Ideology
Refers to beliefs about the proper role relationships between women and men in a given society
What is traditional American gender role ideology?

11. Traditional View and Gender Roles
Instrumental roles tend to be occupied by men in our society. They must be the provider and protector of the family.
Expressive roles in our society tend to be played by women—they provide emotional support to the family, nurturing, etc.
Should the man be the boss of the family?

12. Theories of Gender Development
Biosocial Theory (sociobiology)
Parental investment
controversial
Social learning theory
Reward and punishment
modeling

13. Gender and Socialization Agents
If sociology takes the stance that gender roles are learned through interaction with the environment, what agents influence the individual to behave masculine or feminine?

14. Gender and Socialization Agents
Family
Race/Ethnicity
Peers
Religion
Education
Economy
Mass media

15. Gender Stereotypes are expectations about how people will look, act, think, and feel based on their sex.
Such expectations can have negative physical and psychological consequences for males and females

16. Consequences of Traditional Female Role Socialization
Negative
Positive
Less income
Higher Poverty rates
Negative Body Image
Less Marital Satisfaction
Longer life expectancy
Stronger relationship focus
Keeping relationships on track
Bonding with children

17. Consequences of Traditional Male Role Socialization
Negative
Positive
Identity based on work
Limited expression of emotions
Fear of intimacy
Custody disadvantages
Shorter lives
Freedom of movement
Greater pool of mates
Norm of initiating a relationship
Higher income

18. The Problem of Sexism
Sexism is the assertion that one sex is innately inferior to the other
Individual level: belief that one sex is superior to the other
Institutional level: policies, procedures, and practices that produce unequal outcomes for men and women
Patriarchy: system of social organization in which men have disproportionate share of power
Sexism supports patriarchy by claiming that men are “better” than women and therefore should dominate them.

19. Gender Inequality Around the World
“More girls have been killed in then last fifty years, precisely because they were girls, than men were killed in all the battles of the twentieth century” (p. 250)
There is no nation where women and men are equals.
A History of global patriarchy
Survival rates and gender
Discrimination and persecution
Sex trafficking
Violent and sexual victimization
Literacy rates

20. Male Domination The Economy-Women in the Workplace
The Gender wage gap- Women earn 81 cents on the dollar that men earn even with equal occupation and level of education
For women of color, earning discrimination is even greater
The Matrix of Domination- Social forces that contribute to the subordinate status of many women

21. What improvements have been made for the status of women in American society over the last half century?
Why?

22. Emergence of a Collective Consciousness
Feminism: belief in social, economic, and political equality for women
Early 19th century feminists won many victories, including 19th Amendment
2nd feminism wave emerged in U.S. in 1960s
As women became aware of sexist attitudes and practices, began to challenge male dominance