Gender Roles and Family Unit Five – Family Issues Teacher's Edition
Today’s Main Idea: Gender differences are learned from a very young age. The family has a profound impact on how society views gender.
Functionalism and Gender: A division of labor based on gender allowed early societies to survive Men were given more dangerous jobs because they were more expendable – A village only needed one man to reproduce
Functionalist theorist acknowledge that this view creates issues in today’s society.
Conflict Theory and Gender: According to this theory it is to a woman’s advantage to marry a man in a higher status.
If men keep women from advancing then males are able to maintain their status quo.
Gender apartheid is when women are excluded as full members of society.
Traditional gender roles are outdated Physical strength is no longer the only way to advance In a post industrial society intelligence is valued over brute strength.
Gender Socialization: The process of learning how to act as a boy or girl
Let’s break for some cute gender socialization!
Symbolic Interactionism: Parents model and teach gender behavior for children Begins at birth and is well established by 2 ½ years old Examples: – Action figures vs. dolls – Girls vs. boy chores