Constructing Gender and Sexuality Chapter 10 Constructing Gender and Sexuality

Overview Defining Sex and Gender Gender Role Socialization In-Class Exercise Gender Role Socialization Video Presentation: “Killing Us Softly 4” Gender Inequality Theoretical Perspectives Life Chances The Women’s and Men’s Movements Sexual Orientation

Defining Sex and Gender Humans divided into two biologically distinct categories

Defining Sex and Gender An ascribed status One in 2,000 births is “intersexed” A person whose chromosomes or sex characteristics are neither exclusively male or female Human sexual dimorphism The extent to which physical differences define distinctions between sexes

Defining Sex and Gender An ascribed status One in 2,000 births is “intersexed” A person whose chromosomes or sex characteristics are neither exclusively male or female Human sexual dimorphism The extent to which physical differences define distinctions between sexes

In-Class Exercise Male Characteristics Female Characteristics

Nature and Nurture: Approaches to Gender Identity The roles and traits a social group assigns to a particular gender Essentialist Gender roles have a genetic or biological origin Therefore cannot be changed Constructionist Gender is socially determined Dichotomy is just one possibility among many

Defining Sex and Gender Traits that a group considers normal for males and females Concepts of masculinity and femininity Culturally learned characteristics Natural differences are slight Social differences are great Gender across cultures Berdache and Hijra “Two Spirit People”

Gender Role Socialization Lifelong process of learning to be masculine or feminine Primarily through agents of socialization Family Schools Peers The Media

Video Presentation:

“Killing Us Softly 4: Advertising’s Image of Women” What did you learn that you didn’t know or realize before? What shocked, surprised or upset you? What cheered you up or encouraged you?

Gender Inequality Stratification system dividing people worldwide A feature that societies use to control members Partiarchy—a male dominated society Females are a minority group Larger % of population Denied equal access to social rewards Sexism is widespread

Hourly Earnings for Men and Women by Education Level, 1973–2005 The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology, 2nd Edition Copyright © 2010 W.W. Norton & Company

Female-to-Male Earnings Ratio, 1960–2007 (Figure 10.2) The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology, 2nd Edition Copyright © 2010 W.W. Norton & Company

Gender Inequality: Theoretical Perspectives Functionalism Gender differences are functional for society “Biology is destiny” Instrumental and expressive roles Conflict Theory Inequality benefits dominant group Oppression and exploitation of minority group Symbolic Interactionism Gender role socialization Learned through interactions

Theory in Everyday Life

Sex, Gender and Life Chances Health Marriage and Divorce The Family Crime Education Work Income and Poverty The Military

The Women’s Movement Three “waves” of feminism “Biology IS NOT destiny” Has feminism become a “dirty word”?

Equal Rights for Women What do you believe? Do you condemn gender discrimination? Do you have any political or philosophical commitment to challenging sexism? Would you join others to promote social change? Do you agree with the following statement? “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”

The Men’s Movement Men’s Liberation Men’s Rights Million Man March Pro-Feminist Men’s Movement

Sexual Orientation A Sexual Continuum? The Kinsey Scale