Examining the Intersection of Gender and Work Powell ix-xx

In-class activity #3 Blue Collar vs. Pink Collar Jobs Three tasks: –Identify each occupation as a blue collar job (male job) or pink collar job (female job) –Include one aspect of that job that brought your group to this conclusion –Approximate the percentage of that occupation that is the majority gender Extra Credit Opportunity for Group –1 point for identifying blue or pink collar correctly –2 points for being within 4 percentage points of actual composition

Women may be in “male jobs” but their wages are less then a comparable male’s wage WHY???

Discrimination By employer By other employees By the customer

Or….not discrimination Less investment in human capital –Women are more likely to finish high school; men are more likely to get an advanced degree Enter lower paid occupations Hold lower level positions

Sex vs. Gender Sex = Biological property of individuals –Sexual characteristics Gender = psychological and social ramifications of being male or female –Girly, macho, emotional, dominate…

Sex and Gender is not the whole story Also must include –Race –Ethnicity –Culture Adds serious complications

Gender typecasts occupations Influences wage Influences opinion about that job and the person within the job

Quarter Overview on Gender Gender’s impact on interviews Gender’s impact on job evaluations and promotions Environmental changes due to changes in gender composition Sexuality in the workplace –Welcome, i.e. relationships –Unwelcome, i.e. sexual harassment –Same sex relationships Affirmative Action

Common Sense about the “Other” (Essed p. 6-13)

Common Sense about the “Other” (Essed p. 6-13) Who is the “other”? What is racism? –Thoughts of racial superiority –Founded in belief that race defines a person –Assumption that group differences are BIOLOGICALLY determined and unchangeable People are very sensitive to being called a racist Bugs Bunny examples…

What part did racism play in our society in the past? –Hierarchy –Appropriate What part does it play today? –No Hierarchy –Not appropriate

Old vs. New Ideology Old: Not like because –Dirty –Ugly –Not intelligent New: Not like because –On welfare –Don’t speak proper English –Live on the east side

How is racism transmitted? Politics Media Education Socialization

Forms of Racism Overt Racism –Direct behavioral or verbal racially discriminatory acts Covert Racism –More subtle –Thoughts or indirect actions of racially discriminatory acts Three ways to look at –Individual –Institutional –Cultural

Individual Racism Overt example: –An Arabic male student is brutally murdered out of hate Covert example: –An employer decides not to hire an Asian American employee because she believes that the employee might drive away business, but tells the person that there are no more openings available

Institutional Racism Overt Example: –A country club that has clearly written rules which precludes any non-White members Covert Example: –An academic curriculum that only emphasizes European American History and does not address the history of other ethnic/cultural groups

Cultural Racism Overt example: –The extermination of Jews in the Holocaust Covert example: –The unrealistic and stereotypical portrayal of ethnic minorities in the media

Consequences of Racism On the minority or target group –Low self-esteem, depression, anxiety –Limited access to necessary and desired resources –Limited freedom and/or death On the majority or dominate group –Continued ignorance –Pressure to maintain the status quo –Impairment of moral development

In-class exercise 4 COLOR BLIND In this provocative program, five students from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds speak with candor about racial harassment at their high school in an effort to encourage teenagers to examine their own attitudes and behaviors.