Chapter 10 Gender Inequality

Chapter Outline The Global Context: The Status Of Women And Men Sociological Theories Of Gender Inequality Gender Stratification: Structural Sexism The Social Construction Of Gender Roles: Cultural Sexism

Chapter Outline Social Problems And Traditional Gender Role Socialization Strategies For Action: Toward Gender Equality Understanding Gender Inequality

Sexism The belief that there are innate psychological, behavioral, and/or intellectual differences between women and men and that these differences connote the superiority of one group and the inferiority of the other. Double or triple jeopardy - When a person is a member of 2 or more minority groups.

Question How comfortable are you with the gender roles our society defines as appropriate for males and females? Very comfortable Somewhat comfortable Unsure Somewhat uncomfortable Very uncomfortable

Gender and Sex Gender is the social definitions and expectations associated with being female or male. Sex is one's biological identity.

Question If you could temporarily be the other gender, how long would you like to do so? One day One week I have no desire to be the other gender

Gender Gap Rankings: Top 10 Countries Country Rank Sweden 1 New Zealand 6 Norway 2 Canada 7 Iceland 3 United Kingdom 8 Denmark 4 Germany 9 Finland 5 United States 10

Gender Gap Rankings: Bottom 10 Countries Country Rank Venezuela 49 Korea 54 Greece 50 Jordan 55 Brazil 51 Pakistan 56 Mexico 52 Turkey 57 India 53 Egypt 58

Structural Functionalist Perspective Pre-industrial society required a division of labor based on gender. Women nursed and cared for children. Men were responsible for material needs. Industrialization made traditional division of labor less functional, belief system remains.

Conflict Perspective Continued domination by males requires a belief system that supports gender inequality. Two beliefs Women are inferior outside the home. Women are more valuable in the home. 

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective Gender and gender roles are learned through socialization process. Women are socialized into expressive roles; men are socialized into instrumental roles.

Question Symbolic interactionists emphasize that through the socialization process both females and males are taught the meanings associated with being feminine and masculine. True False

Answer: A. True Symbolic interactionists emphasize that through the socialization process both females and males are taught the meanings associated with being feminine and masculine.

Education and Structural Sexism Worldwide, women are less likely than men to be literate. In U.S. men are more likely to have doctorate degrees. Women are socialized to choose marriage and motherhood over career preparation.

Science and Engineering Doctorates Awarded to Women, 2003

Income and Structural Sexism Women with same level of education will earn, on average, 60% of what men earn. The higher the percentage of females in an occupation, the lower the pay. Employers channel women and men into different jobs that have different wages.

Work and Structural Sexism Women make up 1/3 of world’s labor force. Women tend to work in jobs with little prestige in roles where they are facilitators for others. Women are more likely to have little or no authority in workplace.

Occupational Sex Segregation: Reasons Through socialization, females and males learn different skills and acquire different aspirations. Women are given fewer opportunities in higher-paying male-dominated jobs. Women have primary responsibility for childcare and choose professions with flexible hours and career paths.

Sex Segregation Between 1983 and 2003: female physicians increased from 16% to 30% female dentists increased from 7% to 22% female clergy increased from 6% to 14% Public school teaching is even more dominated by women today than it was two decades ago. Women are still heavily represented in low-prestige, low-wage, pink-collar jobs that offer few benefits.

Highly Sex-Segregated Occupations 2003 Female Dominated Occupations % of Female Workers Child-care workers 95 Dental hygienists 99 Dieticians 91 Elementary and middle school teachers 82 Librarians 84 Paralegals

Highly Sex-Segregated Occupations 2003 Female Dominated Occupations % of Female Workers Prekindergarten and kindergarten teachers 98 Receptionists 93 Registered Nurses 92 Secretaries 97 Speech therapists 95 Teacher assistants Travel Agents 83

Highly Sex-Segregated Occupations 2003 Male Dominated Occupations % of Male Workers Pilots and Navigators 97 Architects 78 Auto mechanics 98 Civil engineers 91 Clergy 86 Construction Workers Dentists

Highly Sex-Segregated Occupations 2003 Male Dominated Occupations % of Male Workers Firefighters 96 Grounds Maintenance Workers 94 Lawyers 76 Mechanical Engineers Physicians 70 Police Officers 88

Question Do you approve or disapprove of a married woman earning money in business or industry if she has a husband capable of supporting her? Approve Disapprove No opinion

Gender Gap Hypotheses Devaluation hypothesis Argues women are paid less because the work they do is socially defined as less valuable than the work performed by men. Human capital hypothesis Argues that female-male pay differences result from differences in women's and men's education, skills, training, and work experience.

Comparable Worth The belief that individuals in occupations, even in different occupations, should be paid equally if the job requires “comparable” levels of education, training, and responsibility. In a comparable worth lawsuit, nurses successfully sued the City of Denver for paying them less than other employees (e.g., tree trimmers, sign painters) who had less education.

Ratio of Women’s to Men’s Earnings Across the U.S., 2002.

Effects of Education and Sex on Income of Full-Time Workers, 2004 Educational Attainment Men Women Total, 25 years old and over 39,624 31,148 Less than 9th grade 20,748 19,292 9th to 12th grade (no diploma) 26,000 23,712 High school graduate (includes equivalency) 33,540 29,848 Some college, no degree 38,948 33,384 Associate degree 40,976 36,088

Effects of Education and Sex on Income of Full-Time Workers, 2004 Educational Attainment Men Women Bachelor’s degree or more 59,436 51,272 Bachelor’s degree 54,288 47,632 Master’s degree 66,924 57,304 Professional degree 84,656 71.604 Doctorate degree 80,288 72.696

% of Women Elected by Level and Type of Government Position, 2005 Number of Seats Number of Women U.S. President 1 U.S. Vice President U. S. Congress 535 80 Governors 50 8 State Legislators 7,382 1,662

Question Do you agree or disagree with this statement: Most men are better suited emotionally for politics than are most women. Agree Disagree

GSS National Data Education No High School Degree High School Degree College Education Agree 37% 24.9% 18.8% Disagree 63 75.1 81.2

Cultural Sexism The ways in which the culture of society (norms, values, beliefs, symbols) perpetuates subordination based on sex classification.

Explanations for the Continued Traditional Division of Labor Time-availability approach Claims role performance is a function of who has the time to accomplish certain tasks. Relative resources approach The spouse with the least power is relegated the most unrewarding tasks.

Explanations for the Continued Traditional Division of Labor Gender role ideology The division of labor is a consequence of traditional socialization and accompanying attitudes and beliefs.

Question Steve and Linda are married and both work full time outside the home. Steve works as a lawyer and Linda works as an elementary school teacher. Linda finds that she performs the majority of household tasks. Using this example which of the following ideas explains the continued traditional division of labor? "relative resources approach" "time-availability approach" all of these choices "gender role ideology"

Answer: C Steve and Linda are married and both work full time outside the home. Steve works as a lawyer and Linda works as an elementary school teacher. Linda finds that she performs the majority of household tasks. Using this example all of the following ideas explains the continued traditional division of labor: "relative resources approach” "time-availability approach” “gender role ideology"

Question Which of the following two types of relationships would you prefer A relationship where the man has the main responsibility for providing the household income and the woman has the main responsibility for taking care of the home and family. A relationship where the man and woman equally share responsibility for providing the household income and taking care of the home and family?

GSS National Data Marital Status Married Widowed Div./Sep. Never Married Relationship A 36.3% 38.5% 25.8% 16.1% Relationship B 63.7 61.5 74.2 83.9

The School Experience and Cultural Sexism 1990 study of storybooks used in schools: Males were depicted as clever, brave, adventurous, and income-producing. Females were depicted as passive and as victims in need of rescue. Timed, multiple-choice tests favor males.

The Feminization of Poverty Many female households are young women with children and women who have outlived their spouses. “Report card” released by U.S. Women Connect gave U.S. an “F” for efforts to reduce female poverty.

International Women’s Bill of Rights Adopted by united nations in 1979. Establishes rights for women in education, politics, work, law, and family life. Has not been ratified by required 2/3 vote of the U.S. Senate. Every industrialized country except Switzerland and the U.S., has ratified the treaty.

Quick Quiz

1. George is a Hispanic and a known homosexual 1. George is a Hispanic and a known homosexual. On the job he encounters discrimination because of his membership in two minority groups. This is known as: intensive discrimination. polysemia. double jeopardy. dual prejudice.

Answer: C George is a Hispanic and a known homosexual. On the job he encounters discrimination because of his membership in two minority groups. This is known as double jeopardy.

2. Which is true about women regarding gender inequality in the U.S.? Women have lower incomes. Women earn fewer graduate degrees. Women hold fewer prestigious jobs. All of these choices.

Answer: D The following statements are true about women regarding gender inequality in the U.S.: Women have lower incomes. Women earn fewer graduate degrees. Women hold fewer prestigious jobs.

3. In hunting and gathering society, men hunted and women gathered 3. In hunting and gathering society, men hunted and women gathered. This division of labor based on gender became defined as normal and natural over time. Which sociological perspective views this division as purposeful for the time? conflict theory structural functionalism symbolic interactionism exchange theory

Answer: B In hunting and gathering society, men hunted and women gathered. This division of labor based on gender became defined as normal and natural over time. The structural functionalism sociological perspective views this division as purposeful for the time.