Objectives:  Define gender stratification and distinguish between sex and gender  Understand the controversy over what most accounts for gender differences in behavior, biology or culture, and explain the dominant sociological position in the debate  Describe the global nature of gender inequality and provide concrete examples of global gender discrimination

Gender Stratification: males’ and females’ unequal access to power, prestige and property on the basis of their sex Gender = Master Status  Labels of male/female carry images and expectations about how we should act  guides behavior  serves as basis of power and privilege

Sex: biological characteristics that distinguish females and males, consisting of primary and secondary sex characteristics  primary: reproductive organs  secondary: physical distinctions not associated with reproduction (voice tone, muscle tone, breasts, hair) Gender: behaviors and attitudes that society considers proper for males and females; masculinity or femininity  sociological significance of gender—it is a device by which society controls its members (through socialization) INHERIT your SEX, but you LEARN your GENDER

Biology or Culture? What is responsible for gender differences in men and women… Take a few minutes to read the Thinking Critically excerpts on pages 292 and 293 in your textbook… Jot down your thoughts/questions as you read along. Be prepared to express your opinion about the topic of biology or culture (read aloud “Medical Accident”/ “Vietnam Veterans”)

There is not a single example of a society where women (as a group) have decision making power over men (as a group) Sex Typing at Work  found in every society  associated activities with one sex or the other  things considered “female” in one society, can be considered “male” in another  metalworking is the exception (it is universally male)

 division of labor does not by itself equal social inequality  Inequality comes from the fact that the prestige that is given to male activities is greater, regardless of what those activities are  examples: delivering babies  it is not the work that provides the prestige, but the sex with which the work is associated

Education  of the 1 billion adults that cannot read, 2/3 are women (most in Africa) Politics  No national legislature has as many women as men (on average women hold about 11% of seats in governmental bodies) Pay Gap  In every nation, women average less pay than men  in US women are paid, on average, 65% of men’s wages Violence  Global human rights issue  ex: foot binding (China), suttee (India), rape, forced prostitution, female circumcision (excerpt pg, 300)