Inequalities in gender sociology

Goals distinguish concepts of sex, gender, and gender identity How is gender identity formed according to most sociologists? summarize the perspectives of gender taken by functionalists, conflict theorists, and symbolic interactionists describe the status of women in the U.S. and in other countries choose one country to explore the treatment and status of women Note: corresponding textbook reading: pp308-329

Men v women Men dominate social, political and economic spheres domestic: women devalued in industrial society because you don’t get paid to work on house chores or raising kids.

Sex v Gender identity Behavioral differences between men and women are culturally conditioned biological determinism: principle that behavioral differences are the result of inherited physical characteristics: lacks scientific evidence! Weak biological tendencies are easily overridden by cultural and social influences.

Gender identity gender identity: a sense of being male or female based on learning cultural values dif b/w sex and gender: sex=biology gender=socially learned behaviors and expectations associated with the 2 sexes Does biology or socialization play a greater role in gender dif? We don’t know for sure whether difs are based on bio or culture.

Differences between men and women in western society women-more emphasis on social class, income,  and like older men in relationships Men in relationships: prefer younger women, physical attractiveness more important men tend to be more aggressive in western society New Guinea: makes and females both conditioned to NOT be aggressive and cooperative and empathetic Mundugumor: men and women BOTH trained to be aggressive and ruthless Tchambuli: women dominant, impersonal, and aggressive.  men dependent and submissive based on this evidence, gender roles not formed at birth

Sociologists think that gender related behavior is related to culture because: New Guinea: makes and females both conditioned to NOT be aggressive and cooperative and empathetic Mundugumor: men and women BOTH trained to be aggressive and ruthless Tchambuli: women dominant, impersonal, and aggressive.  men dependent and submissive based on this evidence, gender roles not formed at birth

Theoretical perspectives on gender Functionalism: division of responsibility b/w males and females survived b/c it benefitted human living-men big and strong: hunt Recognize that division of labor created probs Inequality in occupational opportunities. We’ll discuss later. Gender based hierarchy: riddle about car accident

Being Raised as the opposite gender <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SxuMOVHxE3A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Conflict theory It’s men’s advantage to prevent women from gaining access to political, economic, and social resources Ex: maintain gender status quo: Afghanistan so school or working outside of the home (changing in Kabul)

Symbolic interactionism focus on how boys and girls learn to act the way they are supposed to act gender socialization: social process of learning how to act as a boy or girl

parents learning of gender well est by age 2 ½. pink v. blue dolls v. action fugures boys discouraged from cuddling dif fam chores

In Schools boys should be more aggressive and not punished as harshly for being so

Peer status feminine boys and masculine girls generally assigned low status changing?  depends on the society of the school

Gender inequality sexism: set of beliefs, attitudes, norms and values used to justify sexual inequality Sex discrimination is disappearing?  Dramatic inc in work force women BUT concentrated in low status occupations 12% engineers women 20% lawyers seldom in high level admin positions

More inequalities! Income inequality: 80 cents/$1 for same job!  Also varies based on race and ethnicity.  Minoroty women have it even worse. Legal and political inequality:  Biases of law: pregnancy costs not covered in all health insurance.  But prostate problems providesd for Limited in jobs allowed to apply for.  Front line battles, working with toxic materials (some of these jobs are high paying)

Politics inc participation but fewer women in gov’t than men.  Lowers # of women in gov’t compared to all other countries in the western world.

Readings Internet trend: helping inequalities?  P329 Baby X article (342)

homework How do your parents feel about gender equality?  Would your dad be upset if your mom made more money?

Review distinguish concepts of sex, gender, and gender identity How is gender identity formed according to most sociologists? summarize the perspectives of gender taken by functionalists, conflict theorists, and symbolic interactionists describe the status of women in the U.S. and in other countries choose one country to explore the treatment and status of women