Chapter 3

 Sex refers to the physical and biological attributes of men and women  Sex includes the chromosomal, hormonal, and anatomical components of males and females.

 Gender refers to the social, psychological and cultural attributes of masculinity and femininity, many of which are based on biological distinctions  Gender describes societal attitudes and behaviors  Gender identity refers to the degree to which an individual sees herself or himself as feminine or masculine

 Generally, sex is considered to be an ascribed status  Gender is an achieved status  Examples of gender characteristics?  What physical, emotional, or other characteristics are considered “Masculine” or “Feminine”?

 Gender Roles –Expectations regarding proper: –Behavior –Attitudes –Activities of males and females –Gender roles evident in work –How we react to others yMe0

 Gender role socialization is “...a lifelong process whereby people learn:  Values  Attitudes  Motivations  Behavior  Considered appropriate to each sex by their culture”

 Children learn proper behavior for girls and boys through:  Parents/family  Media  Peer groups  School

1. No sissy-stuff – men distance themselves from anything feminine. 2. Big wheel - men should be occupationally or financially successful. 3. Sturdy oak - men should be confident and self-reliant. 4. Give ‘em hell -men should do what is necessary to “make it”

 Women should offer emotional support.  Ideal woman is:  Attractive  Not too competitive  Good listener  Adaptable  Good mothers  Put needs of others first  Superwoman - successful at a career and a good wife/mother.  elated elated

 Since women give birth and nurse a child, it is natural to provide care  Natural division of labor ◦ Women more involved in domestic activities ◦ Preparing meals ◦ Maintaining a home  Men  Breadwinning activities  Other economically dominant roles

 Parsons and Bales:  Women--Expressive roles  Men-- Instrumental roles  Pre-industrial society required 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

 Focus on gender inequality  Men dominate women because of greater control over:  Economic  Political  Social resources  No incentive for those in power to give it up  Continued domination by males requires a belief system that supports gender inequality.  Two beliefs 1.Women are inferior outside the home. 2.Women are more valuable in the home.

 Gender and gender roles learned through socialization process.  Women socialized into expressive roles  Men socialized into instrumental roles.  The Interactionist Approach ◦ Micro level of everyday behavior  Men more likely than women to:  Change topics of conversation  Ignore topics chosen by women  Minimize ideas of women  Interrupt women

 Rubin, Provenzano, and Luria, first 24 hours after birth, parents described girls & boys differently  No actual differences between them  Jacklin, parents give:  Sons toys that encourage invention and manipulation  Girls receive toys that emphasize caring and imitation  McHale et al., Parents assign boys maintenance chores, and give girls domestic tasks

 Peers  School  Media Influences  On average, each day a 4-year-old watches 2 hours of television and a 12-year-old watches 4 hours (Comstock and Scharrer, 2001)