Gender atch?v=fOGXvBAmTsY Do we live in a gender-blind society? What is gender and how does gender impact life chances? Does it? What is gender and how is it a social construction ? Are men from Mars and women from Venus?

Discussion Outline I. Gender Stratification – What is gender? – Does gender inequality still exist? II. Gender Differences – Why do men and women sometimes behave differently? Nature or nurture?

Feminism and Sociology A consciousness raising movement to get people to understand that gender is an important organizing principle of life – Underlying belief is that women and men should be accorded equal opportunities and respect

??? Is there any difference between sex and gender?

Introduction to Gender Stratification Sex refers to the biological differences between males and females. Gender refers to the social and cultural patterns attached to women and men, or the way a society treats those biological differences Gender roles- Cultural expectations for gender behavior-behavioral norms for males and females Gender identity –Conception of ourselves as male or female Gender dysphoria? “ The murder rate (and violence towards) of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected (LGBTQH) is at its highest, according to a recently released 2011 report from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP).National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) Who is Thomas Beatie?

Are there only two sexes?

Intersexual: Individuals born with ambiguous reproductive or sexual anatomy Should doctors and parents make a decision about the sex of intersexed babies? Why does the doctor say “I think the individual who is not operated on will have problems in society as we know it today?” – What does this say about the importance of gender in American society?

Gender Stratification Sexism -Cultural and Social processes that justify and promote disadvantages for women (and men?) ― Individual level: belief that one sex is superior to the other ― Institutional level: policies, procedures, and practices that produce unequal outcomes for men and women ― Patriarchy: system of social organization in which men have disproportionate share of power in institutions-subordination of femininity to masculinity ― Sexism supports patriarchy by claiming that men are “better” than women and therefore should dominate them. ― I.e.: How does the traditional family represent patriarchy?

Gender Inequality Around the World There is no nation where women and men are equals=Gender Stratification A History of global patriarchy Survival rates and gender Discrimination and persecution Violent and sexual victimization Honor Killings Sex trafficking Do American Women face Many of the same struggles?

Do we continue to see gender discrimination in the institutions of American society? Gender equality?

In what ways do we see gender inequality and/or equality in American politics?

American gender inequality Politics and Government – 1920-Right to vote – 1990’s big influx of women into politics – Currently congress is about 17% female 17 Senators/ Reps/435 7 Governors/50 – Equal representation? Why don’t more women go into politics? – Studies show that treatment of female politicians focuses on family traits and appearance rather than political platform Largely demeaning and sexist towards female politicians – I.e.: Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, Nancy Pelosi, etc. » “Who’s going to take care of your family?”

In what ways do we see gender inequality and/or equality in the institutions of religion and family?

Male Domination? Religion – The Stained glass ceiling- Women restricted to powerful religious positions What major world religions allow female leadership? How does this affect the way members of a religion view gender roles? Many religious texts place women in subordinate positions – Is a woman’s place to “submit graciously to her husband and serve him respectfully”? The Family – On average, women lack power, are more likely to be abused or killed by husbands, and perform more domestic work The “second shift” A leading cause of death for women between the ages of 18-44? » Reasons for optimism?== More egalitarian families

The Economy? The Workplace?

Male Domination The Economy-Women in the Workplace – The Gender wage gap- Women earn 81 cents on the dollar that men earn even with equal occupational experience and level of education Women often encounter the “glass ceiling” in business ventures and politics – An invisible barrier keeping women from entering most powerful positions » 15% of Board of Directors of fortune 500 companies made up of women Pink Collar jobs/The “Sticky Floor” – Many of the lowest wage jobs are disproportionately filled by women and have little room for advancement-Example? »

II. Are Gendered behaviors Biological or Social? 1. Biological Basis for Gender Roles: a. Males and females are different from the moment of conception. b. Chromosomal, hormonal, and reproductive differences may influence behaviors and abilities If gender is completely biological, the suggestion is that these biological differences explain the domination of women by men. – I.e.: Why has America never had a female president? Why do men make more $$$ than women? » A sexist notion-A belief in innate superiority/inferiority

Gender Differences – Sociologists contend that gender differences are rooted in how a society treats gender and how men and women are socialized differently  2. Social Bases for Gender Roles: Gender is socially constructed a. Cross-cultural evidence shows a wide variation of behaviors for the sexes. The work of Margaret Mead b. Society transforms females and males into socially interacting women and men.

The Social Construction of Gender Gender Role Socialization -The process by which… Femininity and masculinity is learned Through what agents do boys and girls/men and women learn proper gender behavior? Social Learning Theory Imitation/observational learning Rewards and Punishments I.e.: Do boys and girls learn to express emotion differently?

Media and Gender In what ways does modern media contribute to gender role socialization? – What do boys and girls/men and women learn about masculinity and femininity from media sources? – Is media really that powerful in shaping our views about what proper gender behavior is?

Gender Stereotypes are expectations about how people will look, act, think, and feel based on their sex. Such expectations can have negative physical and psychological consequences for males and females What consequences?

Does gender socialization create social problems or help society? Traditional masculinity-> “boy code/bro code” – Violence – Sexual assault – Domestic violence – Health issues Traditional Femininity – Devaluation of women’s characteristics – Objectification of women’s bodies – Eating disorders and body dysmorphia

Gender Roles in the United States Homophobia: fear of and prejudice against homosexuality – Important element in traditional views of masculine and feminine behavior Tied to social problem of bullying in schools as well as hate crimes towards the LGBT community and high rates of suicide amongst LGBT teens

Consequence of traditional gender role socialization Notion that modern American culture fosters what many activists and scholars now call “Rape Culture”. – Idea that men are socialized to denigrate women and feel a sense of entitlement towards them – American culture often “blames the victim” while absolving the perpetrator (s) of sexual assault crimes What was she wearing? Why was she in that situation? Why was she drinking? – culture/ culture/

Sociological Theory and Gender Parsons Conflict Microinteractionist Theories Black Feminism