1. Gender and Sexuality
Chapter 8

2. Traditional Sex Roles
Until fairly recently, the only socially desirable roles open to women in society were that of wife, mother and homemaker
Betty Freidan and the “feminine mystique”- the myth in society that a woman gains total fulfillment out of the role of wife and mother
There was a double standard in society in how men and women were viewed and treated
Outdated view of men and women today

3. Traditional Sex Roles
Hierarchy on how men and women have been viewed and treated has been resistant to change in society
Function of culture and socialization
Male and female differences are largely learned through socialization

4. Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation
Gender Versus Sexual Identity
Gender identity refers to one’s sense of maleness or femaleness in society
Formed by age three
Important aspect of one’s self-concept
Emerges as a significant aspect of identity during adolescence

5. Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation
Gender Versus Sexual Identity
Sexual identity refers to a sense of one’s attractiveness to others comfort with one’s body and sexual attitudes and feelings
Sexual orientation-level of attraction to the same, opposite, or both sexes
Homosexual orientation
Heterosexual orientation
Bisexual orientation

6. Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation
Gender Versus Sexual Identity
Human sexual development is ongoing
Birth to death
Influences on sexual development consist of
Biological maturation and aging
Stages of development from childhood through old age
Quality of social relationships through the stages of development
• Transgendered and intersexual individuals are a diverse group.

7. Homosexuality
Homosexuality refers to the sexual preference for members of one’s own sex
Female homosexuals are called lesbians
Alfred Kinsey and his pioneer research on human sexuality
Kinsey estimated the homosexual population at 10 percent of the population
Current studies indicate it is around 1 to 4 percent of the population

8. Homosexuality
In American society, homosexuality has often been regarded as:
a sin
a function of some form of physical and mental pathology

9. Homosexuality Social- Scientific Perspectives on Homosexuality
During the early part of the twentieth century, homosexuality was viewed as a form of social pathology brought on by the effects of urbanization and industrialization
Homosexuality was an individual response to the social disorganization of the family
Psychologists initially saw it as a illness

10. Homosexuality
Alfred Kinsey’ s research and the normalization of homosexual behavior
Sexual feelings and behaviors towards the same sex were not abnormal
Researchers concluded that homosexuals cannot be distinguished from non-homosexuals in psychological terms
Thomas Szasz – Psychiatrists replaced the church in labeling homosexuality an illness

11. Homosexuality Who Becomes a Gay or Lesbian?
No direct link between genetic traits and homosexuality
Large portion of homosexuals attribute their orientation to early childhood
Homosexuals tend to support the biological explanation

12. Homosexuality Who Becomes a Homosexual?
Social scientists largely attribute homosexuality to one’s social environment
Sexual behavior is learned
There are certain common situations in the histories of homosexuals
Dominant or seductive mother and weak and detached or overly critical father

13. Homosexuality Who Becomes a Homosexual?
Homosexuality as a process of labeling that involves four stages
1. Sensitization
2. Dissociation and significance
3. Coming out
4. Commitment

14. Homosexuality Lesbianism
Differences in the way male and female homosexuals manage homosexuality
Function of differences in gender socialization
First sexual experience is more likely to occur later and stem out of emotional involvement
Female homosexuals have a lower level of sexual activity
Female homosexuals are more likely to stay with their partners for a longer time

15. Homosexuality The Gay Subculture
The gay subculture consists of the institutions within the gay community
Gay magazines and periodicals
Bars
Parks
Movie theaters
Public bathhouses
Businesses
Social clubs and organizations

16. Homosexuality The Gay Subculture
A major function of the subculture is that it provides a way for its members to understand and accept their orientation
Homosexual organizations and the pursuit of political rights

17. Sexism and Gender Inequality
Sexism refers to the range of attitudes, beliefs, policies, laws and behaviors that discriminate on the basis of gender
Power and Male Hegemony
Male hegemony refers to the political and ideological domination of woman in society

18. Sexism and Gender Inequality
Power and Male Hegemony
Males have greater access to:
Cultural prestige
Political authority
Corporate power
Wealth
Material comforts
Ideology plays a role in legitimizing male hegemony

19. Sexism and Gender Inequality
Stereotyping
Stereotypes are a source of prejudice and discrimination
Feminine mystique
Masculine mystique
Stereotypes often place limits on us

20. Sexism and Gender Inequality
Sexism and Employment
Women are concentrated in lower status jobs with less pay – unequal pay for equal work
Difference in income is largely a function of
Women are concentrated in low paying occupations
Years of work experience – women are more likely to have interruption in their work histories
Hiring and promotion practices
For minority women, there is even a larger wage gap

21. Sexism and Gender Inequality
Sexual Harassment
There has been a lot of controversy on what is sexual harassment
From annoying behaviors to serious forms of sexual assault
Sexual harassment is any form of sexual innuendoes to behaviors that adversely affect one’s employment

22. Sexism and Gender Inequality
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is a growing problem in schools
The results of a recent survey found that 83 percent of girls and 79 percent of boys have been harassed

23. Sexism and Gender Inequality
Homemaking
Sex roles in homemaking have been changing
Women still continue to bear the primary responsibility for homemaking
Husbands and fathers with working wives that support non-traditional roles are taking on a larger share of homemaking responsibilities

24. Sources of Sexism
Socialization is the process by which we learn to act according to our culture and group norms in society
Sources of socialization are
Interaction with others
Schools
Work
Popular media

25. Sources of Sexism Education Sexism in schools focuses on
Female achievement
Girl’s sports
More involvement in school politics
Gender gap in higher education and in certain disciplines is narrowing but still persists today

26. Sources of Sexism Education Research results on sexism in school
Teachers pay less attention to girls than boys
Girls lag behind in math and science scores
Girls tend not to choose careers in math and science
Sexual harassment

27. Sources of Sexism Education Research results on sexism in school
Textbooks and gender stereotypes still persist
Biased tests
Ignoring other minority girls
School counselors channeling girls into sex typed occupations

28. Sources of Sexism The Family
The role of wife and mother has been a subordinate role in society
Increase in working wives and moms and the juggling of work and family

29. Sources of Sexism Language and the Media
Language often reinforces traditional sex role stereotypes
Media portrays men and women in traditional roles
Organized Religion
Religion has reinforced secular traditions and gender roles
Religion has been male dominated

30. Sources of Sexism Organized Religion
In the last few decades some religions have begun to ordain women as ministers
Episcopalians
Presbyterians
Reformed Jews

31. Sources of Sexism Government The 1964 Civil Rights Act
Government employment was excluded from the act
The Legal System
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and job discrimination
Legal protection against sexual harassment

32. Sources of Sexism
The Legal System
Legal access to loans and credit

33. Sources of Homophobia
Homophobia refers to fear and dislike of anything associated with homosexuality
Homophobia is associated with
Male gender identity
Distorted notions of masculinity
Recent research shows an increase in tolerance toward homosexuals
Tolerance has been in part a function of a political movement on behalf of gays

34. Social Policy The Women’s Movement
Women’s Movement was officially founded in the United States in 1848
Seneca convention and the women’s rights movement
Right to vote in the 1920s
Civil Rights act of 1964
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

35. Social Policy The Women’s Movement
National Women’s Political Caucus in 1971

36. Social Policy Changes in Child-Rearing Practices
Increase the role of fathers in child-rearing
Family and parental leave act
Affordable child care
Changes in the Educational System
Teacher training of gender issues in education
Greater access and equality for women in education

37. Social Policy Changes in the Legal System
More enforcement of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibits discrimination
Comparable worth - equal pay for comparable jobs
Reproductive Control
Abortion rights
Reproductive education and access to birth control
Changes in Men’s Roles

38. Social Policy Gay Rights Legislation protecting the rights of gays
Same-sex marriages
Gays in the military
Custody of children in same sex households
Right to privacy
AIDS research and treatment

39. Social Policy Future Prospects
• In coming years, the women’s movement is likely to focus on single-parent families and, within this group, the special needs of low-income, female-headed families.
• Another area in which policy changes are likely is same-sex marriage.