Chapter 11
Gender Stratification
Chapter Outline




Are the Sexes Separate and Unequal?
What Produces Gender Inequality?
Gender-Role Socialization
Gender Inequality and Work
Sex and Gender


Sex
The physical and biological differences
between men and women.
Gender
The social, psychological, and cultural
attributes of masculinity and femininity
that are based on the previous biological
distinctions.
Question

The physical and biological differences
between men and women is referred to
as:
A. gender.
B. sex.
C. sex role.
D. gender role.
Answer: B

The physical and biological differences
between men and women is referred to as
sex.
Question

If you could temporarily be the other
gender, how long would you like to do
so?
A. One day
B. One week
C. I have no desire to be the other
gender
Gender and Disease
Men are more likely to suffer heart attacks.
Heart Attack More women than men die each year from
heart disease.
Cancer
HIV/AIDS
Cancers are the 2nd leading cause of death
for women. Women smokers are 20% to
70% more likely than men to develop lung
cancer.
Women are ten times more likely then men
to contract HIV during unprotected sex with
an infected partner.
Gender and Disease
Cardiovascular
Disease
Diabetes and
Other Chronic
Illnesses
Osteoporosis
1 in 9 women ages 45–64 has some
cardiovascular disease, rising to 1 in 3 at
age 65 and older.
Diabetes is a cause of increased
mortality among minority women,
especially among middle-aged and older
American Indian/Alaska Native,
Hispanic, and African-American women.
80% of people with osteoporosis are
women; more than half of women over
65 are afflicted with it.
Gender and Disease
Immunologic
Diseases
Autoimmune thyroid diseases have a 15:1
ratio of women to men. Rheumatoid
arthritis has a 3:1 ratio of women to men.
Mental
Disorders
Women are twice as likely as men to be
depressed and 2 to 3 times more prone to
anxiety disorders.
Gender and Disease
Alzheimer’s
Disease
Visual and
Hearing
Impairments
The incidence is higher among women,
and it increases dramatically after age 85.
Men have nearly a 50% greater likelihood
of experiencing these problems.
Responses to Stress



Gender differences influence the way men and
women react to stress.
When primitive man was threatened by wild
animals while hunting, testosterone combined
with adrenaline enabled him to react quickly to
danger.
When women are confronted by stress, they
tend to respond by seeking out contact and
support from others.
The Functionalist Viewpoint



Functionalists argue that it was useful to
have men and women fulfill different roles
in Preindustrial societies.
Because women spent their time near the
home, they prepared food, cleaned, etc.
To the male fell the duties of hunting,
defending the family, and herding.
The Conflict Theory
Viewpoint



According to conflict theory, males dominate
females because of their power and control
over key resources.
By subordinating women, men gain greater
economic, political, and social power.
Conflict theorists believe the main source of
gender inequality is the economic inequality
between men and women.
Gender-role Socialization


A lifelong process whereby people learn
the values, attitudes, motivations, and
behavior considered appropriate to each
sex according to their culture.
In any society males and females are
socialized differently.
Question

How comfortable are you with the
gender roles our society defines as
appropriate for males and females?
A. Very comfortable
B. Somewhat comfortable
C. Unsure
D. Somewhat uncomfortable
E. Very uncomfortable
Maines and Hardesty: Men’s
Linear, Temporal World




When men project what the future might hold
for them, they define it in terms of career
accomplishments.
Men don’t view a family as much of an issue in
terms of pursuing career goals.
Men see little problem in coordinating career
and family demands.
Many expect to have a traditional division of
labor in their families, which will support their
career pursuit.
Maines and Hardesty: Women’s
Contingent, Temporal World




Work, education, and family all are seen as
having to be balanced against one another.
Careers are seen as pursuits that may have to
be suspended or halted at certain points.
The vast majority of women envision problems
in their careers and see family responsibilities
as a major issue.
Instead of having a clear vision of the steps to
accomplish career goals, women are more
tentative about their future.
Question

In comparison to working men, working
women:
A. consistently earn less.
B. are less likely to be in unions.
C. are more likely to occupy lowpaying jobs.
D. all of these choices are correct.
Answer: D

In comparison to working men, working
women consistently earn less, are less
likely to be in unions, and are more
likely to occupy low-paying jobs.
Job Discrimination




In 2004, more than 59% of all American women
were part of the paid labor force.
The median income for men in 2004 was
$60,093, and for women it was, $42,307.
Male managers and professionals earned
$53,976 in 2001, compared with $38,064 for
females.
Male technical sales workers earned $34,684,
while females earned $24,596.
Professions That Are
Disproportionately Male and Female
Disproportionately
Male
Automobile
Mechanics
Carpenters
Airplane Pilots
% Male
Disproportionately
%
Female
Female
98.9
Secretaries
98.9
98.3
96.3
Dental Hygienists
Receptionists
Speech
Therapists
98.5
96.7
Bank Tellers
90.0
Truck Drivers
95.3
Firefighters
96.2
93.5
Professions That Are
Disproportionately Male and Female
Disproportionately
%
Disproportionately
%
Male
Male
Female
Female
Mechanical
93.7
Dietitians
89.9
Engineers
Forestry and
91.6
Librarians
85.2
Logging
Police Detectives 87.9 Elementary Teachers
83.3
Architects
76.5
Health Aides
82.6
Special Education
Programmers
73.5
82.6
Teachers
Question

If you were taking a new job and had
your choice of a boss, would you prefer
to work for a man or a woman?
A. Man
B. Woman
C. No preference
Advanced Degrees Awarded to
Women, 1970 and 2002
Three Ways Women Experience
Discrimination in the Business World
1.
2.
3.
The hiring process, when women are given
jobs with lower prestige than men with
equivalent qualifications.
Through unequal wage policies, by which
women receive less pay than men for
equivalent work.
In awarding promotions, as women find it more
difficult than men to advance up the career
ladder.
Recent Improvements in
Women's Earnings


In 2001, women held nearly 49.5% of all executive,
administrative, and managerial jobs, up from 34.2% in
1983.
In 1998, women were:





56.1% of people awarded bachelor’s degrees
57.1% of those awarded master’s degrees
42% of the doctorate recipients
41% of the of those receiving M.D.s
43.9% of those receiving law degrees
Quick Quiz
1. Gender is defined as:
A. the physical differences between
men and women.
B. the social, psychological, and
cultural attributes of masculinity
and femininity.
C. the ascribed status that
accompanies gender roles.
D. the differences that are biological in
nature.
Answer: B

Gender is defined as the social,
psychological, and cultural attributes
of masculinity and femininity.
2. The process of learning the values,
attitudes and behavior appropriate to
each sex in one's own culture is known
as:
A. gender-role socialization.
B. childhood socialization.
C. adolescent socialization.
D. resocialization.
Answer: A
2. The process of learning the values,
attitudes and behavior appropriate to
each sex in one's own culture is known
as gender-role socialization.
3. The process of learning the values,
attitudes and behavior appropriate to
each sex in one's own culture is known
as:
A. gender-role socialization.
B. childhood socialization.
C. adolescent socialization.
D. resocialization.
Answer: A

The process of learning the values,
attitudes and behavior appropriate to
each sex in one's own culture is known
as gender-role socialization.