Gender and Socialization
Chapter 2
Links
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Intersex on 20/20: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv1yk2Va9qc
Pregnant man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNkZhcmorOw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jho1UCPDqXg&feature=related
David Reimer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GazeE8KHIfE
Killing us softly
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FpyGwP3yzE Youtube 6min
version
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTlmho_RovY&feature=relmfu 5
min version
– http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1993368502337678412#
full version
• Dreamworlds: http://www.documentarywire.com/dreamworlds-3desire-sex-power-in-music-video
Gender Myths
• We tend to associate stereotypically female
characteristics with weakness and typically male
characteristics with strength.
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He’s firm, but she’s stubborn.
He’s careful about details, but she’s picky.
He’s honest, but she’s opinionated.
He’s raising good points, but she’s “bitchy.”
We tend to see men as strong, not emotional and women as
emotional and not strong, although we have seen those
stereotypes change through the years and we are seeing them
change even more.
Sex and Gender
• What is the difference?
Sex
• Biological distinction between females and males.
• Factors used to determine biological sex:
– Chromosomes: XX for female; XY for male
– Gonads: Ovaries for female; testes for male
– Hormones
– Internal sex organs
– External genitals
• What does it mean if an individual is born intersexed?
Gender
• Gender is more fluid—refers to the social and
psychological characteristics associated with
being male or female
– it represents learned attitudes and behaviors that
characterize people as men or women.
– The nature-nurture debate?
• The story of David Reimer
Gender and Socialization
• Socialization
– The process through which we learn attitudes,
values, beliefs, and behaviors appropriate to the
social positions we occupy
• Gender roles: The social norms that dictate what is
socially regarded as appropriate female and male
behavior
• When does gender role socialization begin?
Gender Roles in the United States
• Gender-Role Socialization
– Boys must be masculine
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Active
Aggressive
Tough
Daring
Dominant
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Soft
Emotional
Sweet
Submissive
– Girls must be feminine
• What are sex roles?
Gender Identity
• Gender identity is the psychological state of
viewing oneself as a girl or boy, man or
woman.
– Gender dysphoria
• Transexuals
– The pregnant man?
Gender Role Ideology
• Refers to beliefs about the proper roel
relationships between women and men in a
given society
– What is traditional American gender role
ideology?
Theories of Gender Development
• Biosocial Theory (sociobiology)
– Parental investment
– controversial
• Social learning theory
– Reward and punishment
– modeling
Theories of Gender Development
• Identification theory Identification,
observation, and modeling
• Cognitive-development theory
– Blends biological and social learning views
• Biological readiness influences how the child interacts
with the environment
Gender and Socialization Agents
• If sociology takes the stance that gender roles
are learned through interaction with the
environment, what influences the individual
to behave as a man or woman?
Gender and Socialization Agents
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Family
Race/Ethnicity
Peers
Religion
Education
Economy
Mass media
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
• How do forms of media portray gender norms
and stereotypes?
– What forms of media?
• What are the primary cultural messages that
the media tells us about what it is to be male
or female?
– Video
• What are the advantages and disadvantages
of being male and female?
Traditional View and Gender Roles
• Instrumental roles tend to be occupied by
men in our society. They must be the provider
and protector of the family.
• Expressive roles in our society tend to be
played by women—they provide emotional
support to the family, nurturing, etc.
– Should the man be the boss of the family?
– Why do traditional roles continue?
Consequences of traditional female
gender roles
Positive
• Longer life
• Stronger relationships focus
• Keeps relationships on track
• Bonding with children
• Identity not tied to job
Negative
• Less education/income
• Feminization of poverty
• Higher STD infection risk
• Negative body image
• Less marital satisfaction
Consequences of traditional male role
socialization
Positive
• Higher income/occupational
status
• More positive self concept
• Less job discrimination
• Happier marriage
Negative
• Identity tied to work role
• Limited emotionality
• Fear of intimacy
• Shorter life
• Do you think that gender roles are changing?
– Are men becoming more feminine? Are women
becoming more masculine?
– What is Androgyny?
Sexism and Sex Discrimination
• Women suffer from sexism: attitude, action,
or institutional structure that subordinates or
discriminates against individuals or groups
because of their biological sex.
• U.S. society has traditionally been run by
male-dominated institutions:
– Which institutions are still dominated by
men?
Male Domination
• Does male domination exist in:
– Politics?
– Religion?
– Media?
– Family?
– Economy?
Emergence of a Collective
Consciousness
• Feminism: belief in social, economic, and
political equality for women
– Early 19th century feminists won many victories,
including 19th Amendment
– 2nd feminism wave emerged in U.S. in 1960s
– As women became aware of sexist
attitudes and practices, began to
challenge male dominance and continue to