Ch. 8- Sex and Gender
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What is the difference?
Sex- biological, primary and secondary sex
characteristics
Gender- social characteristics, masculine vs.
feminine
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Gender differences in behavior
Biology vs. culture?
Standards of beauty defined by culture
2 view points- differences come from…
Culture- socialization, learned, gender
discrimination
Biology- socialization reflects inborn
tendencies, patriarchies vs. matriarchies
Sociological viewpoint- social factors cause
gender differences in behavior; physical
differences lead to separation of groups
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Biological viewpoint
A medical accident- 1963
Baby twin boys, circumcision gone bad
Social factors viewpoint
Vietnam veterans study
Men w/ higher levels of testosterone were
more aggressive
Social class differences
Gender stratification
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Different access to privileges
Unequal access to power/prestige
Society controls members
Gender inequality
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Men- active/strong; Women- passive/weak
Masculine stereotype- instrumental
Feminine stereotype- expressive
Study of married couples
Sexism
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Prejudice based on a person’s sexual category
Women as a minority group
Based on gender
Ascribed status
Socialization- dependence
Work roles/household roles
Non- Caucasian females
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Origin of women as a minority group
Patriarchy vs. matriarchy
Social consequences of biology
Hunting and gathering societies
Struggle for equal rights
Second class citizens
Husband and wife one person- him
Rise of feminism: belief that women should be
politically, economically, and socially equal to
men
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Suffrage movement
Right to vote, 19th amendment
WWII – shortage of workers
Women left the home
Continued gender inequality
Coronary bypass surgery- women vs. men
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Struggle for equality in recent decades
Affirmative action
Title IX of Educ. Amendments in 1972
Family and Medical Leave Act
Former Pres. Clinton
Sexual Harassment Legislation
Breast Cancer Research
Movies show women in non-stereotypical
roles
Church of England
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Sex typing- the assoc. of behaviors w/ one sex
or the other
Male vs. female activities
Varies by culture
Prestige given to male activities
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Education- 2/3 of illiterate adults are women
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Gap between men and women (closing)
Professional degrees
Gender tracking- male/female distinctions w/ in
degrees
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Politics- unequal access to national decision
making
Gender inequality in sports
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Title IX
WNBA, WPFL
Media coverage lacking
Gender inequality in everyday life
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General devaluation of femininity in U.S.
Femininity= lack of accomplishment
Inequality in conversation
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Gender inequality in the workplace
The Pay Gap- women average less than men in
every nation
U.S.- women earn about 65% of what men
earn (it’s actually gone down!)
All levels of education
Due to job choice and discrimination
Occupational segregation
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The Glass Ceiling- barrier that keeps people
from rising past a certain point
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Women in support positions
Crack glass ceiling
The Glass Escalator- men in traditionally
female occupations accelerated into higher
level positions, paid more
The Mommy Track
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Mommy track vs. fast track
Daddy track?
Violence against women
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China, Europe, India
Female infanticide
Female circumcision- Africa, Malaysia
Gender inequality of violence
Forcible rape vs. date rape
Murder
Violence in the home- spouse battering,
marital rape, incest
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Sexual harassment- abuse of one’s position of
authority to force unwanted sexual demands on
someone
Quid pro quo
Hostile environment
Blatant sex discrimination
Subtle sex discrimination
Covert sex discrimination
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Women in the criminal justice system
Judges more lenient w/ women killers
Minority women and traditional cultures
Dependence, poverty
Connection between violence and masculinity
must be broken