Gender and Society Midterm Reviewer [Flashcards]

Gender Orientation

Refers to an individual's pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to individuals of the same or different gender, encompassing a spectrum beyond just male and female.

Sexual Orientation

Describes a person's enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction to another person, which can include heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, and more, reflecting a diverse range of experiences.

Gender Fluidity

Describes a gender identity that may change or shift over time, allowing individuals to express themselves along a spectrum of gender rather than adhering to fixed definitions of male or female.

Gender Expression

Refers to the external display of one's gender identity, through behavior, clothing, hairstyle, voice, and other forms of presentation. Gender expression can be masculine, feminine, or a combination of both, and it may or may not align with an individual's assigned gender at birth.

Gender Roles

Refers to the societal expectations and norms associated with being male or female, influencing behaviors, activities, and attributes considered appropriate for each gender. These roles can vary significantly across cultures and can be both restrictive and prescriptive, impacting individual choices and opportunities.

Sex Roles

Refer to the societal norms and expectations regarding the behaviors and activities deemed appropriate for individuals based on their biological sex, often reinforcing traditional views of masculinity and femininity.

Social Construct

Refers to ideas and perceptions that are created and maintained by society, influencing the understanding of concepts like gender, race, and class. Social constructs vary across different cultures and historical periods, shaping the norms and values that govern interpersonal relationships and societal structures.

Norms

Refers to the unwritten rules and expectations that govern behavior within a society, including the behaviors deemed acceptable or unacceptable for different genders. These norms play a critical role in reinforcing gender roles and can shift over time as societal values evolve.

Values

Reflect the core beliefs and principles held by a society, influencing how individuals perceive gender roles and their corresponding behaviors. These values can promote equality or perpetuate stereotypes, thereby impacting the dynamics of gender interaction and identity.

Birth Control Pills

taken daily to prevent ovulation

Implants

a small rod inserted under the skin that releases hormones for several years

Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)

a T-shaped device placed in he uterus, often releasing copper or hormones

Patches

a patch worn on the skin that releases hormones weekly

Vaginal Rings

a flexible ring inserted into the vagina that releases hormones

Injections

hormonal injections administered every few months.

Condoms

used by males and females, these are the only methods that also protect against STIs, including HIV.

Diaphragms and Cervical Caps

devices placed in the cervix to block sperm.

Vasectomy

blocks the vas deferens to prevent sperm release

Tubal Ligation

a procedure to block or tie the fallopian tubes in females

Fertility Awareness

includes the calendar method (tracking menstrual cycles), basal body temperature (tracking temperature changes) and cervical mucus method (observing cervical fluid) to identify fertile times

Lactational Amenorrhea (LAM)

a natural form of contraception that relies on the hormonal effects of breastfeeding to suppress ovulation during the postpartum period, typically effective for up to six months if certain breastfeeding criteria are met.

Withdrawal

the male partner withdraws the penis before ejaculation

Abstinence

refraining from sexual intercourse completely, offering 100% protection against pregnancy and STIs.

Responsible Parenthood

a notion emphasizing the importance of educating parents about family planning and fostering healthy relationships to support the emotional and physical well-being of children.

Penis

male organ for sexual intercourse

Root

base of the penis

Body (shaft)

the elongated structure that extends from the root to the tip, providing both support and sensation.

Glans (head)

cone-shaped tip of the penis.

Foreskin

covers the glans and is sometimes surgically removed through circumcision.

Scrotum

a loose, pouch-like sac of skin that hangs behind the penis. It holds the testicles (testes)

Testicles

oval-shaped organs that lie in the scrotum. About the size of two olives.

Epididymis

a long, coiled tube that rests on the back of each testicle. It carries and stores the sperm cells that your testicles create.

Vas deferens

transports mature sperm to theurethra in preparation for ejaculation

Ejaculatory ducts

collects fluid to add to semen

Urethra

tube that carries pee from the bladder. It also ejeculates

Seminal Vesicles

makes up to 80% of the ejaculatory fluid, including fructose. Fructose is an energy source for sperm and helps them move (motility)

Prostate Gland

walnut-sized gland that rests below the bladder, in front of the rectum. The prostate adds additional fluid to ejaculate, which helps nourish sperm.

Bulbourethral (Cow’s) Glands

They create a clear, slippery fluid that empties directly into your urethra. This fluid lubricates your urethra and neutralizes any acids that may remain from your pee

Labia Majora

“large lips; encloses and protects the other external reproductive organs. This is where hair growth occurs during puberty.

Labia Minora

“small lips”; lies just inside the labia majora and surrounds the opening to the vagina and urethra.

Clitoris

a small sensitive protrusion that’s comparable to a penis. It is covered by a fold of skin called “prepuce” and is very sensitive to simulation.

Vaginal Opening

allows mentrual blood and babies to exit the body.

Hymen

a piece of tissue covering or surrounding part of the vaginal opening. It’s formed during development and present during birth.

Opening to the urethra

hole pee exits outof the body, located between the clitoris and the vaginal opening in females.

Vagina

muscular canal that joins the cervix to the outside of the bod. It can widen to accommodate a baby and then shrink back.

Cervix

lowest part of the uterus. A hole in the middle allows sperm to enter and menstrual blood to exit. Your cervix is what prevents things like tampons from getting lost inside your body.

Uterus

hollow, pear-shaped organ that holds a fetus during pregnancy. It is divided into two parts: the cervix and corpus. The corpus is the larger part of the uterus that expands during pregnancy.

Ovaries

small, oval-shaped glands that are located on either side of the uterus. Produces eggs and hormones.

Fallopian Tubes

narrow tubes attached to the upper part of the uterus and serve as pathways for eggs to travel from ovaries to uterus.

Gender-based Violence

violence directed at an individual based on their gender, encompassing physical, sexual, and psychological harm.

Sexual Violence

any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, or acts against a person's sexuality, perpetrated against their will, often involving coercion or manipulation.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

a harmful practice involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons, often carried out in cultural or religious contexts, which poses significant health risks and has no recognized health benefits.

Child Marriage

refers to any formal marriage or informal union between a child under the age of 18 and an adult or another child.

Femicide

the intentional killing of women or girls because of their gender, often rooted in systemic inequality, patriarchal norms, and cultural attitudes that devalue women.

Trafficking

human trafficking is a global crime that trades people and exploits them to profit.

Gender Theories

encompass a range of perspectives and frameworks that analyze the roles, behaviors, and expectations associated with different genders, often critiquing the social constructs and power dynamics that lead to inequality.

Physical Strength Theory

a perspective that explains gender roles and inequality based on biological differences.

Gender Essentialism

belief that men and women have inherent, natural, and unchangeable traits that define their gender and determine their roles in society.

Social Constructionism

Theory that states that it means to be “male” or “female”, “masculine” or “feminine” is socially constructed, not biologically determined.

Performativity

Gender is produced through repeated actions and behaviors, which challenge the notion of fixed gender categories.

Social Learning Theory

It emphasizes that learning doesn’t just happen through direct teaching, but also through watching others, especially role models like parents, teachers, and media figures.

Observation

Individuals learn gender roles by observing the behaviors of others in their environment.

Imitation

After observing, individuals replicate the gendered behaviors they see in role models.

Reinforcement

Gender-appropriate behaviors are rewarded, which encourages their continued performance.

Internalization

Over time, these learned behaviors become ingrained, shaping one's identity and understanding of gender.

Gender Schema Theory

proposed by Sandra Bem in 1981, suggests that children learn about gender roles and expectations from their environment

Structural Functionalism

a sociological theory that views society as a complex system made up of different parts that work together to maintain stability, order, and balance.

Conflict Theory

originating from Karl Marx, society is shaped by inequality and power struggles; gender roles benefit the dominant group

Kohlberg’s Theory of Gender Development

how children understand and form their sense of gender as their thinking and reasoning skills mature

Gender Identity (ages 2-3)

Can label self as boy/girl but think gender can change

Gender Stability (ages 4-5)

Gender stays same over time, but can change by appearance

Gender Constancy (ages 6-7)

Gender stays the same no matter what.

Feminism

a social, political, and cultural movement that advocates for the equal rights, opportunities, and treatment of all genders, particularly focusing on addressing and eliminating the oppression and inequality faced by women

Feminist Theory

academic and analytical framework that examines how gender inequality operates in society

Liberal Feminism

focuses on equal rights and legal reforms

Radical Feminism

challenges patriarchy and traditional power structures that oppress women

Marxist/Socialist Feminism

connects women’s oppression to capitalism and economic inequality

Cultural Feminism

values women’s unique qualities and experiences, promoting female-centered culture

Intersectional Feminism

examines how gender intersects with race, class, sexuality, and other identities

Gender-Responsive Theories of Change

A framework that maps out how actions will reduce gender inequality and promote empowerment.

Structural Theory of Gender (Structuralist Perspective on Gender)

gender differences and inequalities are created and maintained by the structures of society rather than by biological differences between men and women.

Structural-Functional (Functionalism)

a sociological perspective that views society as a system made up of interrelated parts that work together to maintain order, stability, and balance.

Cultural Dimensions of Gender

describe how beliefs, values, traditions, and norms within a society define gender roles, expectations, and relations.

Gender Roles

Expected behaviors for men and women.

Gender Norms

Cultural rules about what is acceptable for each gender.

Gender Identity

How individuals see themselves within cultural gender categories.

Gender Relations

How genders interact and share power in society.

Cultural Beliefs and Values

Traditions and religion shaping gender expectations.

Stereotyping

refers to the generalized and oversimplified beliefs about the characteristics, behaviors, and roles that men and women are “supposed” to have.

Ostracization

excluding or isolating someone from a group or society because they do not conform to gender norms or expectations.

Marginalization

happens when certain genders — usually women or gender-diverse people — are pushed to the edges of society, with less access to power, resources, and decision-making.

Sigmund Freud

an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, a theory that explores how unconscious thoughts, early childhood experiences, and inner conflicts shape human behavior

Judith Butler

American philosopher and gender theorist best known for their work on gender identity, performativity, and queer theory.

Sandra Bem

American psychologist known for her research on gender schemas and gender roles, emphasizing the importance of cultural influences on individuals' perceptions of gender.

Lawrence Kohlberg

Psychologist known for his stages of moral development, which emphasized how socialization contributes to gender identity formation.

Jean Piaget

Swiss psychologist recognized for his pioneering work in developmental psychology, particularly regarding how children construct knowledge, which includes understanding gender roles through cognitive development stages.

Continuum

it suggests that people’s identities, expressions, and experiences of gender can fall anywhere along a broad range, from masculine to feminine, allowing for non-binary and fluid identities.

Spectrum

concept that recognizes that gender is not limited to just two categories but instead exists along a wide and diverse range of identities, expressions, and experiences.

SOGIE

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression

Sexual Orientation

refers to who you are emotionally, romantically, or physically attracted