Sociology (Ch. 12)

biological determinism

the belief that men and women behave differently due to inherent sex differences related to their biology

doing gender

the performance of tasks based upon the gender assigned to us by society and, in turn, ourselves

DOMA Defense of Marriage Act

a 1996 U.S. law explicitly limiting the definition of “marriage” to a union between one man and one woman and allowing each individual state to recognize or deny same-sex marriages performed in other states

double standard

the concept that prohibits premarital sexual intercourse for women but allows it for men

gender

a term that refers to social or cultural distinctions of behaviors that are considered male or female

gender dysphoria

a condition listed in the DSM-5 in which people whose gender at birth is contrary to the one they identify with. This condition replaces "gender identity disorder"

gender identity

a person’s deeply held internal perception of his or her gender

gender role

society’s concept of how men and women should behave

glass ceiling

an invisible barrier that women encounter when trying to win jobs in the highest level of business

heterosexism

an ideology and a set of institutional practices that privilege heterosexuals and heterosexuality over other sexual orientations

homophobia

an extreme or irrational aversion to homosexuals

intersex

people born with sex characteristics (including genitals, gonads and chromosome patterns) that do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies.

misogyny

the hatred of or, aversion to, or prejudice against women

pay gap

the difference in earnings between men and women

sex

a term that denotes the presence of physical or physiological differences between males and females

sexism

the prejudiced belief that one sex should be valued over another

sexual orientation

a person’s physical, mental, emotional, and sexual attraction to a particular sex (male or female)

sexuality

a person’s capacity for sexual feelings

social construction of sexuality

socially created definitions about the cultural appropriateness of sex-linked behavior which shape how people see and experience sexuality

transgender

an adjective that describes individuals who identify with the behaviors and characteristics that are other than their biological sex