Ch. 6 - Sociological Concepts of Gender and Inequality

These flashcards cover key sociological concepts related to gender and inequality, helping to understand the various dimensions and implications.

Intersectionality

The concept that our multiple group memberships affect our lives in ways distinct from single group memberships.

Sex

The biological and anatomical differences distinguishing females from males.

Primary Sex Characteristics

Differences in genitalia.

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Distinct physical characteristics that develop as we mature.

Gender

The social and cultural significance that we attach to the biological differences of sex.

Gender Role

A role/behavior learned by an individual that is regarded as appropriate for their gender.

Gender Role Socialization

The learning of gender roles through social factors such as schooling, the media, and family.

Hegemonic Masculinity

Social norms dictating that men should be strong, self-reliant, and unemotional.

Toxic Masculinity

Men who do not comply with hegemonic masculinity norms are subjected to sanctions.

Hegemonic Femininity

Social norms dictating that women should be weak, dependent, and modest.

Toxic Femininity

Women who do not comply with hegemonic femininity norms are subjected to sanctions.

Biological Essentialism

The idea that differences between men and women are natural and inevitable consequences of intrinsic biological natures.

Gender Displays

The socialization process that shapes a child's gender identity even before birth.

Gender Expression

The outward or public display of a person’s gender.

Functionalist Theory

A perspective that examines how social institutions function in society.

Feminist Theory

A theory that emphasizes the centrality of gender in analyzing the social world and the unique experiences of women.

Patriarchy

The dominance of men over women.

Gender Inequality

The inequality between men and women in terms of wealth, income, and status.

Gender Typing

The phenomenon of women holding occupations of lower status and pay, and men holding jobs of higher status and pay.

The Glass Ceiling

A promotion barrier that prevents a woman’s upward mobility within an organization.

Sex Segregation

The concentration of men and women in different occupations.

Equal Pay Act (1963)

Legislation that mandates equal salary for people performing the same job.

Sexual Harassment

Unwanted sexual advances made by one individual toward another, which persist despite objections.

Quid Pro Quo

When a supervisor demands a sexual act from a worker as a job condition or in exchange for work-related benefits.

Hostile Work Environment

A workplace with patterns of sexual language or advances that make a worker uncomfortable.

Second Shift

The double burden of working outside the home followed by childcare and housework.

Third Shift

The additional burden of being an informal healthcare provider.

Rape

The act of forcing nonconsensual vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse.

Feminist theory: liberal

equality reforms through legislation(we can do it ourselves)

Feminist theory: radical

says the root of the problem is in male dominance(overthrow patriarchy)

Feminist theory: socialist

focuses on class and capitalism as problem

Feminist theory: black

struggle of nonwhite female(says not all oppression is the same)

Feminist theory: transnational

non-industrialized(deal with global structures)

Feminist theory: post modern

acceptance of differences

Prejudice

attitudes/beliefs about a group from another group

Fallacy

a misleading or false belief based on faulty reasoning or assumptions.

Individualistic

racism springs from the “bad” ideas of a few prejudiced individuals

Legalistic 

the assumption that because a practice is legal, it is also good, or that eliminating a law makes the problem it addressed disappear

tokenistic

success of a few individuals demonstrates that racial obstacles no longer exist

fixed

racism always takes place in same forms

ahistorical

patterns of past do not have any significant impact on present