Chapter 12 - Gender, Sex, & Sexuality

Gender

The terms “masculine” & “feminine” that refers to a person

Gender Role

Refers to a society’s concept of how men & women are expected to act and how they should behave

Early Adolecence

When individuals are aware of their sexual orientation

Example of Gender Stereotype

Women tend to be overly emotional, while men tend to be levelheaded

Example of Role Peers for school-aged children

Peers tend to reinforce gender roles by criticizing & marginalizing those who behave outside of their assigned roles

Example - Functionalist Perspective

Women continue to assume the responsibility in the household along with a paid occupation because it keeps the household running smoothly, I.e. at a state of balance

True or False - Only women are affected by gender stratification

False

Gender stratification

The unequal distribution of wealth, power, & privilege between genders

Affects everyone - all genders experience the effects of stratification, though in different ways

According to Symbolic Interactionist perspective

We “do gender” all the time, in everything we do

Misogyny

The hatred of, aversion to, or prejudice against women

Factors affecting pay gap

Having children

Lower educational level

Being married

Idea that gender inequality comes from the division of labor

Example of Functionalist Theory

True or False: Prior to the 19th Amendment being ratified, women were not considered a legal person of their own

True

Before 19th Amendment, women were legally & politically subordinate, with married women in particular not recognized as independent legal persons

Percentage of the elected officials were women

21.2%

Country thought to be most liberal in its attitudes toward sex

Sweden

U.S. sexual attitudes were considered ___ compared to most Western societies.

Conservative

Sociologist associate sexuality with

A person’s capacity for sexual feelings

Theoretical perspective that stresses the importance of regulating sexual behavior to ensure marital cohesion & family stability

Functionalism Perspective

Functionalism Perspective

Gender roles keep society stable

Gender roles exists because they historically helped families & society stay organized

Conflict Perspective

Gender roles create inequality & benefit the powerful

Gender inequality benefits those in power (usually men) & disadvantages others

Symbolic Interaction Perspective

Gender is performed & reinforced in everyday life

Gender is socially constructed

We “do gender” all the time through behavior, language, & appearance