SOCI2410 Sociology of Gender - Winter 2026 Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key concepts and terminology related to the sociology of gender as discussed in the lecture notes.

Sex

Refers to a body’s anatomical, chemical, or chromosomal characteristics.

Gender

Refers to social meanings, roles, and expectations associated with being male or female.

Gender Inequality

A social condition that is at the foundation of, causes, and maintains gender/sex differences.

Judith Lorber

A prominent sociologist known for her work on gender as a socially constructed category.

Social Practices

Actions that transform physical differences between males and females into socially meaningful facts.

Gender Discourse

The way people talk about and conceptualize gender in society.

Institutionalized Gender

The regularization of gender into social roles and norms.

Cultural Variation in Gender

How gender varies between and within cultures over time.

Social Positioning

Relative power dynamics that influence differences between groups of people.

Epistemologically Spurious

A term used by Lorber suggesting that the category of gender lacks a valid epistemological basis.