Week 8: Inequality on the Basis of Gender & Sexuality

sex

the biological and anatomical differences distinguishing females from males

gender

social expectations about behavior regarded as appropriate for the members of each sex

intersex

describes individuals who possess both male and female genitalia

gender binary

the classification of sex and gender into two discrete, opposite, and nonoverlapping forms of masculine and feminine

gender identity

how a person sees and describes their own gender

gender expression

how a person chooses to convey gender identity through behavior, voice, mannerisms, and other external characteristics

nonbinary

a gender identity that does not fit squarely into the male/female gender binary classification

cisgender

describes a person whose gender identity matches their biological sex

transgender

describes a person who identifies as or expresses a gender identity that differs from their sex at birth

sexual orientation

an individual’s enduring emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to other people

sexual and gender minority (SGM)

the broad label applied to populations that include, but are not limited to, individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+

gender socialization

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

social construction of gender

a perspective holding that gender differences are a product of social and cultural norms and expectations rather than biology

hegemonic masculinity

social norms dictating that men should be strong, self-reliant, competitive, and unemotional

patriarchy

the dominance of and privilege afforded to men over women

gender inequality

the differences in status, power, and prestige that women and men have in groups, collectives, and societies

gender typing

designation of occupations as male or female, with “women’s” occupations, such as secretarial and retail positions, having lower status and pay and “men’s” occupations, such as managerial and professional positions, having higher status and pay

sex segregation

the concentration of men and women in different occupations

glass ceiling

a promotion barrier that prevents women’s upward mobility within an organization

sexual harassment

unwanted or repeated sexual advances, remarks, or behaviors that are offensive to the recipient and cause discomfort or interfere with job performance

second shift

the excessive work hours borne by women relative to men; these hours are typically spent on domestic shores before and after a day of work outside the home

housework

unpaid work carried out in the home, usually by women, such as cooking, cleaning, and shopping (aka, “domestic labor”)