Gender Studies and Social Institutions

These flashcards cover key concepts related to gender, feminism, socialization, and the impacts of cultural and social institutions on these areas.

Sex

Biological identity as either female or male, determined by chromosomes (XX or XY).

Gender

A social concept referring to the array of social patterns associated with men and women in society.

Intersectionality

A term used to describe how various dimensions of inequality intersect and combine.

Feminism

Movements and ideologies aimed at defining, confirming, and protecting equal rights for women.

Performativity

Judith Butler's concept describing how gender identity is constructed through repeated social performances.

Socialization

The process through which individuals learn and adopt the behaviors and norms appropriate to their gender.

Cost of Masculinity

The pressures on men to conform to certain norms that value aggression, avoid femininity, and emphasize success.

Hidden Curriculum

Lessons that are taught in schools but are not part of the formal curriculum, often reinforcing social norms.

Commodification

The process of giving monetary value to goods and services that may not inherently need a price.

Emotional Labor

Work that involves managing feelings and expressions to fulfill the emotional requirements of a job.

Cultural Capital

Non-economic social assets, like education and cultural knowledge, that promote social mobility.

Bureaucracy

A hierarchical organizational structure designed to facilitate efficiency and rationality in large organizations.

Gender roles

The expectations and behaviors that society considers appropriate for men and women.

Double Shift

The phenomenon where women engage in both paid employment and unpaid domestic labor.

Meritocracy

A system where individuals achieve success based on their abilities and efforts, although it may not function equally across different social classes.

Heteronormativity

The assumption that heterosexuality is the default or normal sexual orientation, marginalizing other orientations.

Tracking

The educational practice of grouping students based on perceived abilities or performance levels.

Self-fulfilling Prophecy

The phenomenon where a belief or expectation about a person can influence their behavior and lead to its fulfillment.

Social Capital

The value derived from social networks, relationships, and social interactions.

Pink Collar Occupations

Jobs that are typically associated with women and often involve caregiving or administrative roles.

Companionate Marriage

A marriage oriented around friendship and emotional dependence rather than purely practical union.