gender and society final

“On Marriage”- Harriet Taylor

Marriage historically functions as an institution of women’s economic dependence and legal subordination rather than love or equality.

“The Origin of the Family”- frederich engel

Modern monogamous marriage arose to protect male property and inheritance, making women subordinate and creating the first form of class oppression

“Marriage and Love”- Emma Goldman

Marriage is an economic and restrictive institution that suppresses women, while genuine love exists independently of it

“For Better or Worse? The Case for Gay Marriage”- Johnathan Rauch

Same-sex marriage strengthens society by extending the stabilizing, responsibility-based institution of marriage to more couples

“What is Marriage”

The authors argue that real marriage is a conjugal, inherently procreative union between a man and a woman, and redefining it weakens its social purpose

“Gender and Family Abolition”- Belinsky

Family abolition means dismantling the isolating, capitalist nuclear family and replacing it with collective, non-heirchical systems of care.

“How to Make Your Marriage Gayer”- NYT

Same-sex couples tend to have more equal, communicative, and satisfying relationships, offering lessons for heterosexual marriage

“The Feminist Case Against Abortion”

Early feminists opposed abortion as a symptom of women’s lack of support, and modern feminist critics argue society should meet women’s needs instead of relying on abortion

“Does a Fetus have Constitutional Rights”- The New Yorker

Post-Dobbs, anti-abortion activists push for fetal personhood to grant constitutional rights to fetuses and restrict abortion nationwide.

“Another Surrogacy is Possible”- Sophie Lewis

Commercial surrogacy exploits poor women and should be transformed into a system where reproductive labor is collectively controlled and ethical.

“Wages Against Housework”- Silvia Federici

Housework is essential labor that capitalism hides as women’s naure, and demanding wages exposes and challenges this exploitation

“The Politics of Housework”- Pat Mainardi

Men avoid housework through manipulation and excuses, revealing domestic labor as a major site of women’s oppression

“Masculinity as Homophobia”- Michael Kimmel

Masculinity is built on men’s fear of being seen as weak or feminine, creating insecurity and homophobia

“Dude, You-re a F-slur”- CJ Pascoe

High school boys use the f slur as a tool to police masculinity and punish anything seen as feminine, not just sexuality. 

“Male Shame”- Plank

Rigid masculine expectations create deep shame in men, suppressing emotions and fueling social and personal dysfunction

“The Boys are Not all Right”- Ian Black

American boys are in crisis because toxic masculinity denies them emotional expression, often leading to rage or isolation

“The Mancession”

Economic recession hit male dominated jobs hardest, exposing how masculinity tied to work leaves men ashamed and unable to adapt.

“This is What a Feminist Looks Like”-Obama

Obama argues that true gender equality requires men to challenge sexist norms and embrace more flexible, empathetic forms of masculinity

“The Will to Change”-bell hooks

Patriarchy emotionally damages men, and liberation requires developing a feminist masculinity based on love, vulnerability, and connection

NOMAS principles

seeks to end all interconnected oppressions while redefining masculinity beyond dominance to promote equality for all genders.

“Violence Against Women is a Men’s Issue”- Katz

Gender violence stems from male socialization and must be addressed by engaging men as active leaders and bystanders in prevention. 

“She Said” Film

Shows how investigative journalism and survivor solidarity exposed Harvey Weinstein’s abuse and helped spark the #MeToo movement.

Who showed that showed that gender roles within families are deeply linked to economic systems

Louise Tilly and Joan Scott

How are family roles constructed

class, race, sexuality, and national context

Which authors critique marriage

Harriet Taylor, Friedrich Engels, Emma Goldman

How were Black women harmed by marriage?

These women weren’t seen as the “true woman” so they couldn’t be submissive, pious wives and mothers

How were Asian women harmed by marriage?

Because of the Page Act, these women were were barred from entry and it defined who could form families

How were poor women harmed by marriage?

These women were often double burdened— having to do domestic and economic labor

The Defense of Marriage Act

Defined marriage federally as “only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife” which excluded same-sex couples from all federal benefits and
protections tied to marriage

Oberfell v Hodges

Declared marriage equality as a constitutional right under the fourteenth amendment

What includes reproductive rights?

Sex education, birth control and family planning, abortion services, reproductive technologies (IVF, surrogacy, etc.

Dorothy Roberts

This woman documents how enslaved Black women were forced to bear children and how coercion persisted after emancipation through medical exploitation and
sterilization

forced sterilization

women of color and poor women were forced to undergo this without consent

reproductive rights in the 19th century

Moral reformers in the U.S. & Europe criminalized contraception and abortion

Birth control(1960s)

This revolutionized women’s autonomy by allowing private, partner-independent control of fertility and symbolized freedom, education, and equality

1873 Comstock Act

This banned “obscene materials,” including birth control information

Roe v Wade

This decision by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1973 ruled that the Constitution protected the right to have an abortion.

early feminism and reproductive rights

Focused fiercely on contraception (birth control) as the key to women's independence

modern feminism and reproductive rights

focus on paid parental leave, Affordable childcare, workplace flexibility

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization

This overturned Roe v. Wade and has made abortion no longer a constitutional right

International Wages for Housework
(WFH) Campaign

This united women from both developing and industrialized countries to demand recognition and payment for unpaid domestic work

International Black Women for
Wages for Housework (IBWWFH) Campaign

This was formed to fight for compensation for unwaged and low-waged work, and for linking struggles against racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination.

Pre-industrial work for women

Era where families produced most of what they needed; occasional outside work for income. Included enslavement of Black women as coerced labor disruption of traditional roles among Native American women

19th Century work for women

Era where there was a clear separation between home and workplace. Women faced harsh conditions as wage laborers while maintaining domestic responsibilities

Early 20th century work for women

Era with growing participation of women in factories and sweatshops

WWII work for women

Era where women enter traditionally male-dominated jobs and an expansion of women’s labor roles, though often temporary

Postwar Era work for women

Era with cultural push toward domesticity and the nuclear family. White, middle-class women are encouraged to remain homemakers

Social Movements (1960s–1970s)

Era of Civil Rights and Women’s Liberation movements and expansion of legal rights, workforce participation, and political representation

Rise of the Domestic Sphere

19th century rise in middle-class “cult of true womanhood” — ideals ofpiety, purity, and domesticity; women of color largely excluded, but gender norms still shaped broader expectations

horizontal occupational segregational

the separation of women and men across different kinds of work

pink-collar jobs

teaching, nursing, caregiving, service work—extend unpaid domestic labor into the paid workforce and are often undervalued and underpaid

Vertical occupational segregation

Separation of women and men within the same occupation, where women are over- or
underrepresented in certain specialties or
levels.

neoliberalism feminism

Views inequality as a personal challenge, not a structural problem. Women are told to overcome barriers through confidence, resilience, and self-discipline.

Talcott Parsons (1950s)

Men carry instrumental roles (provider, achiever) while women carry expressive roles (caregiving, emotional support)

Joseph Pleck (1987)

Men are socialized into dominant masculinity norms (status, self-reliance, risk-taking) and this strong conformity linked to sexism, homophobia, and harmful health behaviors.

Feminist psychoanalytic theorists (1970s): Dinnerstein & Chodorow

Masculinity develops through separation from mother, leading boys to reject the “feminine.” As a result, masculinity marked by emotional distance and hyper-autonomy.

what were Raewyn Connell’s key contributions to studies on masculinity

Masculinity is a practice (something men do, not simply are) that is linked to bodies, but not biologically fixed. There also exist multiple masculinities; one dominant form = hegemonic masculinity

Hegemonic masculinities

highly visible, respected, and occupy a
position of authority in relation to other masculinities. (Business leaders,
popular boys in a peer group, sportsmen.)

Complicit masculinities

men who benefit from the social dominance
of men, while not actively seeking to oppress women

Subordinated masculinities

men who display oppositional qualities,
such as effeminate and gay men, men with disabilities

Marginalized masculinities

men who may be positioned powerfully in
terms of gender but not in terms of class, race, or ethnicity

what does kimmel argue

masculinity driven by fear of
exposure and not being “man enough

patriarchal dividend

Very few men, if any, are in all instances
hegemonically masculine. All men do benefit, to different extents, from this definition of masculinity

Marketplace masculinity (U.S.)

Success, competition, wealth equate to markers of manhood. Fear of failure leads to aggression, control, degrading others (esp. women & marginalized men.

how is masculinity instilled and spread

It is enforced through fear, shame, and policing by peers and institutions

what do Plank & Pascoe say about masculinity

gender norms take hold early,
reinforced by families, schools, and peer culture.

Masculine mystique

attachment to a myth of manhood that promotes emotional detachment

Inclusive masculinity

embraces traits traditionally seen as feminine—affection for male peers, valuing friendships with women and queer people—to expand
ways to achieve status and fulfillment

Rape culture

refers to a society or environment where social norms, beliefs, and attitudes normalize sexual violence, trivialize its impact, and fail to
hold perpetrators accountable