SOCI 101 - Chapter 9

Constructing Gender and Sexuality

Sex

• individual membership

• one of two categories - male or female

• based on biological factors

Primary Sex Characteristics

• biological factors

• chromosomes, hormones, reproductive organs

• distinguish males/females

Secondary Sex Characteristics

• physical differences

• b/w males and females

• facial/body fair, musculature, bone structure

• unrelated to reproduction

Intersex

• chromosome/sex characteristics

• neither exclusively male/female

Gender

• physical, behavioral, personality traits

• considered normal for male/female members

Essentialists

• gender roles have genetic/biological origin

• cannot be changed

Gender Binary

• system of classification

• two distinct/opposite gender categories

Constructionists

• gender notions are socially determined

• binary system is one of many

Gender Identity

• self-definition/sense of gender

Cisgender

• gender identity/expression aligns with sex assigned at birth

Transgender

• gender identity/expression differs with sex assigned at birth

Gender Expression

• behavioral manifestations of gender

Gender Nonconforming

• gender identity/expression

• differs from societal expectations

• about gender roles

Nonbinary

• do not identify as exclusively men/women

• identify as both, between, or outside such categories

Sexuality

• character/quality of being sexual

Sexual Orientation/Identity

• inclination to feel sexual desire

• toward people of a particular gender

Heterosexuality

• sexual attraction

• towards other gender

Homosexuality

• sexual attraction

• towards own gender

Bisexuality

• sexual attraction

• towards both genders

Asexuality

• lack of sexual attraction

• no interest/desire for sex

Queer Theory

• social theory about gender/sexual identity

• importance of difference

• no innate identities

• no restrictive categories

LGBTQ

• lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer

Gender Role Socialization

• lifelong process

• learning to be masculine/feminine

• agents of socialization

Heteronormativity

• heterosexuality is + should be the norm

Social Learning

• learning behaviors/meanings via social interaction

Patriarchy

• “rule of the father”

• male-dominated society

Privilege

• unearned advantage

• dominant social groups

• males, whites, able, heterosexual

Sexism

• one sex (male) superior to the other

Misogyny

• ingrained prejudice against women

• dislike, contempt, hatred of women

Prejudice

• idea about group characteristics

• applied to all members of that group

• unlikely to change regardless of evidence against it

Discrimination

• unequal treatment of individuals

• based on membership in social group

• motivated by prejudice

Homophobia

• fear/discrimination of gay/lesbian/bisexual people

Transphobia

• fear/discrimination of trans or other gender-nonconforming people

Heterosexism

• belief in superiority of heterosexuality/heterosexuals

Cisgenderism

• belief in the superiority of cisgender persons/identities

Coming Out

• openly declaring true identity to unawares

• “coming out of the closet”

• LGBTQ compelled to keep gender identity & sexual orientation secret

Hegemonic Masculinity

• masculine ideal

• promotes characteristics

• independence, aggression, toughness

• rejects alternate qualities in men

Toxic Masculinity

• masculine ideal

• espouses extreme/harmful attitudes/behaviors

• lead to various negative effects for women/men

Rape Culture

• beliefs/norms/values

• normalizes sexual violence against women

Microaggressions

• everyday use

• subtle verbal/nonverbal communications

• denigrating/dismissive messages

• to members of certain social groups

Instrumental Role

• position of family member

• material support

• authority figure

Expressive Role

• position of family member

• emotional support

• nurturing

Feminization of Poverty

• economic trend

• women more likely than men to live in poverty

• caused by gendered wage gap

• higher proportion of single mothers to fathers

• increasing cost of childcare

Second Shift

• unpaid housework/childcare

• expected of women after day’s paid labor

Feminism

• social/political/economic equality of sexes

• organized social movement

First Wave

• earliest period of feminist activism

• start: mid-19th century

• end: women won right to vote in 1920

Suffrage Movement

• organized around gaining voting rights for women

Second Wave

• period of feminist activism

• 1960s-1970s

• women’s equal access to employment/education

Third Wave

• recent period of feminist activism

• diversity, globalization, variety of identities

Men Liberation

• movement

• 1970s

• challenges of masculinity

Men’s Rights Movement

• offshoot of men’s liberation

• feminism promotes discrimination against men

Pro-Feminist Men’s Movement

• offshoot of men’s liberation

• support feminism

• sexism harms men and women

Structural Functionalism

• sex determines men/women roles

• men: instrumental roles

• women: expressive roles

Conflict Theory

• traditional division of labor in families

• males have more access to resources/privileges

• males seek to maintain dominance

Symbolic Interactionism

• gender learned via socialization

• inequality reproduced via interactions

• family, peers, schools, media