family & gender roles - exam 2

sex

biological category of male or female based on anatomy and physiology

gender

social realization of the biological sex

gender identity

internal identification of gender

gender expression

pattern of outward behavior in relation to the common standards of a gender category

cisgender

gender identity that corresponds to assigned sex

nonbinary

people who don’t identify exclusively as male or female

transgender

people whose gender identity does not match their assigned biological sex

intersex

a person’s chromosomal composition doesn’t match their sexual anatomy at birth; sometimes not clearly female or male

androgynous

characteristics that are neither exclusively female nor male, feminism, or masculine

gender dysphoria

can be a diagnosis if an incongruence between gender identity and assigned sex causes distress in a person’s life

biological perspective on gender

studies a process of social change and variation; different biological ‘investments’ men and women have in their children; men have an ancient evolutionary tendency towards promiscuity and away from child care, and women more towards monogamy and child-rearing

feminism perspective on gender

family structure is socially constructed; rigid gender categories serve male-dominated societies, and men have more influence over social rules; family is where gender expression is learned and practiced

masculinity perspectives on gender

rigid gender expectations take their toll on men and male identity; socially constructed; many ideals involve fatherhood, parenting, and relationships with women; a narrow vision, challenging to gay men and others who do not fit the dominant image

symbolic interaction perspectives on gender 

enhancing aspects of our bodies and personality that conform to the common image of our gender; public displays of identity (male/female signage)

heterosexuality

sexual attraction towards members of the opposite sex

homosexuality

sexual attraction towards members of the same sex

bisexuality

sexual attraction towards members of both sexes

asexuality

lack of sexual attraction toward anyone

social scripts

commonly understood patterns of interaction that serve as a model of behavior in familiar situations; this guides us in our socialization, especially when dating or connecting with someone. 

love

deep affection and concern for one another, strong emotional bond

romantic love

passionate devotion and attraction one person has for another

utilitarian love

practical, rational dedication based on shared understanding and emotional commitment

romantic relationships

mutually acknowledged, ongoing interactions featuring heightened affection

culture of marriage 

marriage is not a ‘requirement’ for many aspects of adulthood anymore - intimacy, sex, living together, having children - so people don’t feel the need to validate their relationships with the symbol of marriage. 

cohabitation

before marriage - most common, trying to see what long-term commitment looks like

instead of marriage - oppose marriage as an institution; ‘marriage resistance’, could be a compromise or response to the family’s opposition

after marriage - divorced, widowed people, bring less risk in this next phase 

marriage promotion

welfare reform in mid 90s created Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), which provided aid and encouraged the formation of two-parent families, based on the assumption that children were better off with two parents and that marriage was the foundation of a successful society.

Not having children

some risk factors, such as poor health, smoking, obesity, and older people, are considered for infertility; young, healthy couples also experience it too; ‘childfree’ is the term used for people who choose not to have children - people with higher education, less religion, and more of a career focus in this group.

parenting

competition and insecurity cloud parents’ judgement and decisions today; disciplined, overbearing, ‘snowplow’ or ‘helicopter’ parents; same sex couples who have children and the barriers they face. 

fatherhood 

male provider ideal - the older concept of men being the provider and the authority figure in the household, so successful employment and making a career a priority was the criterion for a good father.

involved father ideal - the new emotional and nurturing father who bonds and cares for his children. 

separation 

formal or informal separation of spouses into different households

marital dissolution

end of a marriage through permanent separation or divorce

divorce

legal dissolution of a marriage at the state level

annulment

a legal or religious determination that the marriage was never valid

causes of divorce

• living together can be very influential in staying together 

• relationship dynamics - divorce usually follows conflict and unhappiness within a marriage, but other factors might be: individual unhappiness, spending less time alone together, disagreeing frequently, heated arguments, unhealthy relationships.

• employment and independence - who is earning the money, who will be the providers after a divorce, ‘independence effect’ of women’s employment

• financial issues, infertility, kids, children’s disabilities, step-children, infidelity, neglect, irresponsibility

consequences of divorce

• adult happiness - divorced people are generally less happy than married people, and people who divorce are generally slightly unhappier to begin with

• mental stress, sleep problems, depression, trouble concentrating

• stigma of being a failure

• economic status - inadvertently impacting women more than men - the feminization of poverty, as most children stay with the mother

• children’s well-being - implications of moving forward with both parents (common events such as birthdays, graduations, weddings, etc)

remarriage and blended families

• changing assumptions about family roles and where the children live

• step parenting, step siblings, half siblings

• boundary ambiguity - situations where family members don’t know their new roles within the new family dynamics

Lilly Ledbetter

Lilly Ledbetter is an equal pay activist who sued her employer, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, for gender-based pay discrimination after discovering she was paid significantly less than her male colleagues for 19 years. Her case went to the Supreme Court, which ruled against her, but her long fight led to the 2009 passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which made it easier to challenge pay discrimination. 

• The discovery: Ledbetter learned through an anonymous note that she was being paid much less than her male counterparts in the same role.

• The lawsuit: She filed a sex discrimination lawsuit, which she eventually lost after the Supreme Court ruled that she had not filed her claim in a timely manner, even though she only discovered the discrimination shortly before retiring.

• The impact: Her case sparked national attention and resulted in the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, a landmark piece of legislation that extended the statute of limitations for filing equal pay claims.

• Her legacy: Ledbetter became a prominent activist, continuing to advocate for equal pay for all workers even after losing her own case and never receiving any back pay herself.