Gender and Society - Midterm Review

Vocabulary flashcards focusing on core concepts of biological sex versus social gender, sex roles, gender roles, gender division of labor, and pathways to gender equality.

Biological Sex

The biological and physical characteristics that distinguish males, females, and intersex individuals, typically assigned at birth based on visible anatomy.

Chromosomes (Sex Marker)

A biological marker of sex, typically XX for females and XY for males, with biological variations existing such as XXY or XO.

Hormones (Sex Marker)

Differing levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone which regulate physical development and bodily functions.

Reproductive Organs

Internal and external biological structures, including ovaries, testes, a uterus, and a penis.

Intersex Spectrum

A condition in which individuals are born with chromosomes, hormones, or anatomy that do not fit typical binary definitions of male or female, showing biological sex is a complex spectrum.

Core Nature of Biological Sex

Biological, anatomical, universal across cultures, and largely constant.

Social Gender

The socially constructed roles, behaviors, expectations, and identities that a society or culture deems appropriate for individuals.

Gender Identity

An individual's deep, personal, and internal understanding of their own gender, which may differ from their assigned biological sex.

Gender Expression

How a person outwardly presents their gender to society through behavioral choices, clothing, hairstyles, mannerisms, or speech.

Gender Roles

The specific societal expectations, responsibilities, and behaviors placed on people based on their perceived or assigned gender.

Core Nature of Social Gender

Socially and culturally constructed, highly flexible, changes over time, and varies widely across global cultures.

Sex Roles

Roles, responsibilities, and behaviors that are assigned to an individual based strictly on their biological sex, being biologically fixed and universal across all cultures.

Gender Division of Labor

How work, tasks, and responsibilities are assigned to men and women in families, communities, and workplaces based on cultural expectations rather than biological capacity.

Productive Work

Paid employment and business activities conducted outside the home, historically assigned primarily to men.

Reproductive Work

Unpaid labor focused on childcare, caregiving, cooking, cleaning, and managing household duties, historically assigned primarily to women.

The Double Burden

A situation resulting from an unequal division of labor where women must perform paid employment outside the home while still bearing primary responsibility for unpaid household chores and caregiving.

Breadwinner Pressure

Intense societal pressure faced by men to be the primary family provider, which can discourage them from participating in caregiving roles or expressing vulnerability.

Restricted Opportunities

The limitation of personal choices, creation of income disparities, and restriction of professional growth caused by rigid gender stereotypes.

Shared Domestic Labor

Distributing household responsibilities equally between partners to foster cooperation, fairness, and balanced family relationships.

Inclusive Institutional Policies

Policies promoting parental leave, flexible work hours, and equal employment opportunities to help dismantle traditional gender barriers.

Educational Support (Gender Equality Pathway)

Actions by schools to promote equality by offering equal participation in sports and academics and allowing students to choose activities based entirely on their interests.