week 8 soc

Gender and Sexuality Overview

• Presented by Anisha Datta

• Covers sociological perspectives on gender and sexuality.

Required Viewing

• Killing Us Softly Version 4

  • A critical examination of the portrayal of women in media.

  • Recommended for post-class discussion.

Personal Reflection

• Discussion Prompt:

  • Reflect on how personal views of femininity and masculinity differ from those of previous generations, such as parents and grandparents.

Gender Relations

• Explore the historical and social construction of gender.

• Understand how sociology explains gender relations.

• Concept of women as an ‘oppressed majority’.

  • Gender-based social inequality.

The Social Construction of Gender and Sex

• Gender is a contested area within sociology.

• Debates surrounding:

  • Biological determinism vs. social-historical-cultural constructions.

  • Gender is not binary; it represents a continuum of roles and identities.

• The challenge of discussing inequality in a non-binary context.

• Importance of acknowledging critical work by women, especially those from racialized backgrounds.

Definitions: Sex, Gender, and Sexuality

• Sex: Biological differences used to distinguish males from females.

• Gender: Social arrangements around normative sex categories, defining expected roles and behaviors.

• Sexuality: Encompasses desire, preferences, identity, and behavior.

• Gender shapes daily life experiences (e.g., clothing, wages) with significant social implications.

Intersectionality of Sex and Gender

• Nature vs. Nurture Debate: How they influence and shape sexuality.

• Sociological perspective frames the relationship as interactive rather than one-directional.

Conceptual Models: Mobius Strip

• Elizabeth Grosz's idea: The relationship between the biological (sex) and social dimensions (gender) is intertwined.

• The Mobius strip serves as a metaphor for understanding this complexity.

Summary of Key Concepts

• Sex: Refers to biological traits used for categorization (male/female).

• Gender: Cultural meanings assigned to sex categories, influencing expected behaviors.

• Ann Oakley’s work highlighted the distinction between sex and gender sociologically.

Gender Roles and Social Constructs

• Gender Roles: Expectations relating to assigned sex categories, flexible and historical.

• Intersexuality: Individuals with both male and female characteristics.

• Nonconformity and non-binary identities challenge traditional views.

• Transgender: Those whose gender identity does not match their assigned sex at birth.

The Hijras of South Asia

• Recognition of eunuchs, intersex, and transgender individuals as a third gender.

• Significant in cultural contexts throughout history, reflecting complex gender roles.

Historical Variability in Gender Ideals

• Gender norms evolve and differ across time and cultures.

• Example: Changing ideals of femininity from Victorian to contemporary standards.

Masculine Ideals Over Time

• Erving Goffman's ideal male identity from the 1960s contrasts with today's diverse representations, including the metrosexual.

Modern Developments

• Metrosexual: Men caring for their looks following cultural shifts.

• Spornosexual: Hyper-masculine identity linked to athletes and sexual appeal.