Sociology 101: Sex and Gender Continued

Sex and Gender Continued

Key Concepts

  • Intersectionality

  • Intersectionality and Media

  • Sexuality

  • Sexual Attitudes in the US

  • Sexual Violence

Intersectionality

  • Traditional feminists used standpoint theory, which emphasizes the importance of one’s social position in relation to social structure.

  • Standpoint theory was primarily advocated by white, middle-class women in the US.

  • Collins: Interlocking systems of oppression include:

    • Race

    • Class

    • Gender

    • Education

    • Sexuality

    • Ability

    • Age

    • Language

    • Culture

    • Ethnicity

  • These systems particularly affect African American women.

  • Examples:

    • The Mammy: A stereotypical image.

    • The Jezebel: Another stereotypical image, as depicted in "BLACK DYNAMITE."

  • Looking across the globe, skin whitening products are marketed to:

    • Asians

    • Amazon

Intersectionality and Media

  • How Asians and Asian Americans are viewed in American media.

  • There are fewer Asian and Asian Americans on TV compared to aliens.

  • Asians are often portrayed as identical and undifferentiated.

  • How Asian women are viewed in American media, often through the lens of the "Male Gaze."

    • China Doll: As seen in "MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA."

    • Dragon Lady

  • How Asian men are viewed in American media.

  • Kimmel examines the effects of gendered attitudes on men.

  • Hegemonic masculinity: The vision of masculinity presented as the ideal to which people are measured against.

    • Undesirable Partner

    • Yellow Uncle Tom

    • Evil Asian Man

Sexuality

  • The Gender Unicorn: A graphic illustrating different aspects of gender and attraction.

    • Gender Identity: Female, Male, Other Gender(s).

    • Gender Expression: Feminine, Masculine, Other.

    • Sex Assigned at Birth: Female, Male, Other/Intersex.

    • Physically Attracted to: Women, Men, Other Gender(s).

    • Emotionally Attracted to: Women, Men, Other Gender(s).

  • Activity on attraction:

    • Women responding to men:

      • White

      • Asian

      • Black

    • Men responding to women:

      • Black

      • Latino

      • White

      • Asian

  • DateHookup "Let's Meet" Scores (Examples):

    • Asian women rated by:

      • Asian men: 11%

      • Black men: -24%

      • Latino men: 9%

      • White men: 4%

    • Asian men rating:

      • Asian women: insufficient data

      • Black women: -21%

      • Latina women: 9%

      • White women: 13%

LGB Dating Survey

  • Trends in Intermarriage (Examples):

    • Asian - Male

      • Asian - Female: 47

      • Black - Female: 53

      • Hispanic/Latin - Female: 42

      • Indian - Female: 45

    • Asian - Female

      • Asian - Male: 57

      • Black - Male: 37

      • Hispanic/Latin - Male: 31

      • Indian - Male: 41

    • Pacific Islander - Male

      • Asian - Female: 45

      • Black - Female: 33

      • Hispanic/Latin - Female:39

      • Indian - Female: 44

    • White - Female

      • Asian - Male: 58

      • Black - Male: 56

      • Hispanic/Latin - Male: 57

      • Indian - Male: 57

    • Pacific Islander - Female

      • Asian - Male: 55

      • Black - Male: 54

      • Hispanic/Latin - Male: 48

      • Indian - Male: 48

    • White - Male

      • Asian - Female: 54

      • Black - Female: 52

      • Hispanic/Latin - Female: 52

      • Indian - Female: 56

Sexual Attitudes in the US

  • Is the US restrictive or permissive regarding sexuality?

Sexual Orientation

  • The US historically uses a heteronormative view of sexuality.

  • Martin and Kazyak Miller: concept of "coming out."

Sexual Violence

  • Occurs in various forms:

    • Rape

    • Domestic Violence

    • Stalking

    • Sexual Harassment

  • Discussion of current events involving sexual violence.

Sexual Violence on Colleges

  • A major problem on many college campuses, including SDSU.

  • SDSU Fraternity closed after harassing anti-rape group.

  • Armstrong, Hamilton, and Sweeney:

    • Peer culture enforces partying in college.

    • Victim blaming is a common historical response.

    • University policies privilege male control of parties.

Masculinity and Violence

  • Vito et al:

    • UC Santa Barbara

    • Elliot Rodger's Manifesto

    • Hegemonic Masculinity and Violence.