Sociology of Gender Notes Review

Housekeeping

  • Previous week's session: Discussion on Schiebinger & ULFA Teach-in.

  • Upcoming assessments:

    • Ungraded practice quiz available starting Thursday, February 5th.

    • Midterm exam details:

    • Format: Moodle exam at the Testing Centre.

    • Duration: 2 hours long.

    • Open dates: February 10-13.

    • Content coverage: All readings and classes until the end of Monday, February 9th.

    • Question types: Mix of multiple choice, true-false, fill-in-the-blank, short answer/definitions, and students’ choice of 2 out of 3 written long answers.

  • Upcoming classes:

    • February 4: Reading assigned is West & Zimmerman.

    • February 9: Readings by Serano and Bonvissuto.

    • February 11: No class scheduled; designated time for students to write the midterm.

Social Inequality

  • Essentialism:

    • Defined as the belief that women and men are ‘naturally’ different.

    • Often serves as a justification for societal inequalities.

  • Cited work:

    • According to Kimmel and Holler in The Gendered Body (2011, p6), "The very processes that confer privilege to one group and not another group are often invisible to those upon whom that privilege is conferred."

Gender as Social Status

  • Sex at birth:

    • Considered an ascribed status; attributes assigned at birth based on biological characteristics.

  • Gender:

    • Considered an achieved status; reflects one’s identity and role based on social and personal factors.

Intersectionality and Identity

  • List of intersecting factors influencing identity:

    • Age

    • Religion

    • Ability

    • Race

    • Ethnicity

    • Socio-economic status

    • Sexual identity

    • Sex

    • Gender

  • Key figures:

    • Kimberlé Crenshaw, known for Intersectional Theory.

    • Patricia Hill Collins, recognized for the Matrix of Domination.

  • Visual representation:

    • Diagram illustrating how various identity components intersect.

  • Further reading:

    • Detailed information available at https://blackfeminisms.com/what-is-intersectionality/.

Patricia Hill-Collins & Sirma Bilge

  • Patricia Hill-Collins:

    • Position: Professor Emerita of Sociology, University of Maryland.

    • Profile link: https://socy.umd.edu/facultyprofile/collins/patricia-hill

  • Sirma Bilge:

    • Position: Professor of Sociology, University of Montreal.

    • Profile link: https://socio.umontreal.ca/repertoire-departement/professeurs/professeur/in/in14885/sg/Sirma%20Bilge/

    • Additional resource: https://umontreal.academia.edu/SirmaBilge.

Wheel of Power & Privilege

  • Themes of marginalization in society:

    • Xenophobia:

    • Related to language and geography issues; includes non-English speaking and rural/urban divides.

    • Racism & Colorism:

    • Focuses on racial dynamics, with specific mention of Black and Indigenous people of color, as well as white privilege and marginalization factors.

    • Classism:

    • Explores social class hierarchies, including poor/working class, middle class, and affluent individuals.

    • Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity:

    • Examines cisgender and transgender identities, emphasizing discrimination faced by queer individuals.

    • Disability:

    • Differentiates between neurotypical and neurodivergent people, as well as discusses physical and mental health challenges.

  • Significance:

    • Critical in understanding societal structures and how various identities interact with systems of power.

Matrix of Domination / Domains of Power

  • Components of power structure:

    • Social Location:

    • Encompasses identity-based privilege and marginalization, influencing one’s knowledge, lived experiences, and autonomy.

    • Interpersonal:

    • Involves shared customs, norms, values, and cultural expressions.

    • Cultural/Hegemonic:

    • Refers to formal and informal methods of policing social behavior and enforcing norms.

    • Disciplinary:

    • Covers governance frameworks that regulate behavior through policies and enforcement measures.

    • Structural:

    • Relates to formal systems including organizational structures and societal laws.

  • Source citation:

    • Reference to Karena, Nora, Heidi Esbensen, and Dana Pertermann’s chapter in Sociology of Gender: An Equity Lens (Open Oregon Educational Resources, 2025).

Six Core Ideas of Intersectional Frameworks

  1. Social inequality

  2. Power

  3. Relationality

  4. Social context

  5. Complexity

  6. Social justice

Discussion Questions

  1. In the 1960s and 1970s, why did Black women choose an intersectional approach to combat the discrimination they experienced?

  2. Why is the intersectional framework particularly significant when analyzing inequality in the Global South?

  3. What complexities arise when utilizing intersectionality as a tool in social analysis?

Next Class Preparation

  • Next Session: Wednesday, February 4th

  • Reading assignment: Review the article "Doing Gender" by Candace West & Don Zimmerman.