Chapter 12

Gender

Chapter Outline Defining Sex and Gender Sex Differences: Nature or Nurture The Social Construction of Gender Gender Stratification Gender Diversity Theories of Gender Gender and Social Change

Defining Sex and Gender

Sex refers to biological identity. Gender refers to learned behaviors

associated with each sex.

Gender Gap in Attitudes

Sex Differences: Nature or Nurture? The important question is not whether

biology or culture is more important in forming men and women, but how biology and culture interact to produce a person’s gender identity.

Biological determinism refers to explanations that attribute complex social phenomena to physical characteristics.

Biological Sex Identity A person’s sex identity is established at

the moment of conception when the father’s sperm provides either an X or a Y chromosome to the egg at fertilization.

The mother contributes an X chromosome to the embryo.

Two X chromosomes make a female; an X and a Y, a male.

Hermaphroditism A condition caused by irregularities in the

process of chromosome formation or fetal differentiation that produces persons with mixed biological sex characteristics.

In the most common form of hermaphroditism, the child is born with ovaries or testes, but the genitals are ambiguous or mixed.

Within and Between Gender Differences

Gender Socialization

Teaches expectations for each sex and effects: Self concept Social and political attitudes Perceptions about other people Relationships with others

Polling Question If you were taking a new job and had your

choice of a boss, would you prefer to work for a man or a woman?

A.) Man

B.) Woman

C.) No preference

Agents of Gender Socialization

Parents Childhood play and games Schools Religion Media Popular Culture

Women’s Participation in High School Sports

Consequences of Gender Expectations Women are denied access to power,

influence, achievement, and independence in the public world.

Men are denied access to nurturing, emotional, and other-oriented worlds that women traditionally inhabit.

Gendered Institutions

The total pattern of gender relations including:

Stereotypical expectations Interpersonal relationships Different placement of men and women in

hierarchies of institutions

Characteristic of Societies With Gender Equality Women’s work is central to the economy. Women have access to education. Ideological or religious support for gender

inequality is weak.

Characteristic of Societies With Gender Equality Men contribute to housework and

childcare. Work is not highly sex-segregated. Women have access to power and

authority.

Median Income by Race and Gender

The Wage Gap: International

Education, Gender, and Income

Women’s Worth: Still Unequal In the 1960s, women earned 59% of what

men earned. Women today earn 73% of what men

earn. In 2002, income for women working full-

time and year round was $30,203, for men, $39,429.

Polling Question How comfortable are you with the gender

roles our society defines as appropriate for males and females?A.) Very comfortableB.) Somewhat comfortableC.) UnsureD.) Somewhat uncomfortableE.) Very uncomfortable

Explaining the Pay Gap Overt discrimination

White men perpetuate their advantage over women and racial minorities, through labor union practices, legislation, harassment, and intimidation.

Explaining the Pay Gap Human capital theory

Age, experience, education, marital status and hours worked influence worth in the labor market.

Explaining the Pay Gap Dual labor market theory

Women and men earn different amounts because they work in different segments of the market.

Explaining the Pay Gap Gender segregation

Men and women work in gender segregated occupations.

Earnings: Selected Jobs

Explanations Of Gender Segregation

Women and men are socialized differently and choose to go into different fields.

Structural obstacles discourage women from entering male-dominated jobs and from advancing once employed.

Theories of Gender

FunctionalismSocialization into roles is a major

impetus behind inequality

Conflict theoristsWomen are disadvantaged by inequalities built into the social

structure

Symbolic interaction theory

Gender is produced through interaction and interpretations

Feminist Theory: Comparing Perspectives

Gender Identity

Liberal Feminism

Learned through traditional patterns of gender role

socialization

Socialist Feminism

Gender division of labor reflects the needs of capitalist workforce

Feminist Theory: Comparing Perspectives

Gender Identity

RadicalFeminism

Women’s identification with men gives men power over

women

MultiracialFeminism

Women and men of color form an oppositional consciousness

as a reaction against oppression

Feminist Theory: Comparing Perspectives

Gender Identity

GenderedInstitutions

Gender is learned in institutional settings structured

along gender lines

“DoingGender”

Gender is an accomplishedactivity created through social

interaction

Women’s Work Around the World

Paid Work Unpaid Work

Women Men Women Men

Australia 15 30 35 18

France 15 26 31 17

Japan 20 39 26 3

Netherlands 10 25 26 11

Women’s Work Around the World

Paid Work Unpaid Work

Women Men Women Men

Japan 20 39 26 3

New Zealand 16 29 33 19

Republic of Korea

23 36 17 2

Women in Government

Contemporary Attitudes About Gender 16% of women and 20% of men disapprove of

women working while they have young children 1/2 of all women and men surveyed said the

ideal lifestyle was a marriage in which responsibilities were shared.

47% of men believe it is best for men to hold the provider role, compared with 69% in 1970.

87% of women say that making laws to establish equal pay should be a legislative priority.

Quick Quiz

1. A person's biological identity of male or females is their:

a. gender identity

b. hermaphroditism

c. sex

d. gender

Answer: c A person's biological identity of male or

females is their sex.

2. Condition produced when irregularities in chromosome formation or fetal differentiation produce persons with mixed biological sex characteristics is referred to as:

a. homophroditism

b. bisexual

c. hermaphroditism

d. cross-dressers

Answer: c Condition produced when irregularities in

chromosome formation or fetal differentiation produce persons with mixed biological sex characteristics is referred to as hermaphroditism.

3. One's definition of oneself as a woman or man is referred to as:

a. gender apartheid

b. gender socialization

c. gender differentiation

d. gender identity

Answer: d One's definition of oneself as a woman or

man is referred to as gender identity.

4. "Women are disadvantaged by power inequities between women and men that are built into the social structure." This statement is most closely related to the:

a. "doing gender" perspective

b. symbolic interactionist perspective

c. functionalist perspective

d. conflict perspective

Answer: d "Women are disadvantaged by power

inequities between women and men that are built into the social structure." This statement is most closely related to the conflict perspective.

5. A person's sex identity is established atthe moment of conception.

a. True

b. False

Answer: true A person's sex identity is established at

the moment of conception.

6. The fear and hatred of homosexuality is referred to as:a. machismob. homophobiac. heterosexismd. heterophobia

Answer: b The fear and hatred of homosexuality is

referred to as homophobia.