WHAT IS GENDER?

Year 11 Sociology

Social Stratification

LESSON OBJECTIVES By the end of these lessons you should: Know the difference between sex and

gender Be able to explain how sociologists

define gender Understand the inequalities based on

gender

What are…?GENDER

ETHNICITYAGE

CLASS

SOCIAL DIVISIONS

SEX OR GENDER?

Sex…• Biological differences• If a person is considered to be male or

female• Based on role in reproduction• Fixed and ascribed at birth• Usually fixed throughout your life

Gender…Different social practices and expectations that are linked to masculinity or femininity.

His or hers?

How does this happen?• Does it start here?

• How do we dress babies?• Do we use different language for

girls and boys?• From birth we make girls and boys

different. • We give them different types of

names.• We dress them differently.• As babies get older we give girls

and boys different toys and books.

• This is called socialisation and sociologists argue that it is highly gendered.

• This means that girls and boys, even from a young age are prepared to do different things in society.

Sociologists call this primary socialisation.

And what else?school

Mass media

Work place

Religion What contribution do these agencies of secondary socialisation make?

A social constructionSociologists argue that the differences between men and women are socially constructed – they are created by the society not by biology.

This can change over…

Time

Place

Culture

Complete gender in everyday life and cross-cultural differences in gender on page 289.

Homework preparation:Bring in old magazines and newspapers for Friday.

In the 21st Century Women do not face

Discrimination…

How far do you agreeor disagree with this statement?

Inequalities and gender

40Many changes have taken place over the past 40 years...

This is due partly to the introduction of legislation.

1970 – Equal Pay Act

Men and women must be paid the same wage when doing the same work.

1975 – Sex discrimination Act

This made it unlawful for men and women to be treated differently at work or school because of their sex.

Greater equality?Li (2008)Women are more likely to achieve good education, jobs and higher salaries.

BUT…Holmes (2009)Society is still organised in a way that benefits men more than women. Because…Society is mainly controlled by men who have power – workplace and politicsMen have a bigger share of rewards such as power and status.

Gender inequalities at workDespite legislation there is still inequality in the work place.

19% 2%

20% Of all

women

5% Of allmen

When men and women work in the same occupation , women are more likely to be in the lower or middle level jobs.

Men tend to be at a higher grade.

The Glass Ceiling

IT is argued that women are held back in their careers, the glass ceiling is like an invisible barrier to their promotion.

Many women are employed in low status and low paid jobs so they earn significantly less than men.

Women have worse pay than men with similar education levels and age. Li (2008)

Explanations1 Sex discrimination within the workplace.

2 Women’s triple shift – many women bear the burden of working the triple shift – paid work, housework and emotional work. So women may be held back from promotion at work. Dunscombe and Marsden (1995)

3 Childcare provision – Britain has an inadequate and expensive childcare system for the under 5s. This may prevent women with young children from participating in paid employment or staying in employment long enough to progress their careers.

Media Collage ActivityIn pairs create a collage to show how both femininity and masculinity are shown in the mass media.

Homework QuestionsDescribe one way in which the social position of women in Britain has changed over the last 50 years and explain the consequences of this change. (5 marks)

Explain what sociologists mean by life chances. (4 marks)

Identify two barriers to social mobility that individuals might face. (2 marks)