Inequalities of Gender & Age

Section 1

Sex & Gender Identity

How are children taught about gender and gender roles from a

young age?

Who teaches them these ideas?

Defining Male & Female

What are little girls made of?

Sugar and Spice

And everything nice.

That’s what little girls re made of.

What are little boys made of?

Snips and snails

And puppy dog tails

That’s what little boys are made of.

What do children think about gender?

Children and Gender Roles

Research has determined that

women re no more likely than men to touch

other people; “touchiness” is a

function of personality and modeling, not

gender.

Women talk more than men Research does bear this finding to be true. Men tend to take up more space than

women.

Women are more likely than man to touch each other.

Research shows that in spite of

what most people believe,

just the opposite is true. In one

study, men talked on the average of 10 minutes more

than women about an

engraving.

Women use less personal space than men.

Gender Vocabulary

• Biological Determination the principle that behavioral differences are the result of

inherited physical characteristics.

• Gender Identity a sense of being male or female based on learned cultural values

Section 2

Theoretical Perspectives on Gender

Focus on Theoretical Perspectives

Theoretical Perspective Social Arrangement Example

Functionlism Gender-based division Women are expected toof labor perform household

tasks for the benefit ofsociety.

Conflict Theory Patriarchy (male Women are denied highdomination) status occupations for

the benefit of men.

Symbolic Interactionism Favoring males over Few females believefemales in the they can becomeclassroom scientists.

Section 3

Gender Inequality

Women as a Minority Group

• Sexism a set of beliefs, attitudes, norms and values used to justify sexual inequality

• Isn’t sex discrimination disappearing? - Yes & No There have been many improvements, but still more to come.

Occupational & Economic Inequality

• What kinds of jobs are women doing? • Occupational sex segregation the

concentration of women in lower-status positions

• Do women earn less than men? - Earn about $0.77/$1.00 ON AVERAGE

• Are all occupations affected? Yes

Is there a reason for this?? Do Women Earn Less Than Men?

Legal & Political Inequality

• What are some biases in law? - Some states do not allow women to keep their surnames - Limit the number of hours women can work & kinds of work - Title VII (Civil Rights Act of 1964) nullified such laws

• How do American women stand politically? - Very involved, participate on many levels - Zwiegenhaft & Domhoff point out women are now part of the power elite.

How does socialization impact our development as the human beings we become?

How did gender roles and gender stereotypes impact you as you were

growing up?

How do you think this will impact your choices as you become adults?

IN CLASS WRITING ASSIGNMENT

Section 4

Ageism

Defining Ageism

• Age stratification the unequal distribution of scarce resources based on age

• Ageism a set of beliefs, attitudes, norms, and values used to justify age-based prejudice and discrimination.

Section 5

Inequality in America’s Elderly Population

Theoretical Perspectives on Ageism Theoretical Social Arrangement ExamplePerspective

Functionalism Elderly people play People retire as theythe role the aged play reach a certain age.in that society.

Conflict Theory Elderly people Forced retirement.compete with otherage groups foreconomic resources.

Symbolic Children learn Stereotypes of theInteractionism negative images of elderly: no sex,

older people as they senile, fragile, etc.learn aspects of their culture.

Economics of the Elderly

• Why is poverty measured differently for older people?

- The government assumes that elderly require less money to live.

• What other factors affect elderly Americans? - Racial & ethinic groups

• Overall, what is the economic position of older people in the United States?

- Better off than years ago but some still live at poverty level

Economics of the Elderly

• Why is poverty measured differently for older people?

- The government assumes that elderly require less money to live.

• What other factors affect elderly Americans? - Racial & ethinic groups

• Overall, what is the economic position of older people in the United States?

- Better off than years ago but some still live at poverty level