Sex and Gender

Chapter 8

Sex vs. Gender

Gender Stratification-unequal access to power, prestige and property based on gender differences

Sex is biological (male/female)

Gender – behavior, attitudes proper for males and females

Inherit sex, learn gender Gender is social Gender is a master status Gender is a device by which

society controls its members

Dominant Position in Sociology

Social factors not biology reasons we behave the way we do

Difference in gender behavior is due to social factors

Type of work men and women do is determined by social arrangement

Nature vs. Nurture- nature provides biological predispositions overlaid with culture (Medical accidents, Vietnam veterans study)

Inequality in a Global Perspective

Hunter- gatherer societies men and women social equals- changed over time

Females as a minority group Gender primary division Women- dominant in number- are discriminated

against on the basis of physical characteristics Society sets up barriers to ensure unequal access

on the basis of sex Patriarchy was a social consequence of

reproduction, women did not receive as much prestige for their work

Origins of Patriarchy

Patriarchal (male dominated society) theories point to social consequences of human reproduction

Women stayed at home to raise children, men went out into the world, took dominant position in society.

Males dominated society men dominate political behavior, are wiling to sacrifice to attain dominance

Women- second class citizens Men viewed as superior

Patriarchyo Certain activities appropriate for men and not

women Sex Typing- activities associated with one sex or

another (male and female jobs) George Murdock study 1937 found different cultures

assign different work to men or women (exception metalworking/ male)

Conclusion- biology does not require men or women to be assigned different work

Gender and Prestige of Work

Universally greater prestige is given to male activities- regardless of what they are

Areas of Global Discrimination

Education- women lower rates of literacy Politics- lack equal access to national decision

making Gap in Pay- average less pay than men Politics- No national legislature has more

women than men in office Violence against Women- foot binding,

witch burning, suttee, female circumcision, domestic violence

Institutions in society work together to maintain inequality. Customs justify and maintain arrangements

Rise of Feminism

100 years ago in U.S. women second class (voting, property, could not make legal contracts

Feminism- men and women should be politically, economically and socially equal

Women’s Movement

Three waves First- early 1900’s, reform

society, give women the right to vote

Second- 1960’s, women began to take careers, compare working conditions to men

Third- focus on problems of Least Industrialized Nations, values in the workplace

Gender Inequality in Education

56% of undergraduates are women Gender tracking- degrees follow

gender, reinforces male-female distinctions

Graduate school- women less likely to complete doctorate

Gender Inequality in Everyday Life

1. Devaluation of things feminine2. Higher value placed on things masculine3. Femininity represents weakness, lack of

accomplishment4. Conversation- women often interrupted,

employer- employee relationship in conversation

5. Men use insults that feminize other men

Inequality in the Workplace

Gap in pay between men and women Gap in pay exists at all levels of education Nation’s top 500 corporations, only 5 headed by

women

Gender Inequality in the Workplace

Men enter higher paying fields

Women placed in supporting roles at many jobs (human resources, public relations)

Child Penalty- women missing out on work experience raising children

Gender Inequality in the Workplace

Glass Ceiling- keeps women from advancing to top level positions in upper management

If they play by “men’s rules”, they advance quicker

Glass Escalator-men working in female occupations (librarian, social worker, elementary school teacher)

pushes men into higher levels, more desirable work and pay

Mommy Track- emphasizes career and family, encourages women to take lower job, pay

Confirms cultural assumption that child rearing is “women’s work

Conflict Theory- capitalists exploit gender division

Sexual Harassment

Unwelcome sexual attention at work or school that affects job performance

Not seen as a problem until 1970’s

Symbolic Interactionists- term allows us to perceive action in different light

Gender and Violence

Forms of Violence against Women (usually by males)

Forcible Rape- underreported Date Rape most go unreported Murder Violence in the Home Sociologists agree that solution to

problems of violence is to break connection between masculinity and violence

Women in the Criminal Justice System

Judges more lenient towards women

Recently violence crimes committed by women is rising, demonstrates aggression can be related to social factors

Women in Politics

Women underrepresented in politics

Law and business not feminine fields, where politicians start

Men reluctant to give up power, incorporate women into decision making

Some women see politics as incompatible with role expectation of motherhood

Future for Equality ?

Barriers coming down

Stereotypes changing

New consciousness about ability and relationships