Gender and Families

1. Gender and Families Sex and gender Gender role theories Biosocial Psychoanalytic Cognitive development Social learning/socialization Conflict (sex/gender system) Male point of view Gender and family work

2. Sex vs. Gender • Sex: Biological • Gender: Social and cultural • Gender identity: response to biological and social cues • Recent thinking: gender identity may be more fluid than we believe, but society emphasizes male/female boundary.

3. Gender roles • Social role: Pattern of behaviors associated with a position • Gender role: Pattern of behaviors commonly exhibited by males and females. Socially constructed and enforced.

4. The Male Brain Biosocial Approach • Innate biological differences • Hormones influence behavior (aggression, maternal instinct) • Male and female brains different • Reinforced by social experiences • Social influences can counteract biological • Differences exist only “on average”

5. Psychoanalytic approach (Freud) • Roles develop subconsciously • Begin with attachment to mother • Boy wants mother; must compete with father • Solution: identify with father, transfer attachment to another woman

6. Psychoanalytic approach (Freud) • Girl identifies w/mother; accepts male dominance • Envies male power (penis envy) • Solution: Have man’s baby • Implies: “traditional” roles are natural and right

7. Psychoanalytic approach (Feminist) • Response to Freud: • “Womb envy:” Men envy childbearing • “Power envy:” Women envy economic and political (not sexual) power • Emotional differences: father as distant role model, mother present; • boys learn separation, girls learn connectedness

8. Cognitive Development Theory • Understanding of gender develops in stages • Age 2: Can identify own and others’ gender • based on superficial features • see gender as changeable

9. Cognitive Development Theory • Age 3-5: Rigid conception of M/F roles • Need to classify and categorize • Need for “black and white” distinctions • Age 6-7: See gender as permanent • Not dependent on clothing, hair • May continue to insist on rigid gender roles

10. Socialization/Social learning • Socialization by parents • Begins at birth (“Baby X” experiment) • Manipulation: treat boys and girls differently • Channeling: direct attention to specific objects • Verbal appellation: different language • Activity exposure

11. Socialization/Social learning • Socialization by peers • Same sex peers are influential • Boys engage in competition, individual play • Girls engage in cooperation, group play, communication • Imitate peers’ behavior and attitudes

12. Socialization/Social learning • Socialization by media: • Kids watch TV 4 hrs/day • >60% of major characters are men • Women shown as sexual, youthful, thin

13. Conflict Theory: Sex-Gender System • Patriarchy: Social order based on domination of women • Reinforced by capitalist system • Lower pay for women • Conflicts between men and women • Unpaid housework: men can work for lower wages

14. The Male Point of View • Often study gender from woman’s perspective • Masculine role may harm men • Assault, homicide • Drinking, smoking, neglecting health • Difficulty expressing feelings • Pressure to provide • Estrangement from families • Women want control at home – discourage husband’s participation

15. Gender and Family Work • Arlie Hochschild (80’s-90’s) • “Second Shift” = maintaining home and caring for family • How is family work divided among employed couples? *Recent Newsweek article on this issue: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20590897/site/newsweek/?GT1=10357

16. Three Gender Ideologies: • Traditional – 2nd shift is women’s work; her employment has lower priority; identifies with family; husband has more power

17. Three Gender Ideologies: • Egalitarian – true 50/50 sharing; both partners identify with work and family

18. Three Gender Ideologies: • Transitional – husband more traditional, wife more egalitarian

19. Women’s answers: 18% had men who shared 30% tried to get men to share 52% didn’t try Men’s answers: 20% said they shared 80% didn’t think they had to share Who Shares 2nd Shift? *Recent data from 2002 General Social Survey: 25% of women and 30% of men say that men share household responsibilities

20. Why men didn’t share: • Needs reduction – “she doesn’t need my help;” • Substitution – “I do other kinds of work.” • Comparison – “I do more than most guys.”

21. How Women Responded 1. Change his behavior – • ask for help; • indirect tactics

22. How Women Responded 2. Change her own behavior – • “Supermom” – do it all • Cut back on work, career • Cut back on home, self, marriage, children • Hire help or get family members to help

23. How men responded when asked to share • Cooperation – 20% changed behavior • Resistance • Feigned incompetence • Wait for wife to ask • Bargaining (“I’ll do it as a gift”) • Needs reduction (“What mess?”)

24. Why don’t women ask for help? • Traditional ideology • Avoid conflict • Want control (“he’d never do it right”)