Inequalities in gender

1. Inequalities in gender sociology

2. Goals • distinguish concepts of sex, gender, and gender identity • How is gender identity formed according to most sociologists? • summarize the perspectives of gender taken by functionalists, conflict theorists, and symbolic interactionists • describe the status of women in the U.S. and in other countries • choose one country to explore the treatment and status of women • Note: corresponding textbook reading: pp308-329

3. Men v women • Men dominate social, political and economic spheresdomestic: women devalued in industrial society because you don’t get paid to work on house chores or raising kids.

4. Sex v Gender identity • Behavioral differences between men and women are culturally conditionedbiological determinism: principle that behavioral differences are the result of inherited physical characteristics: lacks scientific evidence!Weak biological tendencies are easily overridden by cultural and social influences.

5. Gender identity • gender identity: a sense of being male or female based on learning cultural valuesdif b/w sex and gender: sex=biologygender=socially learned behaviors and expectations associated with the 2 sexesDoes biology or socialization play a greater role in gender dif? • We don’t know for sure whether difs are based on bio or culture.

6. Differences between men and women in western society • women-more emphasis on social class, income,  and like older men in relationshipsMen in relationships: prefer younger women, physical attractiveness more importantmen tend to be more aggressive in western society New Guinea: makes and females both conditioned to NOT be aggressive and cooperative and empatheticMundugumor: men and women BOTH trained to be aggressive and ruthlessTchambuli: women dominant, impersonal, and aggressive.  men dependent and submissivebased on this evidence, gender roles not formed at birth

7. Sociologists think that gender related behavior is related to culture because: • New Guinea: makes and females both conditioned to NOT be aggressive and cooperative and empatheticMundugumor: men and women BOTH trained to be aggressive and ruthlessTchambuli: women dominant, impersonal, and aggressive.  men dependent and submissivebased on this evidence, gender roles not formed at birth

8. Theoretical perspectives on gender • Functionalism: division of responsibility b/w males and females survived b/c it benefitted human living-men big and strong: huntRecognize that division of labor created probs Inequality in occupational opportunities. We’ll discuss later. • Gender based hierarchy: riddle about car accident

9. Being Raised as the opposite gender • <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SxuMOVHxE3A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

10. Conflict theory • It’s men’s advantage to prevent women from gaining access to political, economic, and social resourcesEx: maintain gender status quo: Afghanistan so school or working outside of the home (changing in Kabul)

11. Symbolic interactionism • focus on how boys and girls learn to act the way they are supposed to actgender socialization: social process of learning how to act as a boy or girl

12. parents • learning of gender well est by age 2 ½.pink v. blue dolls v. action fuguresboys discouraged from cuddlingdiffam chores

13. In Schools • boys should be more aggressive and not punished as harshly for being so

14. Peer status • feminine boys and masculine girls generally assigned low statuschanging?  depends on the society of the school

15. Gender inequality • sexism: set of beliefs, attitudes, norms and values used to justify sexual inequalitySex discrimination is disappearing?  Dramatic inc in work force womenBUT concentrated in low status occupations12% engineers women20% lawyersseldom in high level admin positions

16. More inequalities! • Income inequality: 80 cents/$1 for same job!  Also varies based on race and ethnicity.  Minoroty women have it even worse.Legal and political inequality:  Biases of law: pregnancy costs not covered in all health insurance.  But prostate problems providesd forLimited in jobs allowed to apply for.  Front line battles, working with toxic materials (some of these jobs are high paying)

17. Politics • inc participation but fewer women in gov’t than men.  Lowers # of women in gov’t compared to all other countries in the western world.

18. Readings • Internet trend: helping inequalities?  P329Baby X article (342)

19. homework • How do your parents feel about gender equality?  Would your dad be upset if your mom made more money?

20. Review • distinguish concepts of sex, gender, and gender identity • How is gender identity formed according to most sociologists? • summarize the perspectives of gender taken by functionalists, conflict theorists, and symbolic interactionists • describe the status of women in the U.S. and in other countries • choose one country to explore the treatment and status of women