Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Sex and GenderSex and Gender

Melanie HatfieldMelanie Hatfield

Soc 100Soc 100

Sex and GenderSex and Gender

Sex: An aspect of one’s biological makeup Sex: An aspect of one’s biological makeup that depends on whether one is born with that depends on whether one is born with distinct male or female genitals and a distinct male or female genitals and a genetic program that releases either male genetic program that releases either male or female hormones to stimulate the or female hormones to stimulate the development of one’s reproductive system.development of one’s reproductive system.

Gender: One’s sense of being male or Gender: One’s sense of being male or female and playing masculine or feminine female and playing masculine or feminine roles in ways defined as appropriate by roles in ways defined as appropriate by one’s culture and society.one’s culture and society.

The Social Learning of The Social Learning of GenderGender

The case of Bruce/Brenda/David suggests The case of Bruce/Brenda/David suggests that unlike sex, gender is not determined just that unlike sex, gender is not determined just by biology.by biology.

Research shows that babies first develop a Research shows that babies first develop a vague sense of gender identity between the vague sense of gender identity between the ages of 2 and 3.ages of 2 and 3.

Once the social learning of gender takes Once the social learning of gender takes hold, it is apparently very difficult to undo, hold, it is apparently very difficult to undo, even by means of reconstructive surgery, even by means of reconstructive surgery, hormones, and parental and professional hormones, and parental and professional pressure.pressure.

Theories of Gender Theories of Gender DifferencesDifferences

Essentialism: A school of thought that Essentialism: A school of thought that sees gender differences as a reflection sees gender differences as a reflection of biological differences between of biological differences between women and men.women and men. Functionalist theoryFunctionalist theory

Social Constructionism: A school of Social Constructionism: A school of thought that sees gender differences thought that sees gender differences as a reflection of the different social as a reflection of the different social positions occupied by women and men.positions occupied by women and men. Conflict, feminist, and symbolic Conflict, feminist, and symbolic

interactionist theoriesinteractionist theories

Functionalists and Functionalists and Essentialism Essentialism

Functionalists reinforce the essentialist Functionalists reinforce the essentialist viewpoint when they claim that traditional viewpoint when they claim that traditional gender roles help to integrate society.gender roles help to integrate society.

In the family women traditionally In the family women traditionally specialize in raising children and specialize in raising children and managing the household.managing the household.

Men traditionally work in the paid labor Men traditionally work in the paid labor force.force.

Each generation learns to perform these Each generation learns to perform these complimentary roles by means of gender complimentary roles by means of gender role socialization.role socialization.

4 Criticisms of 4 Criticisms of EssentialismEssentialism

1.1. They ignore historical and cultural They ignore historical and cultural variability of gender and sexuality. variability of gender and sexuality.

2.2. They generalize from the average, They generalize from the average, ignoring variations within gender ignoring variations within gender groups.groups.

3.3. No evidence directly supports their No evidence directly supports their major claims. major claims.

4.4. Their explanations for gender Their explanations for gender differences ignore the role of power. differences ignore the role of power.

Conflict Theorists and Gender Conflict Theorists and Gender InequalityInequality

Conflict theorists believe that:Conflict theorists believe that: The root of male domination in class The root of male domination in class

inequality.inequality. Men gained substantial power over women Men gained substantial power over women

when preliterate societies were first able to when preliterate societies were first able to produce more than their members needed for produce more than their members needed for survival – some men gained control over the survival – some men gained control over the economic surplus.economic surplus.

They soon devised means of ensuring that They soon devised means of ensuring that their offspring would inherit the surplus.their offspring would inherit the surplus.

As industrial capitalism developed male As industrial capitalism developed male domination increased. domination increased.

Feminist Theorists and Feminist Theorists and Gender InequalityGender Inequality

Feminist theorists believe that ender Feminist theorists believe that ender inequality is rooted in patriarchal inequality is rooted in patriarchal authority relations, family authority relations, family structures, and patterns of structures, and patterns of socialization and culture that exists socialization and culture that exists in most societies.in most societies.

Gender SocializationGender Socialization

Barbie v. GI JoeBarbie v. GI Joe Research conducted in the early 70s Research conducted in the early 70s

showed that from birth, infant boys and showed that from birth, infant boys and girls who are matched in length, weight, girls who are matched in length, weight, and general health are treated differently and general health are treated differently by parents – fathers in particular.by parents – fathers in particular.

Girls tend to identified as delicate, weak, Girls tend to identified as delicate, weak, beautiful, and cute.beautiful, and cute.

Boys tend to be identified as strong, alert, Boys tend to be identified as strong, alert, and well-coordinated.and well-coordinated.

The Mass Media and Body The Mass Media and Body ImageImage

Outside school, children, Outside school, children, adolescents, and adults negotiate adolescents, and adults negotiate gender roles as they interact with gender roles as they interact with the mass media.the mass media.

The Mass Media and Body The Mass Media and Body ImageImage

The effect of these messages is to The effect of these messages is to reinforce the normality of traditional reinforce the normality of traditional gender roles.gender roles.

Many people even try to shape their Many people even try to shape their bodies after the body images bodies after the body images portrayed in the mass media.portrayed in the mass media.

The Earnings Gap: Four The Earnings Gap: Four FactorsFactors

1.1. Gender discrimination.Gender discrimination.2.2. Heavy domestic responsibilities Heavy domestic responsibilities

reduce women’s earnings. reduce women’s earnings. 3.3. Women tend to be concentrated in Women tend to be concentrated in

low-wage occupations and low-wage occupations and industries.industries.

4.4. Work done by women is commonly Work done by women is commonly considered less valuable than work considered less valuable than work done by men because it is viewed as done by men because it is viewed as involving fewer skills. involving fewer skills.

Male Aggression against Male Aggression against WomenWomen

Serious acts of aggression between men and Serious acts of aggression between men and women are common, with the great majority women are common, with the great majority of them being committed by men against of them being committed by men against

Greater physical power is more likely to be Greater physical power is more likely to be used to commit acts of aggression only used to commit acts of aggression only when norms justify male domination and when norms justify male domination and men have much more social power than men have much more social power than women.women.

When women and men are more equal When women and men are more equal socially, and norms justify gender socially, and norms justify gender inequality, then the rate of male aggression inequality, then the rate of male aggression against women is lower.against women is lower.

Equality ProgressEquality Progress

The 20th century witnessed growing The 20th century witnessed growing equality between wm and men in many equality between wm and men in many countries.countries.

Many forces have brought about a massive Many forces have brought about a massive cultural shift, a fundamental reorientation cultural shift, a fundamental reorientation of thinking on the part of many Americans of thinking on the part of many Americans about what women could and should do in about what women could and should do in society.society.

One indicator of the progress of women is One indicator of the progress of women is the Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM).the Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM).

GEM, 2005GEM, 2005