GENDER STRATIFICATION

SOCIOLOGISTS MAKE AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION BETWEEN SEX AND GENDER.

SEX Ascribed status – You are born male or

female

The physical and biological differences between men and women.

Sex differences are made evident by physical distinctions in anatomical, chromosomal, hormonal, and physiological characteristics.

GENDERAchieved Status – Learned through the

socialization process

The social, psychological, and cultural attributes of masculinity and femininity that are based, in part, on biological differences

An important factor in shaping individuals self image and social identity

RELIGIOUS VIEWS

Patriarchal Ideology The belief that men are superior to women

and should control all important aspects of society.

Almost all societies and religions held this view historically and many still do.

BIOLOGICAL VIEWS

Ethnologists Observed that sexual differences in

behavior exist throughout much of the nonhuman animal world, including primates.

SociobiologistsBelieve that much of human social behavior

has a genetic basis

BIOLOGICAL VIEWS

Gender-based biologyIdentifies the biological and physiological

differences between men and women as well as differences in responses to drugs.

Gender and Physiological Differences

The study of gender roles should take into account relative size and muscle development, longevity, susceptibility to disease and physical disorders.

GENDER INEQUALITY THEORIES

Two theoretical approaches have been used to explain male dominance and gender inequality:

.

FUNCTIONALIST VIEW

Talcott Parsons and Robert Bales (1955) applied functionalist theory to the modern family.

Argued that the division of labor and role differentiation by sex are universal principles of family organization and are functional to the modern family.

Believe that the family functions best when the father assumes the instrumental role and the mother assumes the expressive role.

Instrumental role Focuses on relationships between the

family and the outside world. Involves supporting and protecting the

family. Expressive role Focuses on relationships within the

family and requires her to provide the love and emotional support needed to sustain the family

CONFLICT THEORY VIEWMen have the better position in society

and hold onto it through social processes

Gender-Role SocializationLifelong process whereby people learn the

values, attitudes, motivations, and behavior considered appropriate to each sex according to their culture.

CHILDHOOD SOCIALIZATIONParents carry in their minds images of

what girls and boys are like.

How they should behave, and what they should be in later life.

Parents respond differently to girls and boys right from the beginning.

Three ways women experience discrimination in the business world

During the hiring process When women are given jobs with lower

occupational prestige than men who have equivalent qualifications receive

Through unequal wage policies Women receive less pay than men for equivalent

work

In the awarding of promotions Women find it more difficult than men to move up

the career ladder