Transcript Sex and Gender Chapter 11 Henslin’s Sociology: A Down to Earth Approach (Rubinfield and Zumpetta) Gender Stratification The unequal access to power, prestige and property on the basis.

Sex and Gender
Chapter 11
Henslin’s Sociology: A Down to Earth
Approach
(Rubinfield and Zumpetta)
Gender Stratification
The unequal access to power,
prestige and property on the
basis of sex
Sex as a Master Status:
One’s sex cuts across all aspects of social life. It is a
biological fact.
We are all born either male or female.
Gender is a socially constructed ‘label’ ascribed to
males and females, carrying with it images and
expectations about how we should act.
Gender consists of the social characteristics that a
society considers ‘proper behavior’ for it’s
male/female members as masculine and feminine.
Gender Definitions Vary From One
Society to Another…
Gender roles are a form of societal
control.
The Nature vs. Nurture Debate
continues…
Are biological differences the reason for male
dominance in most societies?
Cynthia Fuchs Epstein
(1986/1988/1989)
Studied the types of work that men and woman do
in each society and concluded that they are
determined by social arrangements.
She found that the behavior of males and females
are solely the result of social factors, socialization
and social control.
She found that biological differences were only
relevant in limited activities such as childbirth and
certain strength focused sports.
Points to females crime rates increasing recently in
many parts of the world, indicating increased
aggressiveness in woman.
Steven Goldberg: (1974/1986/1993)
Goldberg found in his studies that Anthropologists
have only found evidence of male dominated
societies, and believes that stories about female
dominated societies are myths.
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He found that the highest social status was
associated only with men.
He concluded that men dominated because they
have a stronger tendency to do whatever is
needed to dominate.
He also concluded that exceptional individuals do
not refute physiological roots of behavior.
Societies dominated by males
are called Patriarchies
Societies dominated by
females are called
Matriarchies
Goldberg believed that…
‘Social institutions merely reflect
and sometimes exaggerate inborn
tendencies.’
And so the debate goes on….
The Case of the Medical Accident…
At first –Experts believed that gender
was clearly the result of social
orientation.
Later – found that ‘maleness’ was a
combination of genetics and social
orientation.
The Impact of Social Environment:
Vietnam Veteran’s Study:
A study was conduced of over 4500 men who served
in the military in Vietnam. It found that higher
levels of testosterone were not the only
determinants of gender identified behaviors.
The study found that men in high social classes.
were less likely to be involved in antisocial.
behaviors than men with high testosterone.
levels men in lower social class.
George Murdock (1937)
Studied 324 pre-modern societies and
found that in all of these societies, work
was sex typed.
With the exception of metalworking,
which was always done by males, sex did
not determine work roles, gender
socialization did and these work roles
varied from society to society.
Linton (1976) and Rosaldo (1974)
Performed studied that found that
universally, male activities are
always assigned more prestige in
societies, regardless of what the
activity is.
Origins of Patriarchy:
Reproductive responsibilities are primarily female,
therefore many cultures assigned tasks based on
mothering and domestic considerations. Men
became responsible for hunting and more aggressive
duties.
This lead to a separation between male roles and
female roles in many societies.
As these inherent beliefs in dominance became
ingrained, males protected their roles of power and
controlled the development of societal rules, norms
and values.
Gender Inequalities in the US:
The gender gap is not accidental:
Customs/traditions reinforce, justify
and maintain the social
arrangements in society.
Feminism in the US:
The first wave of feminism (1916) focused
on the argument that biology is NOT
destiny and that stratification by gender is
wrong and should be resisted, met with
strong opposition by both males and
females.
They believed in radical reform of
institutions in society and fort for
women’s right to vote, which was
achieved in 1920.
Second Wave of Feminism:
In the 1960s, a second wave of
feminism brought a struggle against
gender inequities in work roles and
public policies.
This struggle continues today…
Third Wave in Feminism:
Recently, there has been a focus on equal
opportunity to impact policies and values
within society.
With power, competition, and autonomy.
representing ‘male values’ being replaced
or supplemented with ‘female values’ of
tenderness, compassion and cooperation.
Gender Gaps:
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In Education- Woman globally experience a
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In Politics- In most nations, woman equal 11% or
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In Pay Gaps- In US, woman make 70% of the
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In Violence- Violence against woman is not
higher rate of illiteracy and many cultural hurtles to
achieving higher education based on their gender.
less of the legislature. In some nations, woman still
cannot vote (Kuwait, United Arab Emirates).
wages males are earning for equal work. In S.
Korea woman make less than 50% of their male
counterparts.
considered criminal in many areas of the world.
What Are Minority Groups:
A minority group is any group that is
discriminated against on the basis of
physical or cultural characteristics
Even though woman compromise over
50% of the American population,
they are still considered a minority
group on this basis.
What is Feminism?
Feminism is the philosophy that
men and women should be
politically, economically, and socially
equal
College Completion in the US:
Recent statistics show that
overall in the US, 28% of men
have completed college
compared to 23% of women.
Gender Tracking:
When sociologists study that…
Men earn 81 percent of bachelor's degrees in
engineering while women earn 88 percent of
bachelor's degrees in library science.
They are Gender Tracking, showing
that degrees tend to follow gender,
reinforcing male/female distinctions.
Another example of gender tracking…
In 1970, 5% of law degrees were
earned by women;
In 1996, women earned 44% of law
degrees
The state with the lowest
percentage of women in the
workforce is West Virginia
What Is the “Glass Ceiling”?
The Glass Ceiling is the term used to
describe the invisible barriers
encountered by woman in the
workplace that bar them from
achieving the executive level of
accomplishment.
What Is the Glass Escalator?
The term for the phenomenon
where men who enter
traditionally female occupations
are accelerated into higher-level
positions faster than women.
Felice Schwartz’s Zigzag Track:
Schwartz attempted to define a ‘Mommy
Track’ that would offer both Mothers and
Fathers the opportunity to spend some
quality time with their children while
putting their ‘fast track’ careers on hold
temporarily.
She called this system, a ‘Zig Zag Track’.
Sexual Harassment:
Can be found in many forms
always involving …
The Abuse of Power
Rape:
Violence Against Woman/Men
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Forcible Rape – Happens to over 8.3% of American
woman per 10,000 and only 1/3 are reported.
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15-20% of men in prisons are forcibly raped.
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Only one forth of rapes are committed by strangers.
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Date Rape – Recently, a college was studied and it
was found that ‘date rape’ occurred at a 2.5% rate
and that most of these rapes were going unreported
because the victims felt somehow responsible,
because the woman voluntarily went out with the
rapist.
Woman in Positions of
Authority:
In Canada, Great Britain,
India, Poland, and Israel all
have or had a woman
president or prime minister
Social Sanctions:
Negative sanctions deter.
unwanted behaviors.
Positive sanctions are used.
to reinforce good and desired
behaviors.
Workplace Stereotypes:
In corporate America, sexism
continues…
Woman are not taken as seriously as
their male counterparts.
Masculinity = Strength/Success.
Femininity = Weakness and Less
Accomplishments.
Pay Gap;
The Million Dollar Difference
Woman continue to be paid at considerably
lower levels than males, ranging to as
much as $2000 per month at some levels
of employment.
While advanced education has raised
incomes for females, they are still earning
far less than their male contemporaries.
Hurtles and Possible Solutions:
Increased female governmental representation will
improve the codification of stronger laws protecting
woman’s rights.
As the number of woman in the fields of law and
business increase, the female pool for political
candidates will increase as well, leading to more
balanced representation.
Many woman lack supportive spouses who are willing
to accommodate the pressures and involvement of a
political wife.
Woman have not organized as a political power group
as yet. This would dramatically increase their
bargaining abilities if accomplished, because woman
comprise over 51% of the American population in
2003.
The struggle continues…