Chapter 8

1. Chapter8 Gender YouMay Ask YourselfCore Fifth EditionDalton Conley YouMay Ask YourselfFifthEditionDalton Conley

2. Paradox • The biological categories of sex strongly influence the social dynamics of gender, however, the social categories of gender can sometimes determine the biology of sex. • Watch the animated short about the gender paradox at: digital.wwnorton.com/youmayask5

3. Sex, Sexuality, and Gender • Sex refers to the biological differences that distinguish males and females. • Sexuality refers to desire, sexual preference, sexual identity, and behavior. • Gender is a social construct that consists of a set of social arrangements that are built around sex categories.

4. Sex: A Process in the Making • Many believe that there are only two sexes— male and female—and that all people fall into one group or the other. • However, evidence suggests that we need to embrace a more expansive definition of sex that goes beyond two rigid and distinct categories.

5. Amos Mac Interview • Amos Mac shares his experiences as a transgender man. • Click here to watch the interview: digital.wwnorton.com/youmayask5

6. Gender: What Does It Take to Be a Woman (or a Man)? • Gender roles are sets of behavioral norms assumed to accompany one’s status as a female or male. • Evidence shows that gender roles have more to do with social status than biology.

7. FeminismSlide 1 of 2 • Feminism is an intellectual, consciousness-raising movement based on the idea that women and men should be accorded equal opportunities and respect.

8. Feminism Slide 2 of 2 • Feminism seeks to get people to understand that gender is an organizing principle of life. • Gender structures social relations on unequal ground, and thus power is fundamentally at play when we talk about gender differences.

9. The Woman QuestionSlide 1 of 7 • A wide range of theories and approaches have been applied to the study of gender, including structural functionalism, psychoanalytic theory, conflict theory, microinteractionist theory, postmodern theory, and ideas from black feminists.

10. The Woman Question Slide 2 of 7 • Structural functionalist approach of studying gender • assumes that gender differences exist to fulfill necessary functions in society. • doesn’t allow for the possibility that other structures could fulfill the same function or for the fact that structures change throughout history.

11. The Woman Question Slide 3 of 7 • Psychoanalytic theories of studying gender • focus on individualistic explanations for gender differences as opposed to societal ones. • support that there are natural differences between men and women that dictate how they behave.

12. The Woman Question Slide 4 of 7 • Conflict theories argue that patriarchal capitalists benefit through systems that subordinate women.

13. The Woman Question Slide 5 of 7 • Socialist feminists argue that all social relations, including relations between workers and the owners of the means of production, stem from unequal gender relations. • Social constructionists argue that gender is a process that people participate in with every social interaction they have.

14. The Woman Question Slide 6 of 7 • Black feminists • argue that gender doesn’t function in a vacuum and that gender studies must take into account that there is no single category of women or men. • point out that some women are not only more privileged than other women but also are more privileged than some men.

15. The Woman Question Slide 7 of 7 • Postmodern theorists question the whole notion of “woman” as a separate, stable category and the value and appropriateness of Western scholars applying their cultural logic to the study of non-Western societies.

16. Sociology in the BedroomSlide 1 of 2 • Much like gender differences, sexual practices vary across time and place, supporting the notion that sexuality is as much a social construct as gender.

17. Sociology in the BedroomSlide 2 of 2 • Homosexuality, which refers to the social identity of a person who has sexual attraction to and/or relations with people of the same sex, is a concept or identity that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century.

18. Paula England Interview • Paula England discusses her research on “hook-up” culture and romantic relationships among college students. • Click here to watch the interview: digital.wwnorton.com/youmayask5

19. Growing Up, Getting Ahead, and Falling Behind • Studies show that gender inequality is rampant in schools. • Boys and girls are treated differently by teachers and there are different expectations for their behavior and performance. • The textbooks and other materials used in schools often reinforce gender stereotypes.

20. Gender in the Workplace • Women still face many challenges in the working world today, including unequal pay, sexual harassment, sexism, tracking to certain kinds of jobs, the “feminization” of jobs, the glass ceiling, and more.

21. Ashley Mears Interview • Ashley Mears talks about the wage structure in the modeling industry. • Click here to watch the interview: digital.wwnorton.com/youmayask5

22. Concept QuizQuestion 1 of 5 1. Gender studies can be said to focus on the relationship between _______. • nature and nurture • sex and sexuality • men and women • sexual preference and social environment

23. Concept QuizQuestion 2 of 5 2. _______ is a nearly universal system involving the subordination of femininity to masculinity. • Patriarchy • Sexism • Matriarchy • Hegemonic masculinity

24. Concept QuizQuestion 3 of 5 3. Michel Foucault argued that the development of homosexuality as a social identity was related to ________. • changes in the nineteenth century with regard to the notion of the ideal man • the development of scientific disciplines and a desire to monitor and categorize people and their behavior • the development of the field of psychoanalysis in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries • society’s need to establish cohesion by identifying “others” who exhibit “deviant” behavior

25. Concept QuizQuestion 4 of 5 4. Sexual harassment is an illegal form of discrimination that can be manifested through ________, with the intent of making a person, usually a woman, feel uncomfortable or unsafe, particularly in a work setting. • inappropriate jokes • sexual assault • requests for sexual favors • all of the above

26. Concept QuizQuestion 5 of 5 5. Women working in male-dominated professions often find that there are _____opportunities for advancement, and men working in female-dominated professions often advance _____ their female colleagues. • limited; more slowly than • limited; as quickly as • ample; as quickly as • limited; more quickly than

27. Discussion Questions • What are some examples from your own life where you or those around you “perform” or “do” gender? • Why do you think you or those around you perform gender in this way? • How would others react if you or someone you know suddenly stopped doing these things?

28. Sociology on the Street • Internet dating is a major resource for people looking for potential partners with a seemingly unlimited pool. What are the similarities and differences between dating online compared to dating in person? Watch the Sociology on the Street video to find out more: digital.wwnorton.com/youmayask5

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