Black feminism
A strand of eminist theory that highlights the multiple disadvantages of gender, class, and race that shape the experiences of nonwhite women. It reject the idea of a single, unified gender oppression that is experienced evenly by all women and argue that
comparable worth
Policies that attempt to remedy the gender pay gap by adjusting pay so that those in female-dominated jobs are not paid less for equibalent work.
Feminist theory
A sociological perspective that emphasizes the centrality of gender in analyzing the social world and particularly the uniqueness of the experience of women. There are many strands of this theory but they all share the desire to explain gender inequalitie
Gender
Social expectations about behavior regarded as appropriate for the members of each sex.
Gender inequality
The inequality between men and women in terms of wealth, income, and status.
Gender socialization
The learning of gender roles through social factors such as schooling, the media, and family.
Gender typing
Women holding occupations of lower status and pay, such as secretarial and retail positions, and men holding jobs of higher status and pay, such as managerial and professional positions.
Glass ceiling
A promotion barrier that prevents a woman's upward mobility within an organization.
Glass escalator
The process by which men in traditionally female professions benefit from an unfair rapid rise within an organization.
Liberal feminism
Form of feminist theory that believes that gender inequality is produced by unequal access to civil rights and certain social resources, such as education and employment, based on sex. They tend to seek solutions through changes in legislation that ensure
patriachy
The dominance of men over women. ALl known societies are this form, although there are variations in the degree and nature of the power men exercise, as compared with women.
Radical feminism
Form of feminist theory that believes that gender inequality is the result of male domination in all aspects of social and economic life.
Sex
The biological and anatomical differences distinguishing females from males.
sexual harassment
The making of unwanted sexual advances by one individual toward another, in which the first person persists even though it is clear that the other party is resistant.
social construction of gender
The learning of gender roles through socialization and interaction with others.