Sociology chapter 9 - Gender and Sexuality

sex

the biological characteristics with which we are born-- chromosomes, anatomy, hormones, and other physical and physiological attributes.

gender

refers to learned attitudes and behaviors that characterize women and men. It is based on social and cultural expectations rather than on physical traits.

gender roles

the characteristics, attitudes, feelings, and behaviors, that society expects of females and males.

gender stereotypes

expectations about how people will look, act, think, and feel based on their sex.

sexism

an attitude or behavior that discriminates against one sex, usually females, based on the assumed superiority of the other sex.

gender stratification

people's unequal access to wealth, power, status, prestige, and other valued resources because of their sex.

gender pay gap

the overall income difference between women and men in the workplace (also called the wage gap, pay gap, and gender wage gap).

sexual harassment

any unwanted sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or other conduct of a sexual nature that makes a person un comfortable and interferes with her or his work.

sexual identity

our awareness of ourselves as male or females and the ways that we express our sexual values, attitudes, feelings, and beliefs.

sexual orientation

a preference for sexual partners of the same sex, of the opposite sex, of both sexes, or neither.

homosexuals

those who are sexually attracted to people of the same sex.

heterosexuals

those are sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex.

bisexuals

those who are sexually attracted to members of both sexes.

asexuals

those who lack any interest in or desire for sex.

transgender people

those who are trans-sexuals, intersexuals, or transvestites.

sexual script

specifies the formal or informal norms for acceptable or unacceptable sexual activity, which individuals are eligible sexual partners, and the boundaries of sexual behavior.

heterosexism

belief that heterosexuality is superior to and more natural than homosexuality or bisexuality.

homophobia

the fear and hatred of homosexuality.

abortion

the expulsion of an embryo or fetus from the uterus.

pornography

the graphic depiction of images that lead to sexual arousal.

Sean, age 16, lies to his friends about the frequency if his sexual activity and new sexual exploits every week. Sean is

adhering to a sexual script

___ refers to learned attitudes and behaviors, whereas____ refers to biological characteristics.

Gender; sex

Generally, the gender pay gap increases as the level or educational attainment.

increases

___ posit that gender inequality and sexuality are socially constructed.

Feminist theorist.

Functionalism

view women and men as having distinct roles that ensure a family's and society survival.

functionalist

gender roles are complementary, equally important for a society's survival, and affect human capital / agreed-on sexual norms contribute to a society's order and stability.

Conflict

gender roles give men power to control women's lives instead of allowing the sexes to be complementary ans equally important / most societies regulate women's, but nit men's, behavior.

Feminist

Women's inequality reflects their historical and current domination by men, especially in the workplace / many men use violence---including sexual harassment, rape, and global sex trafficking---to control women's sexuality.

Symbolic interactionist

gender inequality is a social contribution that emerges through day-to-day interactions and reflects people's gender role expectations. / the social construction of sexuality varies across cultures because of societal norms and values.

Conflict theory

see gender inequality as built into the social structure, both within and outside the home.

Feminist theories

agree with conflict theories that gender stratification benefits men and capitalism.

Symbolic interactionism

focus on the everyday processes that produce and reinforce gender roles.

Gender Identity

a perception of themselves as either masculine or feminine, early in life.