Sex
The category an infant is assigned to at birth based upon the appearance of the genitalia. (Refers to biological apparatus)
Gender
What it means to be feminine or masculine in a particular society
Gender Display
Presentation of self as a certain kind of gendered person through dress, cosmetics, adornments, and permanent and reversible body markers.
Gendered Processes
The social practices of learning, being taught and picking ip cues for gender appropriate or non gender appropriate behavior.
Biological Determinism (Nature)
The belief that gender differences are shaped by biological characteristics
Differential Socialization (Nuture)
The belief that women and men are different because we are taught to be different
Nature VS. Nurture
Both nature lovers and nurturers see women and men as markedly different from each other. Also both assume that the differences between women and men are greater and more decisive then the differences that might be observed among men or women.
Hegemonic Masculinity
The one that is help up as the model for the rest of us
Emphasized Femininity
Organized around compliance with gender inequality and is oriented to accommodating the interests and desires of men
Deceptive Distinctions
Although they appear to be based on gender, they are actually based on something else.
Examples: You Just Don't Understand- Deborah Tannen
- Differences in communication patterns
- Man- domination Female- embrasive
Gender Vertigo 1998- Barbara Risman
- Me
Intersexed
Combination of features that usually distinguish female from male
Herms
True hermaphrodites, one testes and one ovary
Merms
Male hermaphrodites, testes and some aspects of female genitalia, no ovaries
Ferms
Female Pseudo hermaphrodites, ovaries and some aspects of male genitalia, no testes.
Two strategies physicians use to help intersexed individuals
1. Hormonal management
2. Surgical management
Recommendations for intersex children
-Telling children the truth
- Copies of medical records
- Access to trained psychologists and social workers
- Newborns with intersex should be given a gender assignment as boy or girl
- Gender assignment does not involve surgery
- Only necessary medical
Social Darwinism
Idea that humans, like animals and plants, compete in a struggle for the existence in which natural selection results in "survival of the fittest
Sociologists perspective of reproduction
Males have a natural behavior to be more promiscuous and females have a natural behavior to be monogamous
Biological Essentialism
Social, economic, and political discrimination based on sex are actually the inevitable outcome of nature working in mysterious ways
Ed Wilson's theory of Reproduction costs
-One male can fertilize many females but a female can only be fertilized by one male
-For males, reproduction is easy and a small investment (maximize # of offspring)
- For females, they have to be more selective in who they choose to impregnate them
Brain Research
(Right/Left Hemisphere)
Right Hemisphere- Visual and spatial abilities (more males)
Left Hemisphere- Language and reading (more females)
Testosterone and Aggression
Males have higher levels of both then women, testosterone does not cause aggression. It does enable aggression that was already present
Sexuality
Attraction to and desire for a sexual object choice of one or both of the same or opposite sex or gender
Homosexual, gay or lesbian
same sex or gender
Heterosexual
other sex or gender
Bisexual
both sexes or genders
Queer Sexuality
fluidity and variety
Lorber's argument about bisexuality
Bisexuals are forced to choose a "real" sexual identity
Female Circumcision
implemented to prevent sexual pleasure, used to prevent sexual intercourse, often performed by women during puberty
Sexual Identity
Common Identity terms: Homosexual, gay or lesbian. Heterosexual, Bisexual, Queer (fluidity &variety)
How Does Western Culture construct sexuality & Gender?
Dichotomous: sexuality is physical-female & male anatomies differ and sexuality is gendered b/c sexual scripts differ for men & women
Multiple Genders
Native American Culture- 3rd Gender (Nadle & Berdache)
Mohave Culture- 4 Genders
Men and Women are allowed to cross genders.
Mohave Culture (Cross gender's) Alyha
Boys who are initiated as Females
Mohave Culture (Cross gender's) Hwame
Girls who are initiated as Males
Mead's Sex Temperament in 3 Primitive Societies
Arapesh, Mundugamor, Tchambuli
Arapesh
A culture where sexes were equal-both men and women acted as our female. Both unagressive.
Mundugamor
-Mead found both males and females were violent and aggressive, seeking power and position.
Tchambuli
Inverted gender roles, women are dominant/controlling, men are emotionally dependent on the women
Gendered Division of Labor
a division of duties between men and women under which women have the main responsibility for home and nurturing, and men are mainly active in public sphere
Functionalism
interprets each part of society in terms of how it contributes to the stability of the whole. Society is a system of interrelated parts.
Theories of Male Domination (Three Schools of Thought)
Sacks- market economy shifted egalitarian roles toward male dominance.
2nd School- Harris said male domination linked to warfare.
3rd School- Tiger & Fox- male solidarity & monogamy result from man's needs to connect to social life.
Levi-Strauss- men turn
Sworn Virgin
woman sworn to live as a man. (not enough men in the family, women did not have the rights men did, and only men can inherit wealth & rights.
Sexual Reassignment Surgery
Easier in Thailand b/c the US law requires years & years of psychotherapy before the procedure can be preformed, and it is cheaper in Thailand.
Hijras
Intersexed or transgendered, viewed as outcast b/c they lived on the fringes of India , Members of religious community who are neither males or female; people born male, not identified as a male. Undergo a ritual surgery - operation to become a third sex
Eunuchs
The 3rd sex in India, they are perceived as supernatural b/c their believed to have power to bless & curse b/c their neither male or female. Make their living at birth celebrations and weddings doing performances.
Nadle
When one's sex is ambiguous at b
Berdache
Members of one biological sex who adopt the gender identity of the other sex