sex
biological identity (male or female)
gender
learned expectations/behaviors associated with each sex (masculine or feminine). biology and culture interact to produce gender identity.
biological determinism
explanations that attribute complex social phenomena to physical characteristics. (ex. men are more aggressive b/c hormonal differences is biologically determinist argument)
intersexed
hermaphrodite
gender socialization
how men and women learn the expectations associated with their sex. (rules of gender). Primary agents are parents, peers, children's play, schools, religion, media.
gender identity
one's definition of oneself as a woman or man, influences numerous behaviors. Has a strong effect on how people feel about their appearance.
homophobia
fear/hatred of gays. slurs towards gays make boys come off as more masculine. discourages feminine traits in men. learned attitude.
gendered institutions
the total pattern of gender relations that structure social institutions, including the stereotypical expectations, interpersonal relationships, and the different placement of men and women that are found in institutions.
gender stratification
hierarchical distribution of social and economic resources according to gender. wage differentials highlight inequality.
gender apartheid
the extreme segregation and exclusion of women from public life (ex. women can't drive in Saudi Arabia)
patriarchy
a form of social organization in which males dominate females (diminished in private sphere but still evident in private sphere)
labor force participation rate
the percentage of the adult population that is in the labor force. (large differential between women and men)
human capital theory
explains gender differences in wages as resulting from individual characteristics that workers bring to jobs. Assumes a meritocracy & free market. b/c of choices women make, they earn less. can't explain when both sexes are matched in human capital though
dual labor market theory
women and men earn different amounts because they tend to work in different segments of the labor market. primary: (ex. national corporation w/ advancement potential)
primary labor market
stable jobs, opportunity for advancement, benefits. (ex. working at a national corporation.) Men dominate 1st tier, 2nd/3rd tier are women's jobs.
secondary labor market
high turnover, low wages, no promotion, no benefits, (ex. working at supermarket) More women.
gender segregation
the concentration of men and women into different types of occupations with different status and prestige. (type of occupational segregation)
overt discrimination
White men perpetuate their advantage over women and racial minorities, through labor union practices, legislation, sexual harassment, and intimidation
functionalist theory
Women (expressive) and men (instrumental) socialized into serving different needs of society, resulting in different roles. Justifies sexism by locating the cause of inequality in women's choices.
conflict theory
are unhappy with inequality and think men are keeping women down economically, politically, and socially.
doing gender
(symbolic interaction/ethnomethodology) interprets gender as something that is determined by social interactions. we behave in association w/ our sex and maintain differences by sanctioning outliers
feminist theory
emerged from feminism and seeks to understand women's movement and refers to analyses that seek to understand the position of women in society so they can improve their position in it.
liberal feminism
says gender inequality is learned and poses barriers to their advancement. emphasizes individual rights/equal opportunity as basis for social justice & reform.
socialist feminism
interprets the origins of women's oppression as lying in the system of capitalism. feel they're exploited in same way as working class.
radical feminism
patriarchy is primary cause of women's oppression. see violence against women as mechanisms men use to assert power in society. thinks there can't be change.
multiracial feminism
Developed because other feminist theories excluded women of color from analysis. says interactions between race, class, gender result in a matrix of domination.
global perspective
China is more progressive, Japan/UK women more content. 20-50% women experienced violence from partner/family member. work as much, maybe more than men worldwide. low # of women in parliament or have been head of state.
social change
equal opportunity legislation, access to birth control, sexual harassment laws, more women in politics/sports, attitudes on feminism have become more progressive
equal rights amendment
constitutional amendment passed by Congress but never ratified that would have banned discrimination on the basis of sex
Title IX
passed in 1972, forbade schools from discriminating based on gender.