Chapter 3

Sex refers to the physical and biological attributes of men and women

Sex includes the chromosomal, hormonal, and anatomical components of males and females.

Gender refers to the social, psychological and cultural attributes of masculinity and femininity, many of which are based on biological distinctions

Gender describes societal attitudes and behaviors

Gender identity refers to the degree to which an individual sees herself or himself as feminine or masculine

Generally, sex is considered to be an ascribed status

Gender is an achieved status

Examples of gender characteristics?

What physical, emotional, or other characteristics are considered “Masculine” or “Feminine”?

Gender Roles– Expectations regarding proper:– Behavior– Attitudes– Activities of males and females– Gender roles evident in work– How we react to othershttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nIXUjzyMe0

Gender role socialization is “...a lifelong process whereby people learn:

Values Attitudes Motivations Behavior

Considered appropriate to each sex by their culture”

Children learn proper behavior for girls and boys through:

Parents/family

Media

Peer groups

School

1. No sissy-stuff – men distance themselves from anything feminine.

2. Big wheel - men should be occupationally or financially successful.

3. Sturdy oak - men should be confident and self-reliant.

4. Give ‘em hell -men should do what is necessary to “make it”

Women should offer emotional support.

Ideal woman is: Attractive Not too competitive Good listener Adaptable Good mothers Put needs of others first Superwoman - successful at a career

and a good wife/mother. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjg_pmdX8no&feature=

related

Since women give birth and nurse a child, it is natural to provide care

Natural division of labor◦Women more involved in domestic activities ◦Preparing meals◦Maintaining a home

Men Breadwinning activities Other economically dominant roles

Parsons and Bales: Women--Expressive roles Men-- Instrumental roles Pre-industrial society required division

of labor based on gender.◦Women nursed and cared for children.◦Men were responsible for material needs

Industrialization made traditional division of labor less functional◦Belief system remains

Focus on gender inequality Men dominate women because of greater control

over: Economic Political Social resources No incentive for those in power to give it up Continued domination by males requires a belief

system that supports gender inequality.

Two beliefs◦ Women are inferior outside the home.

◦ Women are more valuable in the home. 

Gender and gender roles learned through socialization process.

Women socialized into expressive roles Men socialized into instrumental roles.

The Interactionist Approach◦Micro level of everyday behavior Men more likely than women to:

Change topics of conversation Ignore topics chosen by women Minimize ideas of women Interrupt women

Rubin, Provenzano, and Luria, 1974 - first 24 hours after birth, parents

described girls & boys differently No actual differences between them

Jacklin, 1984 - parents give: Sons toys that encourage invention and

manipulation Girls receive toys that emphasize caring

and imitation McHale et al., 1990 - Parents assign boys maintenance

chores, and give girls domestic tasks

Peers School Media Influences On average, each day a 4-year-old watches 2

hours of television and a 12-year-old watches 4 hours (Comstock and Scharrer, 2001)