Gender

Complete this sentence…

A positive aspect of being female is ...A positive aspect of being male is ...A negative aspect of being female is ...A negative aspect of being male is ...Females are rewarded for being ...Males are rewarded for being ...Females are disadvantaged because of ...Males are disadvantaged because of …

What is Gender?• The behavioral and psychological traits

considered appropriate for males and females– Examples?

Gender roles:– The specific behaviors and attitudes that a

society establishes for men and women.

How do we learn our roles?

• Socialization!– Especially when we are young….

Which did Santa bring YOU for

Christmas?

Ever heard this little ditty?What are little boys made of?What are little boys made of?

Frogs and snails,And puppy tails,

That’s what little boys are made of.What are little girls made of?What are little girls made of?

Sugar and spice,And all that is nice,

That’s what little girls are made of.

Gender NormsGender Norm: What OUR society tells us we SHOULD

look and act like…– the overt expression of attitudes that indicate to others

the degree of your “maleness” or “femaleness”…

TransgenderThe precise definition for transgender remains in flux, but

includes:• "Of, relating to, or designating a person whose identity

does not conform to conventional notions of male or female gender roles, but combines or moves between these."

• "People who were assigned a sex, usually at birth and based on their genitals, but who feel that this is a false or incomplete description of themselves."

• "Non-identification with, or non-presentation as, the sex (and assumed gender) one was assigned at birth."

Gender Norm Violation Examples

Norm: men pay for dinner/dateViolation: woman pays for dinner/date

Norm: men open car doorViolation: woman opens door for man

Norm: men smoke cigarsViolation: woman smokes cigar

Norm: women wear make upViolation: man wears make up

Norm: women make dinnerViolation: man makes dinner

Norm: women stay home and raise childrenViolation: man stays home and raises children

Others you can think of?

Can gender norms change?Example?

What is the problem with gender norms?

Gender Stereotypes

Gender Stereotypes

Problems for American Kids?

How are gender stereotypes problematic?• “I’m not smart like Steve Jobs, therefore, I’m a

failure.• “I’m not pretty like Scarlett Johanson, therefore I’ll

never get a date.”• “I’m not as skinny as Taylor Swift… so I’m fat.”• “I’m not ripped like Channing Tatum…so I’m a wuss”Creates false, negative beliefs about self.Gives kids reasons to bully… “You’re different”

What is Morality?

mo·ral·i·ty/məralətē/

Noun: Principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior.

Moral Code: A system of Morality– Ex: The Golden Rule

Morality

• Morality describes the principles that govern behavior.

• Without these principles societies cannot survive

• In today's world, morality is frequently linked to religion, but everyone adheres to a moral doctrine of some kind.

Why do we need it?

• Morality is important on three levels. • C.S. Lewis defines them as: (1) to ensure fair play and harmony between

individuals; (2) to help make us good people in order to have

a good society; and (3) to keep us in a good relationship with the

power that created us.

Let’s Reflect on our own Morals…

• Morality is an ambiguous and often immensely difficult thing to wrap our heads around.

• More often than not, we recognize a kind of “Moral Ambiguity” common to the human experience.– a complex situation that will often involve an

apparent mental conflict between moral imperatives, in which to obey one would result in transgressing another

Let’s Reflect on our own Morals…

• PLEASE NOTE:– Indecision in the face of moral ambiguity does not

make you immoral. – It makes you human. – We all struggle from time to time. Moral absolutes

are convenient, but seldom seen in our lives.

• What would you do if….

1. You pass someone in the street who is in severe need and you are able to help them at little cost to yourself. Do you help?

….Not too tricky, here.

2. You have a brother. You know that someone has been seriously injured as a result of criminal activity undertaken by him. You live in a country where the police and legal system are generally trustworthy. Do you inform them of your brother's crime?

3. You are able to help some people, but you can only do so by harming other people. The number of people harmed will always be 10 % of those helped. When considering whether it is morally justified to help does the actual number of people involved make any difference?

For example, does it make a difference if you are helping ten people by harming one person rather than helping 100,000 people by harming 10,000 people?

5. You own an unoccupied property. You are contacted by a refugee group which desperately needs somewhere to house a person seeking asylum who is being unjustly persecuted in a foreign country. Your anonymity is assured. You have every reason to believe that no harm will come to your property. Are you morally obliged to allow them to use your property?

6. You can save the lives of ten innocent people by killing one other innocent person. Are you morally obliged to do so?