Inequalities of Gender & Sexual Orientation Chapter 9

1. Inequalities of Gender & Sexual Orientation Chapter 9

2. The Problem in Sociological Perspective Sex is the major sorting device in every society in the world The development of sexism as a social problem (objective & subjective conditions) Helen Hacker: first to apply the term minority towomen Sexism: belief that one sex is innately superior to the other and the discrimination that results

3. The Scope of the Problem Is male dominance universal? Men’s domination of society has been in continuous existence throughout virtually the entire globe from the earliest times to the present Most work is Sex-typed: associated with one sex or the other Universally, men’s activities are always given greater prestige It is the sex that is associated with the work that provides its prestige, not the work itself

4. MAJOR AREAS OF DISCRIMINATION Political and legal Education Economic Social Women’s three major roles—sister/daughter, wife, and mother—fit this pattern of discrimination

5. Symbolic Interactionism • Sex: the different biological equipment of males and females • Gender: how we express our “maleness” or “femaleness” • Socialization into gender roles • Gender Accomplishment • Sex is a Master Trait, cuttingacross all other identities in life

6. Difficulties of Interpretation • Parents teach gender roles subconsciously • Most symbolic interactionists assume that gender differences are learned • Stereotypes applied at birth tend to become reality through the self-fulfilling prophecy and continued socialization practices • Gender bending

7. Functionalism • “Rewards for Warriors” • Social—the necessity to survive warfare • Biological—innate differences in the physical strength of men and women • “Reproduction” • Throughout history, a woman has been encumbered physically—unable to participate fully in the labor market • Ultimate result was a Patriarchal Society • But, origins vs. maintenance of power

8. Conflict Theory • PRINCIPLES OF POWER • Power yields privilege • Privileged lifestyles of powerful encourage them to feel they are superior beings • To bolster their feelings of superiority, the powerful clothe themselves with ideologies that justify their position • As the powerful cling to their privileges, they use social institutions to maintain their power

9. FGM - 130m worldwide

10. The struggle for equality • 1800s, Almost every woman was under the legal control of a man, either a father or a husband • Suffragists: Advocates of the extension of political voting rights to women • Glass Ceiling: Imaginary blockade keeping women from achieving greater success in the workplace

11. Research Findings • Are There Natural Differences Between the Sexes? • Difficulty of separating culture from biology has plagued researchers • First explanation focuses on socialization in childhood • SAT—Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) • “All apparent sex differences in intelligence may be explained by early learning and continual reinforcement.” • Machismo—an overt demonstration of masculine aggression

12. Studies of animals • Testosterone—a hormone produced by the testicles that stimulates primary and secondary sex traits in men • The study of Vietnam Veterans • U.S. government collected data on hormone levels among Vietnam veterans • Further proof that testosterone plays a role in male aggression • Does not leave us with the ability to claim biology as the sole basis for aggression

13. Reconciling the findings • If biologyprovides males and females differences in temperament, personality, or predisposition in behavior, culture often overrides those differences • Because people are often unaware of how environmental factors contribute to differences among men and women, biology presents overwhelming evidence of “natural” and “genetic” differences • Concerning because “different sexed” often results in “unequal treatment.”

14. Avoiding Ideology • No conclusive evidence as to whether nature or nurture leads to aggression, nurturing, intelligence • Must examine data with an open mind • Differences between men and women has become emotionally charged • Data, not ideology, may one day answer the nature versus nurture argument

15. Suggestion: Rather than asking what sex or gender is, we should explore what sex and gender do.

16. Inequalities in Everyday Life Women encounter antagonistic attitudes from men Masculinity and machismo represent strength while femininity is perceived as weakness Derogatory feminine terms Most dismiss remarks as insignificant Such comments reveal derogatory attitude toward women and things feminine

17. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9632437500432634# Jackson Katz “Tough Guise”

18. Education Century ago, leading educators claimed that women’s wombs dominated their mental life (p. 293) Put women at an educational disadvantage Women studied less than men and did worse overall Confirm the stereotype that women’s brains weren’t as capable as men’s In some countries women still overtly discriminated against in education

19. “Acid attack keeps Afghan girls away from school” 11/14/2008

20. The Mass Media • Children’s Books • Help to shape gender roles • Illustrated books for children are more than entertainment • Feminists protested stereotypes • One gender stereotype continues to linger in children’s books • Females are now portrayed as doing things that males do, but males are not portrayed as doing things that females do

22. Television • More powerful than picture books • Misogyny • Hatred or strong prejudice against women • Adult television creates and reinforces stereotypes of gender, age, and sexuality • Body image is key part of gender accomplishment • Television effective in teaching what we “should” look like

23. ADVERTISING • Advertising is an insidious propaganda machine for a male supremacist society • Television advertising continues to reinforce stereotypical gender roles • Use of the female body—especially exposed breasts—to sell products continues • Mass media influences us • Shape society’s expectations • Parents changing how they socialize their children

24. Target Women: Disney Princesses http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRVeYt2BCj4&feature=player_embedded

25. Jean Kilbourne’s, “Still Killing Us Softly, v. 4” http://vodpod.com/watch/4427614-killing-us-softly-4-advertisings-image-of-women

26. Music • Boys learn to dominate male–female relationships • Lyrics instruct girls to be sexy, passive, and dependent • Those who watch music videos hold more traditional sex-role stereotypes • Rap & rock groups glorify male sexual aggression and revel in humiliating women

28. The World of Politics • The Current Situation • Women underrepresented in political decision making • Why Don’t Women Dominate Politics? • About 8 million more women than men are of voting age • Women who vote outnumber men who vote by 9 million

29. Figure 9.2

30. Figure 9.3

31. Dominance is masculine; Politics is a form of dominance; Therefore, politics is masculine. • Perception imposes severe restraints on women’s recruitment, participation, and performance in politics • The Power of Sex Roles • Women are underrepresented in law and business, the careers of politicians • Irregular hours to run for elective office incompatible with home life responsibilities • Women are also less likely to have a supportive spouse • Men have been reluctant to bring women into decision-making roles or to regard them as viable candidates • Restrictive patterns changing

32. Women at Work: historical pattern

33. The World of Work • Labor Force Participation Rate • Percentage of those ages 16 and older who are in the labor force at least part-time • The Gender Pay Gap • At all ages and at all levels of education and no matter the type of work, the average man is paid more than the average woman • Between the ages of 25 and 65, the average man who graduates from college earns about a million dollars ($1,100,000) more than the average woman who graduates from college

35. Reasons For The Gender Pay Gap • Tracking in education • Women are more likely to work at types of jobs that pay less • Women professionals, such as physicians, work fewer hours than men in same profession • Above factors account for about half the pay gap • Other half may be attributed to pure gender discrimination • The Fuller-Schoenberger Study (1991) • Women had to have higher qualifications than men in order to be offered lower salaries!

36. Why Is Our Workforce Segregated by Sex? • The Conflict And Feminist Perspectives • Dual Labor Market • The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective • Men perceive women as less capable, less productive, and ultimately, less profitable, they pay them less • Sex discrimination tends to be self-perpetuating

37. Sexual Harassment • Unsolicited sexual advances made by a person in power • Traditional view makes it a personal problem • Sexual harassment is a structural matter; built into the marketplace • Sexual harassment as a social problem • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission • Racial–ethnic lines • Used to be perceived as an exclusively female problem

38. Homosexuality • Homosexual Behavior • Sexual relations between people of the same sex • Homosexuality • Sexual orientation involving an attraction or preference for people of one’s own sex • Americans more tolerant of those practicing full-time homosexuality • Women are more likely to favor the legality of homosexual relations

39. Figure 9.6

40. Table 9.4a

41. Table 9.4b

42. Table 9.4c

43. Homosexuals and The Law • Lawrence et al. v. Texas • Hate Crimes • Ordinary crimes motivated by dislike or hatred of the victim’s personal characteristics • Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (2003) ban sexual discrimination in the workplace

44. Homosexuality Viewed Theoretically: Applying Conflict Theory • Overt discrimination • Differential treatment that is open and observable • Same-sex marriage (SSM) • Legally sanctioned marriage of two same-sex people • Domestic Partnership or Civil Union • Not a legal marriage • Defense of Marriage Act

45. Research on Homosexuality • The Kinsey Research • Sample was biased and findings no longer trusted • The Laumann Research • 2.2% of women and 4.1% of men in the United States had had sex with a same-sex partner • Sampling technique allowed generalization to broader U.S. population • Narrative Data • Unstructured data that tells a story

46. Figure 9.7

47. The Humphreys Research • Devised ingenious but, widely criticized research method • “Tea-rooms” • Situational Homosexual Behavior: The Prison • Refers to homosexual acts committed by people who, if members of the opposite sex were available, would choose to be involved in heterosexual relations • Sociology focuses on learned behavior • Homosexuality is a social problem because of subjective concerns

48. Violence Against Women • Rape And Murder • Gendered Violence • In U.S., women are disproportionately victims of spousal abuse and rape • Alien to western culture is “Honor Killings” • Killings of girls and women who have violated the family’s honor • Applying The Conflict And Feminist Perspective • Understand violence against women if viewed as an expression of power

49. Applying Symbolic Interactionism • Sociologists also use symbolic interactionism to understand gendered violence • In American culture, men learn machismo • Males are surrounded with models of violence

50. Social Policy • The Radical Extremists • Insist that society is so discriminatory that it must be restructured • The Conservative Extremists • Believe that heterosexual gender distinctions are natural and desirable and ought to be encouraged • Middle-of-the-road Policies • Innumerable positions fall between two above extremes