Gender

1. Gender

2. Two Primary Issues • The Cultural construction of Gender • Gender Relations

3. Sex Versus Gender • Sex refers to biological differences, • Gender refers to the cultural construction of male and female characteristics. • “The ways members of the two sexes are perceived, evaluated and expected to behave.” (what different cultures make of sex.)

4. Gender Boundaries • We demand that the categories of male and female be discrete • since gender is culturally constructed the boundaries are conceptual rather than physical • the boundaries are dynamic, eg. now it is acceptable for men to wear earrings. • Boundaries require markers to indicate gender such as: • Voice • Physique • Dress • Behaviour • Hair style • Kinetics • Language use

5. Gender identity Why is it important How do we react when someone seems to have traits of each category? social intercourse requires that the interacting parties know to which gender category `the other' belongs Felicita Vestvali1824 - 1880 New York opera star who specialized in singing contralto "trouser roles."

6. Is he a he? Or is he a she? Or is she a he? How does your reaction to this image compare to the earlier one of a woman dressed as a man? Is there a double standard?

7. Women cross dress all the time. The difference is perception. Acceptance or Rejection by society

8. The Relativity of Gender If the categories `man' and `woman' are culturally constructed what are the implications? • There can be no universal meaning to the category woman or man. • What it means to be a man or a woman in a particular society is relative to that society. • we do not have to be restricted to two genders Cross-dressing often retains clues to the underlying gender base and the resulting image appears to exist somewhere between the polarities of male and female – containing elements of both – as if a third gender had been created.

9. Third Genders • transsexual – gender/ sex incongruent, “trapped in wrong body” but with the gender identity of their organs/sex change operation • transvestite – dressing as other gender, biological sex (cross-dresser) • homosexual • bisexual • eunuch – castrated male • hermaphrodite – both sets of biological organs • Virgin? • Boy/Girl?

10. The Hijras of India and Pakistan • Hijra means “impotent ones” in Urdu • Some are born hermaphrodite, most are born with a male body but with a feminine gender identity and undergo voluntary castration • Hijras wear colourful women’s clothes and prefer men or other hijras as sexual partners • Perceived neither as men nor women but as a third gender • estimates range from 50,000 to 5,000,000 in India.

11. A third gender has existed in the Indian subcontinent from the earliest Vedic period (2000 BCE), and throughout the history of Hinduism • They are also viewed as the cultural descendants of the court eunuchs of the Islamic Mughal Empire (1526-1858) • typically live together in a traditional commune arrangement of five or more "chelas" (disciples), supervised by a "guru."(teacher) • Unrecognized in law as either male or female they face extreme discrimination in health, housing, education, employment.

12. Hijras now earn their living as beggars, prostitutesand by dancing at carnivals, weddings and births that require their blessing getting dressed for a job entertaining at a wedding • Hijras are both feared for their supposed ability to place curses, and pitied for being outcast children of Allah. • Believed to hold great power because of their worship of the Hindu Mother Goddess - Mata Bahuchara Blessing a newborn

13. have recently modelled designer clothes at upbeat fashion shows • And begun training as beauticians • faced with health concerns and discrimination, many have become politically active • A few hijras have been elected to high political positions (1st Hijra MP elected 1999)

14. Berdache George Catlin (1796-1872)Dance to the BerdacheDrawn while on the Great Plains, among the Sac and Fox Indians, the sketch depicts a ceremonial dance to celebrate the “two-spirit person”. The men tease him but vie for his recognition, which is deemed an honor. • Common among many native N. American groups • In everyday life the two-spirit male typically would wear women’s clothes and do women’s work. • He would be accepted as “one of the girls.” He might take a husband, or might have affairs with several men. • Generally two-spirit males were not expected to have sexual relations with women.

15. Multigendered people were/are usually presumed to be people of power. • Because they have both maleness and femaleness in one body, they are thought to be able to ‘see’ with the eyes of both men and women. • They are often called upon to be healers, or mediators, or interpreters of dreams. • Besides their spiritual abilities, their capacity for work also figured into the high status of two-spirit people. • Even though a two-spirit male would have taken on the gender identity of a woman, he would still have the endurance and strength of a man We'wha (1849-96), a Zuni berdache, lived in New Mexico. He is shown holding a ritual vessel, dressed in women's clothing.

16. Western societies label third sexes and genders a “problem” and therefore feel compelled to “fix” them • Deification, ostracization, and medicalization are common coping strategies for societies with strong gender dichotomies, and are often based on reproductive potential • These systems do not always have to be harmful to the third gendered/sexed individual, but often are • As we move out of an age where reproduction was our main purpose in life maybe we need to revise and expand our ideas about how gender and sex roles work with each other

17. Is it possible to have a genderless society?

18. Gender roles: • tasks and activities a culture assigns to the sexes – expected ways of behaving based on society’s definition of masculine and feminine • Gender stereotypes: • oversimplified but strongly held ideas of the characteristics of men and women. • Gender stratification: • an unequal distribution of rewards (socially valued resources, power, prestige, and personal freedom) between men and women, reflecting their different positions in social hierarchy – a division in society where all members are hierarchically ranked according to gender • Gender ideology • A system of thoughts and values that legitimizes sex roles, statuses and customary behaviour

19. Gender roles:

20. ROSIE THE RIVETER All the day long,Whether rain or shine,She's a part of the assembly line.She's making history,Working for victory,Rosie the Riveter.Keeps a sharp lookout for sabatoge,Sitting up there on the fuselage.That little girl will do more than a male will do.Rosie's got a boyfriend, Charlie.Charlie, he's a Marine.Rosie is protecting Charlie,Working overtime on the riveting machine.When they gave her a production "E,"She was as proud as she could be.There's something true about,Red, white, and blue about,Rosie the Riveter. Gender Roles Redd Evans and John Jacob Loeb,"Rosie the Riveter," (New York: Paramount Music Corp., 1942

21. In the 1940s, women were encouraged to help the war effort by getting a job outside the home. But it was family and country rather than money, status, or power that they were encouraged to toil for . Coke 1942 “For whether she rears a family or mans a rangefinder, a woman needs the physical support of a good foundation." and "Amongst other munitions of war, Berlei are still making foundations.".  November 1942

22. 1950s - mass consumption in high gear, TV ads idealized the woman as the wife and homemaker, and the man as the bread winner. But also the sex kitten

23. Cascade Dishwashing Detergent 1958 issue of Lady's Home Journal.  The man in this advertisement is envious of his hostess' spotless drinking glasses.  Rather than giving him advice on how to get his glasses just as clear, she advises him to tell his wife to use Cascade.   The designers of this ad assume that washing dishes is a woman's chore.  The roles are strictly defined; it never crosses the woman's mind that Jean's husband might have something to do with dishwashing in his household. 

24. 1960s Educated women started exhibiting their discontent with the status quo. Armed with diplomas and new sophisticated birth control methods, they demanded for the right to have both career and family. The great social change in the sixties allowed a variety of depictions of women: sex kitten, nurturing mother and independent working girl. 1970s Issues like woman's lib, ethnic heritage, and critiques of capitalism. Women are shown as independent only when inexpensive items or simple decisions were involved Advertisers realized that not just white people were buying products. Ethnic people were placed in advertisements.

25. 1980s independent woman freedom

26. 1990s 2000s She is a "multifaceted success machine”. She is a nurturer and a seducer. She is the twenty-four hour a day woman, and she never sleeps. Men are domesticated. Sex objects

27. Images of women improving? • From June 1999 issue of Glamour • Part of an ad campaign that accompanied the Women’s World Cup • “You pass on more to your children • and your grandchildren than your eye color, . . . You provide the living example that they can become more than they ever thought they could. Because you did. • “Just do it.”

28. This ad is striking because it shows a man in what is typically thought of as a woman’s role. What does the fact that he can open the pail “without passing out” say about men?

29. What Men and Women Really Think • What do the models’ thoughts suggest? • What does this say about the roles of women? And of Men? Crutchfield; Catalog for audio and video equipment.

30. Gender Stereotypes

33. A woman walked into the kitchen to find her husband stalking around with a fly swatter.she: "What are you doing?" he: "Hunting Flies" she: "Oh. Killing any?“ he: "Yep, 3 males, 2 Females," she: Intrigued, "How can you tell them apart?"he: "3 were on a beer can, 2 were on the phone."

36. Why are these cartoons humorous?

37. Be a Man What does this statement mean? What comes to mind • Men never cry • Should not show emotion • Not quitters • Physically brave • Independent • Heroic and patriotic ideals • Adventurous • Shaving • First day at work - earning a wage • Initiations • tough • Courageous • Drinking • Physical strength • Sex

38. Masculine Traits self promotion & achievement Do you Agree? How has this Changed during the past few years?

39. “Men are Supposed to be Strong” • What message does this ad send to men? Women? • Do we usually see more scantily clad men or women? • Is this what a man looks like? Should men look like this? Why or why not? • Where do our ideals of beauty come from?

40. Act like a Lady What does this phrase mean? What comes to mind?

41. Feminine Traits focus on others, community How has this changed in the past few years?

42. Victoria’s Secret is Revealed • What does this ad suggest women should look like? • Are these women, “Acting like Ladies?” How / Why or why not? • The current ideal of female beauty is difficult to achieve. The ideal being a young Caucasian female, height 5'8"- 5'10", weighing 110-120 pounds or less. Make-up, lighting and air-brushing are used to slim down the images even more. Less than 10% of the female population are genetically destined to fit this ideal. Victoria’s Secret, “Angels’ Collection”

43. Healthy Women • What does this ad suggest about women? About men? • Why aren’t the men drinking the orange juice?

44. Dove EvolutionSlob Evolution

45. Changing beauty standards • In 1957, Miss America was 5'7" and weighed 150 pounds. • In 2002 Miss America was 5'9 " and weighed 117 pounds Marian McKnight Manning, S.Carolina Katie Harman Gresham, Oregon

46. Recent advertising trends are just as harmful to men • Unforgiving & unrealistic images • Men’s magazines encourage obsession with body image, aging & sexual prowess

48. Gender Relations

49. Gender is an important dimension of social inequality • Gender stratification frequently takes the form of patriarchy whereby men dominate women • Do women in our society have a second class status relative to men? • If so How? • How do we measure gender stratification?

50. How do we measure gender stratification? . • Economics • Politics • Religion • Legal rights • prestige • Autonomy • Education • Employment • Health • ideology • How deferential they are expected to be towards men. • Freedom to choose marriage partner, profession, and conception. Etc. • We can also look at the roles played by women and the value society places on them roles • Generally: Differential access to Wealth, Power, and Prestige