Gender Inequality

1. Gender Inequality

2. Introduction to Gender Inequality • There is no nation where women and men are equals. • A History of global patriarchy • Sex refers to the biological differences between males and females. • Gender refers to the social and cultural patterns attached to women and men, or the way a society treats those biological differences • Social factors make women unequal to men.

3. Gender Stratification • Sex: genetic definition; determines role in reproduction • Gender:sociological distinction between males and females • Gender identity:one’s self-concept of being male or female • Gender roles: cultural expectations about behavior of each sex

4. Is Gender Biological or Social? • Biological Basis for Gender Roles: • Males and females are different from the moment of conception. • Chromosomal and reproductive differences • Hormones • If gender is completely biological, the suggestion is that these biological differences explain the domination of women by men.

5. Social Bases for Gender Roles • Cross-cultural evidence shows a wide variation of behaviors for the sexes. • Society transforms females and males into socially interacting women and men. • Every known society makes gender a major category for organizing social life. • Gender is socially constructed

6. The Social Construction of Gender • Gender role Socialization • Femininity and masculinity • When does gender role socialization begin? Through what agents do boys and girls/men and women learn gender behavior norms?

7. Gender Roles in the United States • Homophobia: fear of and prejudice against homosexuality • Important element in traditional views of masculine and feminine behavior

8. Gender Roles in the United States • Gender-Role Socialization • Boys must be masculine • Active • Aggressive • Tough • Daring • Dominant • Girls must be feminine • Soft • Emotional • Sweet • Submissive

9. Gender Stratification • Sexism: gender inequality perpetuated by complex processes • Individuallevel: belief that one sex is superior to the other • Institutionallevel: policies, procedures, and practices that produce unequal outcomes for men and women • Patriarchy: system of social organization in which men have disproportionate share of power • Sexism supports patriarchy by claiming that men are “better” than women and therefore should dominate them.

10. Women and Men are Differentiated and Ranked • Gender Stratification: the ranking of the sexes in such a way that women are unequal in power, resources, and opportunities • Gender inequality exists in most parts of the world. • Does it continue to exist in the Unites States?

11. Male Domination? • Politics and Government • Sports?

12. Male Domination • Religion • The Family

13. Male Domination • The Economy-Women in the Workplace • The Gender wage gap- Women earn 81 cents on the dollar that men earn even with equal occupation and level of education • For women of color, earning discrimination is even greater • The Matrix of Domination- Social forces that contribute to the subordinate status of many women

14. Gender Stratification • Women’s Movement • Substantial impact on way Americans think and act; legal and social equality • Opportunities for women changed over past several decades • Women still significantly disadvantaged • As more women reach positions of economic, political, and social power, changes may occur at more rapid pace

15. Addressing Gender Discrimination • Feminism: belief in social, economic, and political equality for women • Early 19th century feminists won many victories, including 19th Amendment • 2nd feminism wave emerged in U.S. in 1960s • As women became aware of sexist attitudes and practices, began to challenge male dominance