Gender and Sexuality

1. Gender and Sexuality Chapter 8

2. Traditional Sex Roles • Until fairly recently, the only socially desirable roles open to women in society were that of wife, mother and homemaker • Betty Freidan and the “feminine mystique”- the myth in society that a woman gains total fulfillment out of the role of wife and mother • There was a double standard in society in how men and women were viewed and treated • Outdated view of men and women today

3. Traditional Sex Roles • Hierarchy on how men and women have been viewed and treated has been resistant to change in society • Function of culture and socialization • Male and female differences are largely learned through socialization

4. Gender Identityand Sexual Orientation • Gender Versus Sexual Identity • Gender identity refers to one’s sense of maleness or femaleness in society • Formed by age three • Important aspect of one’s self-concept • Emerges as a significant aspect of identity during adolescence

5. Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation • Gender Versus Sexual Identity • Sexual identity refers to a sense of one’s attractiveness to others comfort with one’s body and sexual attitudes and feelings • Sexual orientation-level of attraction to the same, opposite, or both sexes • Homosexual orientation • Heterosexual orientation • Bisexual orientation

6. Gender Identityand Sexual Orientation • Gender Versus Sexual Identity • Human sexual development is ongoing • Birth to death • Influences on sexual development consist of • Biological maturation and aging • Stages of development from childhood through old age • Quality of social relationships through the stages of development • Transgendered and intersexual individuals are a diverse group.

7. Homosexuality • Homosexuality refers to the sexual preference for members of one’s own sex • Female homosexuals are called lesbians • Alfred Kinsey and his pioneer research on human sexuality • Kinsey estimated the homosexual population at 10 percent of the population • Current studies indicate it is around 1 to 4 percent of the population

8. Homosexuality • In American society, homosexuality has often been regarded as: • a sin • a function of some form of physical and mental pathology

9. Homosexuality • Social- Scientific Perspectives on Homosexuality • During the early part of the twentieth century, homosexuality was viewed as a form of social pathology brought on by the effects of urbanization and industrialization • Homosexuality was an individual response to the social disorganization of the family • Psychologists initially saw it as a illness

10. Homosexuality • Alfred Kinsey’ s research and the normalization of homosexual behavior • Sexual feelings and behaviors towards the same sex were not abnormal • Researchers concluded that homosexuals cannot be distinguished from non-homosexuals in psychological terms • Thomas Szasz – Psychiatrists replaced the church in labeling homosexuality an illness

11. Homosexuality • Who Becomes a Gay or Lesbian? • No direct link between genetic traits and homosexuality • Large portion of homosexuals attribute their orientation to early childhood • Homosexuals tend to support the biological explanation

12. Homosexuality • Who Becomes a Homosexual? • Social scientists largely attribute homosexuality to one’s social environment • Sexual behavior is learned • There are certain common situations in the histories of homosexuals • Dominant or seductive mother and weak and detached or overly critical father

13. Homosexuality • Who Becomes a Homosexual? • Homosexuality as a process of labeling that involves four stages • 1. Sensitization • 2. Dissociation and significance • 3. Coming out • 4. Commitment

14. Homosexuality • Lesbianism • Differences in the way male and female homosexuals manage homosexuality • Function of differences in gender socialization • First sexual experience is more likely to occur later and stem out of emotional involvement • Female homosexuals have a lower level of sexual activity • Female homosexuals are more likely to stay with their partners for a longer time

15. Homosexuality • The Gay Subculture • The gay subculture consists of the institutions within the gay community • Gay magazines and periodicals • Bars • Parks • Movie theaters • Public bathhouses • Businesses • Social clubs and organizations

16. Homosexuality • The Gay Subculture • A major function of the subculture is that it provides a way for its members to understand and accept their orientation • Homosexual organizations and the pursuit of political rights

17. Sexism and Gender Inequality • Sexism refers to the range of attitudes, beliefs, policies, laws and behaviors that discriminate on the basis of gender • Power and Male Hegemony • Male hegemony refers to the political and ideological domination of woman in society

18. Sexism and Gender Inequality • Power and Male Hegemony • Males have greater access to: • Cultural prestige • Political authority • Corporate power • Wealth • Material comforts • Ideology plays a role in legitimizing male hegemony

19. Sexism and Gender Inequality • Stereotyping • Stereotypes are a source of prejudice and discrimination • Feminine mystique • Masculine mystique • Stereotypes often place limits on us

20. Sexism and Gender Inequality • Sexism and Employment • Women are concentrated in lower status jobs with less pay – unequal pay for equal work • Difference in income is largely a function of • Women are concentrated in low paying occupations • Years of work experience – women are more likely to have interruption in their work histories • Hiring and promotion practices • For minority women, there is even a larger wage gap

21. Sexism and Gender Inequality • Sexual Harassment • There has been a lot of controversy on what is sexual harassment • From annoying behaviors to serious forms of sexual assault • Sexual harassment is any form of sexual innuendoes to behaviors that adversely affect one’s employment

22. Sexism and Gender Inequality • Sexual Harassment • Sexual harassment is a growing problem in schools • The results of a recent survey found that 83 percent of girls and 79 percent of boys have been harassed

23. Sexism and Gender Inequality • Homemaking • Sex roles in homemaking have been changing • Women still continue to bear the primary responsibility for homemaking • Husbands and fathers with working wives that support non-traditional roles are taking on a larger share of homemaking responsibilities

24. Sources of Sexism • Socialization is the process by which we learn to act according to our culture and group norms in society • Sources of socialization are • Interaction with others • Schools • Work • Popular media

25. Sources of Sexism • Education • Sexism in schools focuses on • Female achievement • Girl’s sports • More involvement in school politics • Gender gap in higher education and in certain disciplines is narrowing but still persists today

26. Sources of Sexism • Education • Research results on sexism in school • Teachers pay less attention to girls than boys • Girls lag behind in math and science scores • Girls tend not to choose careers in math and science • Sexual harassment

27. Sources of Sexism • Education • Research results on sexism in school • Textbooks and gender stereotypes still persist • Biased tests • Ignoring other minority girls • School counselors channeling girls into sex typed occupations

28. Sources of Sexism • The Family • The role of wife and mother has been a subordinate role in society • Increase in working wives and moms and the juggling of work and family

29. Sources of Sexism • Language and the Media • Language often reinforces traditional sex role stereotypes • Media portrays men and women in traditional roles • Organized Religion • Religion has reinforced secular traditions and gender roles • Religion has been male dominated

30. Sources of Sexism • Organized Religion • In the last few decades some religions have begun to ordain women as ministers • Episcopalians • Presbyterians • Reformed Jews

31. Sources of Sexism • Government • The 1964 Civil Rights Act • Government employment was excluded from the act • The Legal System • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and job discrimination • Legal protection against sexual harassment

32. Sources of Sexism • The Legal System • Legal access to loans and credit

33. Sources of Homophobia • Homophobia refers to fear and dislike of anything associated with homosexuality • Homophobia is associated with • Male gender identity • Distorted notions of masculinity • Recent research shows an increase in tolerance toward homosexuals • Tolerance has been in part a function of a political movement on behalf of gays

34. Social Policy • The Women’s Movement • Women’s Movement was officially founded in the United States in 1848 • Seneca convention and the women’s rights movement • Right to vote in the 1920s • Civil Rights act of 1964 • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

35. Social Policy • The Women’s Movement • National Women’s Political Caucus in 1971

36. Social Policy • Changes in Child-Rearing Practices • Increase the role of fathers in child-rearing • Family and parental leave act • Affordable child care • Changes in the Educational System • Teacher training of gender issues in education • Greater access and equality for women in education

37. Social Policy • Changes in the Legal System • More enforcement of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibits discrimination • Comparable worth - equal pay for comparable jobs • Reproductive Control • Abortion rights • Reproductive education and access to birth control • Changes in Men’s Roles

38. Social Policy • Gay Rights • Legislation protecting the rights of gays • Same-sex marriages • Gays in the military • Custody of children in same sex households • Right to privacy • AIDS research and treatment

39. Social Policy • Future Prospects • In coming years, the women’s movement is likely to focus on single-parent families and, within this group, the special needs of low-income, female-headed families. • Another area in which policy changes are likely is same-sex marriage.