Chapter 9 Inequalities of Gender and Sexual Orientation

1. Chapter 9 Inequalities of Gender and Sexual Orientation

2. The Problem in Sociological Perspective • Sex is the major sorting device in every society in the world. • Women as a minority group

3. The Scope of the Problem • Is male dominance universal? • Not all sociologist accept the conclusion that male dominance is universal • The Sexual Stratification of Work • Most work is sex-typed • George Murdock reviewed anthopologists’ research • Universally, men’s activities are always given greater prestige.

4. Major Areas of Discrimination • Political and legal • Education • Economic • Social

5. Symbolic Interactionism • Difference between sex and gender • Socialization into gender roles • Sex is a master trait • Interpreting Classic Research • The Dominant Symbolic Interaction Position

6. Functionalism • Two theories of male dominance • Rewards for warriors • Social • Biological • Reproduction • Throughout history, a woman has been encumbered physically—unable to participate fully in the labor market • Division of Labor • Ultimate result was a patriarchal society

7. Conflict Theory • Power yields privilege. • Privilege leads to feeling superior. • Use ideologies to justify position. • Use social institutions to maintain power.

8. The Struggle for Equality • 1800s, almost every woman was under the legal control of a man, either a father or a husband • Women’s Early Movement • Suffragists • Glass Ceiling

9. Research Findings • Are there natural differences between the sexes? • Studies on Children • SAT: Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) • Aggression (Machismo) • The study of Vietnam Veterans • Reconciling the Findings

11. Everyday Life • Masculinity and machismo represent strength while femininity is perceived as weakness. • Derogatory feminine terms Education • Gender tracking • A Man’s World • Completing the Doctorate

13. The Mass Media • Children’s Books • Help to shape gender roles • 1970’s Children Literature • Books today • Gender stereotype continues to linger in children’s books

14. Television • Children programs • Adult TV & movies • Music • Boys learn to dominate male–female relationships • Lyrics instruct girls to be sexy, passive, and dependent

15. Advertising • Television advertising continues to reinforce stereotypical gender roles. • Use of the female body—especially exposed breasts—to sell products continues. • Mass media influences us • Shapes society’s expectations • Parents changing how they socialize their children

16. The World of Politics • The current situation • Women underrepresented in political decision making • Why don’t women dominate politics? • About 7 to 8 million more women than men are of voting age

19. 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 • Restrictive patterns changing

20. The World of Work • The historical pattern • Labor force participation rate • The gender pay gap • The women average only 72% of what the men make • Reasons for the Gender Gap

23. Sexual Harassment • A Personal Problem: Just Individuals • A Social Problem: Feminists and Relative Power • Sexual Harassment as an Evolving Term • Difficult Choices • Not Just a Woman’s Problem

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25. 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 • Attitudes in the United States • Legal Changes

27. Homosexuality and 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

28. 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 • Narrative data • Unstructured data that tells a story

30. 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 • Homosexuality is a social problem because of subjective concerns.

31. Violence Against Women • Rape and murder • Gendered violence • In U.S., women are disproportionately victims of spousal abuse and rape • Honor Killings • Applying the conflict and feminist perspective • Understand violence against women if viewed as an expression of power

32. Symbolic Interactionism and Violence Against Women • Sociologists also use symbolic interactionism to understand gendered violence • In American culture, men learn machismo • Males are surrounded with models of violence