Gender Theories and Gender Theories and InequalitiesInequalities

Sections 10.2 and 10.3Sections 10.2 and 10.3

FunctionalismFunctionalism

The division of responsibilities between The division of responsibilities between males and females survived because it males and females survived because it benefited human living.benefited human living.

Hunter/gatherersHunter/gatherers Men were stronger and also more Men were stronger and also more

expendableexpendable Today the traditional division creates Today the traditional division creates

dysfunctiondysfunction

Conflict TheoryConflict Theory

It is to the advantage of men to prevent It is to the advantage of men to prevent women from gaining access to resourceswomen from gaining access to resources

AfghanistanAfghanistan

Symbolic InteractionismSymbolic Interactionism

Focuses on how boys and girls learn to act Focuses on how boys and girls learn to act how they are “supposed to act”how they are “supposed to act”

Gender socialization- the social process of Gender socialization- the social process of learning how to act as a boy or girllearning how to act as a boy or girl

Dolls vs action figuresDolls vs action figures Girls are cuddled more or handled more Girls are cuddled more or handled more

gently, boys are discouraged from clinginggently, boys are discouraged from clinging

Symbolic Interactionism (continued)Symbolic Interactionism (continued)

Family choresFamily chores

- Cutting grassCutting grass

- Shoveling snowShoveling snow

- washing disheswashing dishes

- Taking out the trashTaking out the trash

- vacuumingvacuuming

Symbolic blah and schoolsSymbolic blah and schools

Teachers are more likely to accept Teachers are more likely to accept answers blurted out by boys and to correct answers blurted out by boys and to correct girls who do the same thinggirls who do the same thing

Gender segregation versus inclusionGender segregation versus inclusion Peer pressure encourages young people Peer pressure encourages young people

to conform to gender roles, feminine boys to conform to gender roles, feminine boys or masculine girls are often assigned a or masculine girls are often assigned a lower status, though this has been lower status, though this has been changingchanging

Gender InequalityGender InequalitySection 10.3Section 10.3

Women as a Minority groupWomen as a Minority group

Biological determinism has led to racism Biological determinism has led to racism and sexismand sexism

Sexism- a set of beliefs, attitudes, norms Sexism- a set of beliefs, attitudes, norms and values used to justify sexual inequalityand values used to justify sexual inequality

Some people believe that men are Some people believe that men are naturally superior to womennaturally superior to women

Occupational and economic Occupational and economic inequalityinequality

Greatest change in labor patterns involve Greatest change in labor patterns involve middle class married women with children middle class married women with children under the age of sixunder the age of six

Occupational sex segregation- the Occupational sex segregation- the concentration of women in lower-status concentration of women in lower-status positionspositions

Pink collar jobsPink collar jobs

U.S. supreme court decision refused to grant U.S. supreme court decision refused to grant women a legal guarantee of health insurance women a legal guarantee of health insurance benefits regarding pregnancy related costs, benefits regarding pregnancy related costs, though conditions unique to men are routinely though conditions unique to men are routinely provided provided

Protective legislation- limits number of hours Protective legislation- limits number of hours women can work, barring women from areas women can work, barring women from areas which could be harmful to fetal development, which could be harmful to fetal development, how much weight they can lifthow much weight they can lift

Legal and Political InequalityLegal and Political Inequality

Legal things continuedLegal things continued

Civil rights act of 1964 nullified such lawsCivil rights act of 1964 nullified such laws Further legislation requires maternity leave Further legislation requires maternity leave

for women and now for menfor women and now for men Politically….. See chartPolitically….. See chart