When it comes down to it, regardless of social construction and social pressure, don’t we live in a society in which it’s possible to just be an individual? Why or why not?
- no
- gender is an organizing principle that penetrates our social institutions
- it exerts an influence on all of us that is independent of our beliefs, personalities and interactions
Define institution
- a persistent pattern of social interaction that meets a societal need
- a societal need that cannot be met by individuals alone, but a group
Define norms
Beliefs and practices that are:
- well known
- widely followed
- culturally approved
How is conformity to institutionalize ways of doing things secured?
-norms and policies
Define policies
- explicit and organized expectations
- often with stated consequences for deviance
Why are institutions so different from the social forces we have discussed?
- because they are about collectively meeting the needs of individuals
- they impose themselves on our lives
Define social structure
-all interlocked institutions within which we live our lives
What do all institutions together form?
-the social structure
What is scaffolding and how do institutions create a relatively stable scaffolding?
- scaffolding is the path or structure in society to achieve something
- like to become a doctor we must go through medical school, this will likely not change in the next ten years
What does the stability of institutions and structures help us with? Why are they helpful?
- they allow us to make rational choices about our future
- helps us figure out what we want to accomplish and how to do so
Define gendered institution
-an institution in which gender is an organizing principle
What happens to men and women in a gendered institution?
- they are channeled into differently valued social spaces or activities
- their choices have different/unequal consequences
Define gender salience
-the relevance of gender changes across different parts of institutions
What two things do sports allow for males?
- boys that excel in sports can show they’re real boys and later, real men
- however, they also place them on the hierarchy of masculinity
What does sex segregation in sports do?
-it protects boys and men
Define gender order
-the social organization of gender relations in a society
Do we have the ability to reject the gender binary as individuals and refuse to let others police us?
-no
What is the idea of back to school shopping within the institution of education?
-it is an example of a norm
What is the idea of attendance, detention within the institution of education?
-policy
What does the example of summer vacation tell us?
- institutions are imposed on us
- the idea of structure and stability of scaffolding
Can you opt out of institutions?
-no
How is education gendered?
-both norms and policies
What do gendered institutions do?
-both affirm and enforce gender difference and inequality
What do sex segregated bathrooms allow women to do?
-gives them a space to do body work that should remain invisible to men
