Test 2: Gender

Question 1

Gender

Answer 1

• everything social in our lives gendered: interaction through gendered lenses
• Ppl continually distinguish betw. M + F + evaluate them differently, master status
• integral part of daily experiences

Question 2

Neurological and cognitive studies

Answer 2

• genetic + hormonal differences at birth launch M+F somewhat diff. developmental paths
• nurture vs. nature
• early experiences + learning permanent
• sex differences start out small, amplified by gender infused culture

Question 3

Brain plasticity

Answer 3

neurologists: explain why experience regularly changes brain structure + function
- You brain is what you do with it.
- Every task you spend time on reinforces active brain circuits at the expense of other inactive ones
- muscles you use become stronger

Question 4

Sex versus Gender

Answer 4

• distinguish biological sex identity from learned gender roles
• born M/F but becoming man/woman result of social + cultural expectations that pattern behavior, attitudes + physical appearance

Question 5

Sex versus Gender

Answer 5

•sex: born with M/F genitals + genetic program that released M/F hormones stimulate development of reproductive system-biology
•gender: culturally + socially constructed differences betw. M+F found in meanings, beliefs, expectations, norms, judging and practices associated with
femininity + masculinity

Question 6

Transgender and Transsexual: Category Breaking

Answer 6

Transsexuals: believe they were born with “wrong” body. They identify with + want to live as “opposite” sex
Transgender: break gender norms by defying rigid distinction betw. genders.
Transgender Day of Remembrance (Nov 20th) – to remember people killed as result of transphobia and to raise awareness about discrimination and prejudice experienced by transgender community

Question 7

Gender Identity

Answer 7

perception of self as F+M
Gender identity is basic to our:
1.  Self-concept
2.  Shapes our expectations for ourselves 
3.  Abilities + Interests
4.  How we interact with others

Question 8

Gender Socialization

Answer 8

learn the expectations associated with their sex
Parents: Physical contact, compliments, toys Peers: How children play with one another
School: Teachers, books, class experience
Mass Media: How women and men are portrayed in terms of occupations and roles, main characters, cultural ideal of womanhood and manhood

Question 9

Gender Socialization

Answer 9

• little boys playing with girl toys discouraged more than vice versa
• increased kisses, physical intimacy for girls
• no matter how gender neutral parents are, they are still other agents

Question 10

Bechdel Test

Answer 10

American cartoonist Alison Bechdel, 1980s
Three criterias for a movie to pass this test: 1) Two named female characters
2) Who talk to each other
3) About something other than a man
-low standards, we know more by pop culture

Question 11

Sex and Gender: Through Prism of Difference

Answer 11

Contemporary gender relations complex,
Thinking of gender primarily in terms of differences led scholars to overgeneralize, essentialize
organized + experienced differently when refracted through prism of sexual, racial/ethnic, social class, physical abilities, age, + citizenship differences
-more complexities within than betw.
-reduces to essential M+W

Question 12

Masculinity *complexity

Answer 12

not fixed/biological essence of men (social construction) changes over time, among various national + cultural contexts
Power is central to stratification, race, understanding gender as a relational construct, defined in contrast to femininity
No singular male sex role – various masculinities

Question 13

Sexism

Answer 13

Subordination based on assumed superiority of a sex.

components: 1) Negative attitudes toward women
2) Stereotypical beliefs reinforce + justify prejudice
3) Discrimination, acts that exclude, distance/keep women separate

Question 14

Male Aggression Against Women

Answer 14

1. Intimate Partner Violence (6% of Canadian women in 2004 through victimization survey, down from 12% in 1993, slow decrease)
2. Sexual Assault (85% of sexual assault of women are by men they know) shows portray by strangers

Question 15

Male Aggression Against Women

Answer 15

3. Sexual Harassment: illegal
   Quid pro quo (sexual threats/bribery made condition of employment decisions)
   Hostile environment (sexual jokes, comments, + touching that interferes with work/create a hostile work environment)

Question 16

Gender stratification

Answer 16

Channeling of men and women into different (and usually unequal) life situations
Employment and Earnings Gender and poli<cs Housework and childcare

Question 17

Gendered Institutions

Answer 17

Patriarchy
entire institutions patterned by gender
1. Stereotypical expectations
2. Interpersonal relationships
3. division of labor along lines of gender
4. images + symbols that support these divisions
5. different placement of M+W in social, economic + political hierarchies of institutions

Question 18

Patriarchy

Answer 18

hierarchical system of social organization in which cultural, political, economic structures are controlled by men
used a lot, be careful with words

Question 19

Employment and Earnings

Answer 19

•Earnings gap important expression of gender inequality
•Canadian data on earnings of women and men first reported in 1967
-ratio of female to male earnings 58%
-1992 passed 70% + has fluctuated near that level
-In 2008, 86% for single + never married-eliminates some gap
•W earn less than men do at every level of education
-Gender wage gap is smaller under female managers

Question 20

Employment and Earnings

Answer 20

Labor force participation of women over age 15 increased from 37.1% in 1976 to 46.8% in 2004
Canadian women more likely than men to be poor although women make up 47% of the workforce, hold 17% of corporate positions in top 500 companies + 13% of board seats (glass ceiling)
-member of particular group, % of representation decreases as you move up

Question 21

Factors in The Earnings Gap

Answer 21

1. Overt Discrimination: Sexism
2. Gender Socialization/Segregation: distribution of M+W in diff. jobs
3. “Second Shift”–Even though many men are more involved in housework + childcare, most of work still falls on women

Question 22

Factors in The Earnings Gap

Answer 22

-dual earner fams: cyclical process, ore 1 works=more 1 has to do housework

Question 23

Gender Gap in Earnings and Required Policy Initiatives

Answer 23

•Policy initiatives: bridge gender gap in earnings:

1. Development of better child-care system
2. Development of “comparable worth”: = pay for work of equal value-equal dollar value of diff. jobs
   - established ingender-neutral terms by comparing jobs in terms of education + experience needed+ stress, responsibility + working conditions associated with them

Question 24

Gender and Politics

Answer 24

Right to vote gained in 20th century
Hold between 20-30% of seats in parliament
right to vote in nearly every country with legislatures
W still perform majority of domestic tasks + primary caregivers for children/fam members
commitments deprive women of free time they need to participate in politics
25% of Americans still believe M better suited emotionally to govern

Question 25

Gender Empowerment Measure

Answer 25

•indicator of progress - computed by UN based on: i. W share of seats in Parliament ii. share of administrative, managerial, professional, + technical jobs iii. Women’s earning power

Question 26

GEM

Answer 26

•Score of 1 indicates equality with men on these dimensions - In 2004, Canada ranked 10th with GEM score of .81 - In 2009, Canada ranked 12th with GEM score of .83 - still moving toward equality

Question 27

Women’s Movement in Canada

Answer 27

3 waves in Canada’s women’s movement Fighting for right to vote early 1900s (1918 in Canada) Fighting for equality 1960s Fighting for plural conception of femininity Various types of feminism-negative connotation

Question 28

Feminism | Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism and the Future (2000) Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards

Answer 28

Who are the feminists and what is feminism? -each + every politically + socially conscious W/M who works for equality within/outside movement, writes about feminism/calls her/himself feminist In reality, there is no formal alliance of women we can call "the feminists."

Question 29

Definition of feminism

Answer 29

movement for social, political + economic equality -when ppl given this definition 2/3 agree -Authors add: means women have the right to enough information to make informed choices about their lives "women" encompassing term, organic intertwining with movements for racial + economic equality, gay rights, is inherent to the feminist mandate.

Question 30

Definition of feminism

Answer 30

Some sort of allegiance betw. W+M important component of equality. equality is a balance betw. M+F with intention of liberating the individual.

Question 31

Nature of feminism

Answer 31

3 components: movement-group working to accomplish specific goals. goals: social + political change, must be engaged with the government + law, social practices + beliefs. access to sufficient info to enable women to make responsible choices

Question 32

Nature of feminism

Answer 32

Most women come to feminism through personal experience, which is one of the reasons core identity of feminism has to be so elastic. term represents an incredible diversity of individual lives

Question 33

Gender: A Changing Landscape

Answer 33

Policies Change–Various legislation(1982 Charter of Rights + Freedom, Canadian Human Rights Act + 1998 Multiculturalism Act) Attitudes Change–Ppl’s beliefs about appropriate gender roles evolved as W+M lives changed (younger men + single men are more egalitarian than older and married men)

Question 34

Gender revolution since 1960s

Answer 34

•W’s employment increased dramatically •Birth control became widely available •surpassed men in rates of college graduation •Undergrad college majors desegregated substantially •More W got doctorates, pro degrees in law, medicine + business •Many kinds of gender discrimination in employment + education became illegal •W entered many previously male-dominated occupations •More women elected to politicaloffices

Question 35

Changing attitudes

Answer 35

Kathleen Gershon’s study on young adults’ attitudes: Most young M+W want committed relationship with partner who would share paid work + family care taking equitably. held deep and realistic fears that time-demanding jobs, a dearth of childcare + family-leave options, + their own high standard for an intimate would place their ideal scenarios out of reach

Question 36

Doing Gender

Answer 36

Candace West & Don Zimmerman (1987) Doing gender: (often unconscious) activity of managing one’s conduct in a way that is consistent with generally considered appropriate to one sex Gender is an achieved status: something that must be actively accomplished