Understanding Sex, Gender & Sexuality Condensed from Chapter 5, “Socialisation” Fulcher & Scott, 2007

sex

determining sex basic biological difference is: XY and XX this chromosomal difference results in: internal sexual organs - i.e.. ovaries/testes external sexual organs - i.e.. penis/vagina “intersex” refers to people who cannot be clearly classified biologically at birth. “transsexuals” refers to others feel they are trapped in the wrong biological bodies.

sexes two-sex model traditionally, men & women are thought of as one sex with the women being the more under-developed of the two. “Men are from Mars, women are from Venus” emphasising distinct differences ... helps give rise to feminism that tried free women from thinking they are inferior versions of men. however, sociologists believe that sex is not just due to biological but social differences that are culturally programmed. perfomativity refers the formation of men & women through the repeated “performance” of what’s cultural expected of them as men and women.

gender

gender socialisation gender-roles are learnt through the process of socialisation. these are reinforced through education and other agencies of socialisation like media etc. Brewer (2001) conducted an experiment where one baby is first dressed in pink, then blue: in pink, the baby is described as “beautiful” in blue, the baby is described as “strong” Treated differently, grow up in separate world.

media guide to...

gender socialisation behaviourists believe that genderisation occurs through a process of rewards and punishments. psychoanalysts focus on the relation between the child and its mother. boys are encouraged to break their close attachment to their mother. acquisition of values of independence and achievement. girls encouraged to copy their mothers grow up with a more emotional and sensitive outlook.

gender socialisation Problems with socialisation theories: Social change: doesn’t take into the account of how the social realities in our lives changes. Individual choice: doesn’t take into account people’s activity and creativity in shaping their own lives.

patriarchy Patriarchy originally meant domination by the father. Feminism refines this to mean male domination. Marxist feminists argued that the subordination of the women in household = free domestic labour. Note: free = unimportant Radical feminists sees patriarchy as men the dominant class oppressing women and exploiting them economically, politically, and sexually. the family is seen as the main institution helping to exploit women /

patriarchy Walby (1990) identifies 6 patriarchal structures that cumulatively produce male domination: household production employment relations the state male violence sexual relations cultural institutions

separating identities

separating spheres Home PRIVATE Work/Politics PUBLIC The separating of male and female spheres are central to separation of identities. Home PRIVATE Work/Politics PUBLIC Identities passive emotional dependent independent rational active Identities

media guide to...

separating sexes Patriarchal exclusion historical development: factories were built far away from residential areas facilitating a spatial separation reinforced by ideology: religion in the 19th century portrayed working women as “undesirable” In England, the Anglican church started a “religion of the household” Women of the working class (lower class) were employed along with children at cheaper rates (since they’re not “gifted” for work). Created backlash by male workers who further excluded them through unions.

separating sexes Challenging patriarchy: the feminists The first feminists in 19th century were middle-class women who were confined to home and can afford to hire domestic helpers. in their free time, they met and form organisations such as Society for Promoting the Employment of Women (1859) As a result, a separatist policy to participate in the public sphere was pursued resulting in: girl’s schools for education charities, care of the sick (later becoming nurses) and the poor becoming areas that women monopolised.

separating sexes revisiting the two sex model & female superiority the belief that females are fundamentally different to males allowed feminist to: argue they are more virtuous than men morally superior fight for the right to vote because of their moral authority! captured employment in the public sphere in jobs that required the females’ “maternal instincts” such as nursing etc.

separating sexualities The two sex model emphasised male-female differences. This leads to changes in male and female sexuality. The “Active” male & “Passive” female men should now take the lead while the women awaits. the active penetration of the passive female vagina is now seen the only acceptable and natural practice. male-on-top “missionary position” (domination) became the norm men being sexually active reinforced the idea that men should be active in the world (male dominance). women being sexually passive reinforced the idea that they should wait patiently for their men at home (female exclusion).

separating sexualities Heterosexuality vs homosexuality Prior to the 19th century, there is no notion of a two sex model. Homosexuality during this time were considered no worse than non-reproductive sex acts between men and women. With the advent of the two sex model, homosexuals began to be stigmatised. Homosexuality refers not just to the act of engaging in the sexual activity but to groups of men who were considered homosexuals in nature. Homosexuals are then started to be seen as “deviant” who has something wrong with them. Homosexuals are seen as “ill” individuals who must be cured.

blurring identities

women in employment Before the second half of the last century, women hardly participated in the workforce. Now, women are represented in all work strata and has feminised previously patrichal institutions. But there’s still inequalities as seen from western figures.

women in employment because they have domestic responsibilities Women in constructions called dykes. because they have domestic responsibilities 90 % of part-time work done by women In Britain - 10 lowest paying jobs are in catering, caring, and cleaning. Men in caring jobs are called sissy... 80% are women Income gap increases between couples with children

women in employment While women have gained access to the public sphere, men have not gone into the private sphere.