Inequalities of Gender & Age Chapter 10

Section 1 Sex & gender identity

Defining Male & Female What are little boys made of? Snips and snails And puppy dog tails That’s what little boys are made of. What are little girls made of? Sugar and Spice And everything nice. That’s what little girls are made of.

What children think about gender?

Women talk more than men Women use less personal space than men Research shows that in spite of what most people believe, just the opposite is true. In one study, men talked on the average of 10 minutes more than women about an engraving. Research as determined that women are no more likely than men to touch other people; “touchiness” is a function of personality and modeling, not gender. Research does bear this finding to be true. Men tend to take up more space than women. Women are more likely than men to touch each other. Women use less personal space than men

Gender Vocabulary Biological determination The principle that behavior differences are the result of inherited physical characteristics. Gender Identity A sense of being male or female based on learned cultural values

Biology, Culture and Behavior Are male and female brains difference? Do such biological differences lead to differences in social behavior? How do biologists view behavior? What can we conclude from studies about male and female behaviors? In general, researchers investigating behavioral differences between the sexes have not been able to prove that any particular behavior has a biological cause. While biological characteristics exist, they can be modified through social influences. Recent research indicates that the brains of men and women are slightly different in structure. Men show more activity in the area of the brain tied to adaptive evolutionary responses and women in emotional expression. Women also tend to use both side of the brain when performing a task and listen with both ears. Men are more likely to use the left side when performing a task and listen with the right ear. Most sociologists feel that gender-related behavior is not related to biology. Margaret Mead found that both sexes were conditioned to be cooperative, unaggressive, and empathetic in the tribes she studied. This is overlooked by biological determinists who assume (without evidence) that physical differences result in biologically programmed differences in social behavior. Male babies less sensitive to sound (females listen with both ears) and male babies/children engage in more active play. When looking for a partner men value physical appearance and women value social class and income. We see this across many cultures but we do not know if this difference is a result of biology or culture. Biology, Culture and Behavior

Theoretical Perspectives on gender Section 2 Theoretical Perspectives on gender

Focus on Theoretical Perspectives Social Arrangement Example Functionalism Gender-based division of labor Women are expected to perform household tasks for the benefit of society. Conflict Theory Patriarchy (male domination) Women are denied high status occupations for the benefit of men. Symbolic Interactionism Favoring males over females in the classroom Few females believe they can become scientists.

Section 3 Gender inequality

Women as a Minority Group Sexism A set of beliefs, attitudes, norms and values used to justify sexual inequality Isn’t sex discrimination disappearing? Yes and No There have been many improvements, but still more to come.

Sexism, Gender & Masculinity

Occupational & Economic Inequality What kinds of jobs are women doing? Occupational sex segregation The concentration of women in lower-status positions Do women earn less than men? YES Are all occupations affected? How do American women fare globally? Women earn more in Australia

Legal & Political Inequality What are some biases in law? Some states do not allow women to keep their surnames Limit the number of hours women can work and the kinds of work they can do Title VII nullified such laws How do American women stand politically? Very involved, participate on many levels Zwiegenhaft & Domhoff point out that women are now part of the power elite

Section 4 ageism

Defining Ageism Age Stratification The unequal distribution of scarce resources based on age. Ageism A set of beliefs, attitudes, norms and values used to justify age-based prejudice and discrimination

Theoretical Perspectives on Ageism Social Arrangement Example Functionalism Elderly people play the role the aged play in that society People retire as they reach a certain age. Conflict Theory Elderly people compete with other age groups for economic resources Forced retirement Symbolic Interactionism Children learn negative images of older people as they learn aspects of their culture. Stereotypes of the elderly: no sex, senile, fragile, etc.

Inequality in America's elderly population Section 5 Inequality in America's elderly population

Economics of the Elderly Why is poverty measured differently for older people? The government assumes that elderly require less money to live What other factors affect elderly Americans? Racial and ethnic groups Overall, what is the economic position of older people in the United States? Better off than years ago but some still live at poverty level

Not for just the young…