1. Sociology 125
Lectures 19
Gender
April 5, 2018

2. III. EXPLAINING TRANSFORMATION

3. The Question
Women have always tried to increase their autonomy and reduce their subjection. But throughout most of history these struggles have produced at best minimal change.
Why do these struggles produce big changes sometimes and not others? Why in second half of the 20th century was there such massive transformation?

4. The Answer
While women have tried throughout history to increase their autonomy and reduce their subordination, they could only succeed in doing this on a large scale once social conditions had changed in ways that made existing gender power relations fragile.

5. Three basic processes
Decline in a coherent interest among men to defend male domination
Erosion of institutional system of female domesticity which eroded women’s interest in traditional gender relations
Increase in capacity for challenge by women

6. 1.The decline of coherent male interests in male domination
Central explanation:
The rapidly increasing economic demand for literate labor by male employers undermined male interest in excluding women.

7. 2. The Crisis of Female Domesticity

8. Traditional social supports for domesticity = a coherent system
Stable marriage/personal relations fostered domesticity
blocked work opportunities increased the attractiveness of domesticity
A family wage made domesticity economically feasible
dense social networks supported domesticity (neighbors, churches, communities, etc.)
cultural norms and sexism reinforced identities and expectations

9. Traditional social supports for domesticity = a coherent system
Stable marriage/personal relations fostered domesticity
blocked work opportunities increased the attractiveness of domesticity
A family wage made domesticity economically feasible
dense social networks supported domesticity (neighbors, churches, communities, etc.)
cultural norms and sexism reinforced identities and expectations

10. Traditional social supports for domesticity = a coherent system
Stable marriage/personal relations fostered domesticity
blocked work opportunities increased the attractiveness of domesticity
A family wage made domesticity economically feasible
dense social networks supported domesticity (neighbors, churches, communities, etc.)
cultural norms and sexism reinforced identities and expectations

11. Traditional social supports for domesticity = a coherent system
Stable marriage/personal relations fostered domesticity
blocked work opportunities increased the attractiveness of domesticity
A family wage made domesticity economically feasible
dense social networks supported domesticity (neighbors, churches, communities, etc.)
cultural norms and sexism reinforced identities and expectations

12. Traditional social supports for domesticity = a coherent system
Stable marriage/personal relations fostered domesticity
blocked work opportunities increased the attractiveness of domesticity
A family wage made domesticity economically feasible
dense social networks supported domesticity (neighbors, churches, communities, etc.)
cultural norms and sexism reinforced identities and expectations

13. Traditional social supports for domesticity = a coherent system
Stable marriage/personal relations fostered domesticity
blocked work opportunities increased the attractiveness of domesticity
A family wage made domesticity economically feasible
dense social networks supported domesticity (neighbors, churches, communities, etc.)
cultural norms and sexism reinforced identities and expectations

14. Collapse of the system of coherent domesticity beginning in the 1960s
decline of stable marriage means women cannot count of support of husbands
expansion of work opportunities increased the viability of alternatives to domesticity
decline of the family wage made domesticity economically difficult
erosion of dense social networks makes domesticity more isolated and difficult
challenge to cultural norms and traditional sexism contributes to new identities

15. Collapse of the system of coherent domesticity beginning in the 1960s
decline of stable marriage means women cannot count of support of husbands
expansion of work opportunities increased the viability of alternatives to domesticity
decline of the family wage made domesticity economically difficult
erosion of dense social networks makes domesticity more isolated and difficult
challenge to cultural norms and traditional sexism contributes to new identities

16. Collapse of the system of coherent domesticity beginning in the 1960s
decline of stable marriage means women cannot count of support of husbands
expansion of work opportunities increased the viability of alternatives to domesticity
decline of the family wage made domesticity economically difficult
erosion of dense social networks makes domesticity more isolated and difficult
challenge to cultural norms and traditional sexism contributes to new identities

17. Collapse of the system of coherent domesticity beginning in the 1960s
decline of stable marriage means women cannot count of support of husbands
expansion of work opportunities increased the viability of alternatives to domesticity
decline of the family wage made domesticity economically difficult
erosion of dense social networks makes domesticity more isolated and difficult
challenge to cultural norms and traditional sexism contributes to new identities

18. Collapse of the system of coherent domesticity beginning in the 1960s
decline of stable marriage means women cannot count of support of husbands
expansion of work opportunities increased the viability of alternatives to domesticity
decline of the family wage made domesticity economically difficult
erosion of dense social networks makes domesticity more isolated and difficult
challenge to cultural norms and traditional sexism contributes to new identities

19. Collapse of the system of coherent domesticity beginning in the 1960s
decline of stable marriage means women cannot count of support of husbands
expansion of work opportunities increased the viability of alternatives to domesticity
decline of the family wage made domesticity economically difficult
erosion of dense social networks makes domesticity more isolated and difficult
challenge to cultural norms and traditional sexism contributes to new identities

20. 3. The Women’s movement & Feminism

21. V. THE WORLD TODAY: DILEMMAS AND PROSPECTS

22. 1. IRREVERSIBILITY OF FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES
Dramatic decline in family size unlikely to be reversed: permanent erosion of lifetime domesticity as an ideal
Traditional marriage stability unlikely to be restored
Women’s labor force participation unlikely to be reversed
Women’s participation in powerful and influential positions unlikely
to decline

23. 1. IRREVERSIBILITY OF FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES
Dramatic decline in family size unlikely to be reversed: permanent erosion of lifetime domesticity as an ideal
Traditional marriage stability unlikely to be restored
Women’s labor force participation unlikely to be reversed
Women’s participation in powerful and influential positions unlikely to
decline

24. 1. IRREVERSIBILITY OF FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES
Dramatic decline in family size unlikely to be reversed: permanent erosion of lifetime domesticity as an ideal
Traditional marriage stability unlikely to be restored
Women’s labor force participation unlikely to be reversed
Women’s participation in powerful and influential positions unlik
ely to decline

25. 1. IRREVERSIBILITY OF FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES
Dramatic decline in family size unlikely to be reversed: permanent erosion of lifetime domesticity as an ideal
Traditional marriage stability unlikely to be restored
Women’s labor force participation unlikely to be reversed
Women’s participation in powerful and influential positions unlikely to decline

26. 1. IRREVERSIBILITY OF FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES
Dramatic decline in family size unlikely to be reversed: permanent erosion of lifetime domesticity as an ideal
Traditional marriage stability unlikely to be restored
Women’s labor force participation unlikely to be reversed
Women’s participation in powerful and influential positions unlikely to decline.
Degendering of traditional roles unlikely to be reversed

27. 1. IRREVERSIBILITY OF FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES
Dramatic decline in family size unlikely to be reversed: permanent erosion of lifetime domesticity as an ideal
Traditional marriage stability unlikely to be restored
Women’s labor force participation unlikely to be reversed
Women’s participation in powerful and influential positions unlikely to decline
Degendering of traditional roles unlikely to be reversed

28. 2. The problem of Winners & Losers
Gender equality expands opportunities and freedom of choice for women in general, BUT
Gender equality imposes costs on some women and erodes some of the security that comes with traditional female dependency. Certain ways of life, valued by many women and men, are threatened by gender equality.
Men have contradictory interests with respect to gender inequality: men have much to gain from gender equality, but some losses as well.
Gains for men = opening up of choices around parenting & work; the cult of masculinity blocks the full development of personhood in men.
Losses = more competition for higher-level jobs; end of gender-based privileges.

29. 2. The problem of Winners & Losers
Gender equality expands opportunities and freedom of choice for women in general, BUT
Gender equality imposes costs on some women and erodes some of the security that comes with traditional female dependency. Certain ways of life, valued by many women and men, are threatened by gender equality.
Men have contradictory interests with respect to gender inequality: men have much to gain from gender equality, but some losses as well.
Gains for men = opening up of choices around parenting & work; the cult of masculinity blocks the full development of personhood in men.
Losses = more competition for higher-level jobs; end of gender-based privileges.

30. 2. The problem of Winners & Losers
Gender equality expands opportunities and freedom of choice for women in general, BUT
Gender equality imposes costs on some women and erodes some of the security that comes with traditional female dependency. Certain ways of life, valued by many women and men, are threatened by gender equality.
Men have contradictory interests with respect to gender inequality: men have much to gain from gender equality, but some losses as well.
Gains for men = opening up of choices around parenting & work; the cult of masculinity blocks the full development of personhood in men.
Losses = more competition for higher-level jobs; end of gender-based privileges.

31. 2. The problem of Winners & Losers
Gender equality expands opportunities and freedom of choice for women in general, BUT
Gender equality imposes costs on some women and erodes some of the security that comes with traditional female dependency. Certain ways of life, valued by many women and men, are threatened by gender equality.
Men have contradictory interests with respect to gender inequality: men have much to gain from gender equality, but some losses as well.
Gains for men = opening up of choices around parenting & work; the cult of masculinity blocks the full development of personhood in men.
Losses = more competition for higher-level jobs; end of gender-based privileges.

32. 2. The problem of Winners & Losers
Gender equality expands opportunities and freedom of choice for women in general, BUT
Gender equality imposes costs on some women and erodes some of the security that comes with traditional female dependency. Certain ways of life, valued by many women and men, are threatened by gender equality.
Men have contradictory interests with respect to gender inequality: men have much to gain from gender equality, but some losses as well.
Gains for men = opening up of choices around parenting & work; the cult of masculinity blocks the full development of personhood in men.
Losses = more competition for higher-level jobs; end of gender-based privileges.

33. 3. Imagine two possible worlds
World #1 = Sweden
World #2 = USA
Average wages of men and women are about the same
Good quality childcare is provided by the government or employers free or at low cost
Generous paid parental leave for caregiving emergencies and early infant care
Average wages of women are 75-80% of wages of men
No childcare is provided by government or employers; private daycare is expensive or of poor quality
no paid parental leave for caregiving emergencies or early infant care

34. 3. Imagine two possible worlds
World #1 = Sweden
World #2 = USA
Average wages of men and women are about the same
Good quality childcare is provided by the government or employers free or at low cost
Generous paid parental leave for caregiving emergencies and early infant care
Average wages of women are 75-80% of wages of men
No childcare is provided by government or employers; private daycare is expensive or of poor quality
no paid parental leave for caregiving emergencies or early infant care

35. 3. Imagine two possible worlds
World #1 = Sweden
World #2 = USA
Average wages of men and women are about the same
Good quality childcare is provided by the government or employers free or at low cost
Generous paid parental leave for caregiving emergencies and early infant care
Average wages of women are 75-80% of wages of men
No childcare is provided by government or employers; private daycare is expensive or of poor quality
no paid parental leave for caregiving emergencies or early infant care

36. 3. Imagine two possible worlds
World #1 = Sweden
World #2 = USA
Average wages of men and women are about the same
Good quality childcare is provided by the government or employers free or at low cost
Generous paid parental leave for caregiving emergencies and early infant care
Average wages of women are 75-80% of wages of men
No childcare is provided by government or employers; private daycare is expensive or of poor quality
no paid parental leave for caregiving emergencies or early infant care

37. Legally required Paid Parental Leaves in Various Countries

38. 4. Three reforms Pay Equity: equal pay for comparable work
Quality public provision of childcare in neighborhoods and workplaces
Generous paid parental leaves

39. 4. Three reforms Pay Equity: equal pay for comparable work
Removes one source of gender inequality
Caregiving work becomes more attractive to men
Increases women’s bargaining power in the home over domestic division of labor

40. 4. Three reforms 2. Public provision of high quality childcare
Opens choices for work/family balance
Reduces class inequalities in opportunities for women
Makes bargaining within families over division of labor easier

41. 4. Three reforms 3. Paid parental leave: three forms Maternal leaves
Parental leaves giving to families to divide
Mother & Father parental leaves given to individuals

42. The Family Ideals and Fallback Positions of
Young Men and Women