1. Sociology 125
Lecture 18
Gender
April 3, 2018

2. I. GENDER & NATURE

4. Definitions of Sex & Gender
Sex = a biological distinction based on roles in the process of biological reproduction
Gender = a social distinction between roles and expectations linked to sex.
Gender is the social transformation of a biological difference – sex – into a social difference.
Gender norms are the rules of appropriate behavior and roles for men and women.

5. Definitions of Sex & Gender
Sex = a biological distinction based on roles in the process of biological reproduction
Gender = a social distinction between roles and expectations linked to sex.
Gender is the social transformation of biological attributes – sex – into a social difference.
Gender norms are the rules of appropriate behavior and roles for men and women.

6. The intensity of caregiving behavior
2. What is Natural?
I. Existing distribution of caregiving in a world with strong gender norms
Low
High
The intensity of caregiving behavior

7. The intensity of caregiving behavior
2. What is Natural?
I. Existing distribution of caregiving in a world with strong gender norms
Women
Low
High
The intensity of caregiving behavior

8. The intensity of caregiving behavior
2. What is Natural?
I. Existing distribution of caregiving in a world with strong gender norms
Men
Women
Low
High
The intensity of caregiving behavior

9. Gender gap in caregiving The intensity of caregiving behavior
2. What is Natural?
I. Existing distribution of caregiving in a world with strong gender norms
Gender gap in caregiving
Men
Women
Low
High
The intensity of caregiving behavior

10. 2. What is Natural?
I. Existing distribution of caregiving in a world with strong gender norms
II. Hypothetical distributions of caregiving in a world with weak gender norms
Gender gap in caregiving
Men
Women
Low
High
Low
High
The intensity of caregiving behavior
The intensity of caregiving behavior

11. 2. What is Natural?
I. Existing distribution of caregiving in a world with strong gender norms
II. Hypothetical distributions of caregiving in a world with weak gender norms
Gender gap in caregiving
Gender gap in caregiving
Women
Men
Men
Women
Low
High
Low
High
The intensity of caregiving behavior
The intensity of caregiving behavior

12. II. THE EMPIRICAL STORY: MASSIVE TRANSFORMATIONS IN THREE GENERATIONS

13. Seven important elements of transformations of gender relations
Legal Rights
Labor force participation
Occupational Structure & Income
Power
Family structure
Domestic division of labor
Sexuality
Cultural Degendering

14. 1. Legal Rights

15. Legal Rights gained by women
in 20th Century
Right to vote (1920)
Equal right to divorce (gradually since 1940s)
Reproductive rights (1973, but eroding)
Equal rights to university admission (1960s)
Equal rights to all jobs (1960s)
Equal rights to participate in sports (1972)
Equal right to participate in all military roles (2016)

16. 2. Labor Force Participation

17. 2. Labor Force Participation Rates
of Married Women with Children,

18. 3. Occupational Structure & Income

19. % of People in Selected Traditionally Male Professions
who are Women, 1930, 1960, 1990, 2000, 2011

20. % Enrollments in Medical & Law Schools who are women, 1949-2015

22. Selected Highly Gender-Segregated Jobs
% of Women in
Selected Highly Gender-Segregated Jobs
1970
2011
Secretary
98.1%
95.4% RN
97.8%
91.1%
Dental Assistant
98.6%
95.8%
Carpenter
1.6%
2.1%
Airline pilot
4.9%
auto mechanic
1.3%

23. Men’s and Women’s median wages, 1973-2011
Women’s wages =
63% of men’s wages
Women’s wages =
84% of men’s wages

25. 4. Power

26. % of corporate officers and CEOs who are women

27. Women elected officials, 1979-2013

28. Women in national legislatures, 2013 (%)

29. 5. Family Structure

30. % of Households that consist of a Married Couple
Single person

31. who have Never Married, 1940-2010
% of Women ages 30-34
who have Never Married,
31.8%
14.3%
6.9%

32. End of WWII
The Great Depression
No-fault divorce laws

34. 6. Domestic Division of Labor

35. Time devoted per week on routine housework
by mothers and fathers in homes with children

36. Time spent per week on child care for fathers and mothers in homes with children
Ratio 1.9:1
Ratio 4.0:1
Ratio 2.5:1
mothers
fathers

38. 7. Sexuality

39. Public Support for Same-Sex Marriages, 1996-2014

41. Age gradient in support for same-sex marriage

43. Seven important elements of transformations of gender relations
Legal Rights
Labor force participation
Occupational Structure & Income
Power
Family structure
Domestic division of labor
Sexuality
Cultural Degendering

44. 8. Cultural Degendering