1. GENDER AND IDENTITY HOW DOES GENDER SHAPE YOUR IDENTITY?

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Explain how gender influences a person’s identity.
Be able to evaluate the notion that gender identities have been socially constructed.

3. SEX AND GENDER – WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
Biological differences between males and females.
Chromosomes, hormones, menstruation and genitalia.
Cultural expectations.
Each gender is expected to conform to masculine and feminine behaviour.
These concepts are not fixed; they change over time and differ from culture to culture.

4. BIOLOGY V CULTURE
What evidence do the Sociobiologists use to explain the differences between the sexes?
What evidence does the feminist Ann Oakly use to counter-argue the biological arguement?

5. GENDER STEREOTYPES
Men are: strong, rational, tough, business- minded, capable, logical.
Women are: passive, gentle, caring, emotional, dizzy, maternal.

6. GENDER STEREOTYPES - DISNEY

7. GENDER ROLE SOCIALISATION
Gender differences between males and females are largely the result of society’s expectations.
Masculinity and Femininity are SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED rather than being the product of biology.

8. HEGEMONY
Connell (2002) – hegemonic masculinity and femininity dominated our culture until recently.
Distinct maternal and paternal family roles.

9. ANN OAKLEY (1982) – 4 PROCESSES TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF GENDER IDENTITY.
MANIPULATION – encourage and reward sex appropriate behaviour.
CANALIZATION – directed towards appropriate toys
DOMESTIC ACTIVITIES
VERBAL APPELLATIONS

10. GENDER CODES
Statham (1986) – by the age of 5, most children have acquired a clear identity.

11. THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND TRADITIONAL GENDER ROLE SOCIALISATION
Sue Sharpe – study of working class girls in the 1970’s –found that girls education was regarded as less important than boys.
Early feminist studies in the 1970’s

12. CRITICISMS OF GENDER ROLE SOCIALISATION
Are the experiences of all men and women the same? Do they differ according to age, ethnicity, class?
Are we so passive that we accept the gender roles imposed upon us?

13. How is it done? Examples of role modelling, imitation and sanctions in
Primary agents
Secondary agents

14. Activity in handout
How do agents of socialisation affect gender identity?
Family
Education
Media
Religion
Peer group