1. C HAPTER 11: S EX AND G ENDER

2. S EX : T HE B IOLOGICAL D IMENSION Sex refers to the biological and anatomical differences between females and males Unlike gender, which is the culturally created aspect (i.e. masculinity and femininity) One’s sex is distinguished by two characteristics Primary: The genitalia and reproductive processes Secondary: The physical traits (other than reproductive organs) that identify an individual’s sex For example…well it’s pretty self explanatory… Some sexual anomalies Hermaphroditic births are when the differentiation of the sexes is incomplete in a person…they tend to posses both primary parts A Transsexual is a person whose identity concerning their apparent sex is opposite from their primary features

3. S EX : T HE B IOLOGICAL D IMENSION ( CONTINUED ) Three sexes!?! Sort of, as oddly as it may appear to “Westerners” some societies recognize three. The third in this case would be berdaches, and the closest approximation of such is the concept of the transvestite in Western culture. A Transvestite is a male or female who lives as their sexual opposite, without altering their primary features Though technically not three, they often pass as members of that sex Sexual orientation Refers to the individual’s preference for emotional-sexual relationships with members of the opposite sex (heterosexuality), the same sex (homosexuality), or both (bisexuality) Homophobia refers to the extreme prejudice, and often violence, towards homosexuals or bisexuals (or simply, non- heterosexuals) The Chicago school established three criteria for orientation Sexual attraction, sexual involvement, and self-identification

4. G ENDER : T HE C ULTURAL D IMENSION Gender refers to the culturally and socially constructed differences between females and males found in the meanings, beliefs, and practices associated with “femininity” and “masculinity” Gender role: the attitudes, behavior, and activities that are socially defined as appropriate for each sex and are learned through the socialization process Gender identity: is a person’s perception of the self as female or male Gender stereotypes For men, “society” considers them to be strong, rational, dominant, independent, and less concerned with appearance For women, they are considered to be weak, emotional, nurturing, dependent, and anxious towards appearance The consequences of these stereotypes commonly results in anorexia, bulimia, and body-building

5. S EXISM IN S OCIETY Sexism is the subordination of one sex, though predominantly women, and is based on the assumed superiority of the opposite sex As the cycle follows: negative attitudes, then stereotypical beliefs, and finally discrimination Sexism for men may be the notion that only men can serve in the military; because the loss of a woman’s life is seen as a greater loss than the man’s Sexism is said to be interwoven with patriarchies and matriarchies Social organization and centrism around men, or women (respectively) Refer to Chapter 5 for a more in depth analysis of men’s and women’s roles and statuses throughout the history of humanity

6. G ENDER AND S OCIALIZATION At birth: viewed as less fragile, and often treated more roughly Boys’ toys tend to be competition related, or constructive It is more stigmatized if a boy were to engage in “feminine” activities than the inverse At birth: viewed as cute and cuddly, and often cared to immediately when crying Girls’ toys tend to be dolls, make-up, and “artsy” items Throughout their life they are pressured more than boys to look a certain way, and thus prone to eating disorders (more so than boys) BoysGirls

7. M ORE A GENTS OF G ENDER S OCIALIZATION From the “womb to the tomb” both men and women are (nearly) constantly barraged with what it means to be male or female. As Sociologists will point out, over-stratification is not necessarily a good thing. Teachers and schools Schools are a highly gendered institution, and are subject to gender biasing (even if unintentional) A gender bias is showing favoritism to one gender over the other Things like sexual harassment are often overlooked, as teachers adopt principles like “boys will be boys” Sports For children, most of their non-school time is spent playing. Male sports tend to be aggressive, orderly, and competitive. Whereas female sports tend to be small, sociable, and lack competition Having a sports and a social life can often be conflicting, overwhelmingly so for female athletes Mass Media Often highly gender stereotyped, and becoming increasingly prevalent.

8. T HE W AGE G AP According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (2004) for every 100 cents men make, women make roughly 75 cents. This graph is in terms of the percentage of that 100 cents. As it turns out, occupation is regardless of these trends.

9. G ENDER S TRATIFICATION : A S OCIOLOGICAL P ERSPECTIVE PerspectiveFocusTheory/Hypothesis Functionalis t Macro-level analysis of women’s and men’s roles Traditional gender roles ensure that expressive and instrumental tasks will be performed Human Capital Model Conflict Power and economic differentials between men and women Unequal political and economic power heightens gender-based social inequalities Symbolic- Interactioni st Feminism should be embraced to reduce sexism and gender inequality 1.Liberal Feminism 2.Radical Feminism 3.Socialist Feminism 4.Multi-cultural Feminism

10. R EFERENCES AND A CKNOWLEDGEMENTS o Sociology In Our Times (Seventh Edition) o By: Diana Kendall o Notes incorporated o By: James V. Thomas, NIU Professor (Emeritus) o Formatted By: Jacob R. Kalnins, NIU student o Pictures Incorporated o Clip Art (PowerPoint: 2007) o Google Images: Sociology In Our Times