Download Sociology: Social Structure and Social Interaction

SOCIOLOGY: GENDER
STRATIFICATION
OVERVIEW
SEGMENT 1: Elements of Gender Stratification
 SEGMENT 2: Gender Difference
 SEGMENT 3: Patriarchy and Feminism
 SEGMENT 4: Gender Inequality Today

ELEMENTS OF GENDER
STRATIFICATION
SEGMENT 1
ELEMENTS OF GENDER STRATIFICATION

Sex – refers to biological characteristics

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Male, Female, Intersexed
Gender – refers to social characteristics
Man, Women, Genderqueer
 Masculine, Feminine, Androgenous
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Sexual Orientation – refers to the characteristics of
romantic and sexual attraction that one has for others
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Heterosexual, Homosexual, Bisexual, Asexual
Each culture has its own set of characteristics for
qualifying into gender, sex, and sexual orientation
categories
We inherit our sex and learn our gender
To a degree we inherit and learn our sexual
orientation
ELEMENTS OF GENDER STRATIFICATION
ELEMENTS OF GENDER STRATIFICATION
Primary Sex
Characteristics

For Males
Secondary Sex
Characteristics

Penis
 Scrotum
 Testes
 Prostrate
Heavier Bones
 Increased Muscle
 Facial Hair
 Hair Loss MPB


For Females
Labia/Clitoris
 Vagina
 Uterus
 Ovaries

For Males


For Females
Breasts
 Hips Widen
 Rear Thigh Muscle
 Elongated Upper Arm

ELEMENTS OF GENDER STRATIFICATION
Biology’s Role

Chromosomes
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XY
XX
XXX – “Super Female”
XYY – “Super Male”
XXY – Kleinfelter’s
Hormones
Estrogen
 Progesterone
 Testosterone

Society’s Role
Socialization
Gendered Imitation
 Gendered Play
 Gendered Games
 Gendered Generalized
Other


Structure
Gendered Institutions
 Gendering Institutions

GENDER DIFFERENCE
SEGMENT 2
GENDER DIFFERENCE
Most sociologists believe that if biology was the
compelling factor in human behavior males and
females would act the same around the world
 Behavioral variation across societies is far
greater than what we could expect from these
differences.
 Sociologists conclude that society plays a large
role in creating gender differences.

1908
1911
1914
1917
1920
1923
1926
1929
1932
1935
1938
1941
1944
1947
1950
1953
1956
1959
1962
1965
1968
1971
1974
1977
1980
1983
1986
1989
1992
1995
1998
2001
2004
2007
2010
2013
2016
GENDER DIFFERENCE
Women’s and Men’s Marathon Records
3:36
3:21
3:07
2:52
2:38
2:24
2:09
1:55
Series1
Series2
Linear (Series1)
Linear (Series2)
GENDER DIFFERENCE
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
Men’s marathon record is
2:02
Women’s marathon record
is 2:15
A 13 minute difference is
only 7 seconds faster per
track lap
It has taken Men 51 years
(‘08-’58) and Women 41
years (‘63-’03) to reach a
record of 2:15.
Women were not allowed
to run in marathons until
1963 and have shaved 1:22
off their time.
GENDER DIFFERENCE
Women’s and Men’s Average Marathon Times
25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
Series1
Series2
2 per. Mov. Avg. (Series1)
2 per. Mov. Avg. (Series2)
GENDER DIFFERENCE
GENDER DIFFERENCE
Presentation of Self – term coined by sociologist
Erving Goffman to indicate that people make
concerted efforts to present themselves to others
as legitimately occupying certain types of
statuses
 Doing Gender – males and females making
efforts to present themselves as men and women.

Talk, gesture, temperament, emotion
 Clothing, hair, make-up
 Owned items, cars, jewelry, furniture
 Body posture, modifications, exercise, diet regimen

PATRIARCHY AND FEMINISM
SEGMENT 3
PATRIARCHY AND FEMINISM
Every society sorts men and women into separate
categories and gives them different access to
property, power, and prestige.
 These divisions, with few exceptions historically,
have always favor men-as-a-group.

Females are therefore classified as a minority group
 Societies with men as the dominant group are known
as patriarchies.
 Societies with women as the dominant group are
known as matriarchies.
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PATRIARCHY AND FEMINISM
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It is unknown how men became the dominant
group because it is universal and prehistorical.
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One theory suggest:
Early On, Life was Short – people lived to
Females were limited in their ability to travel
distances because childbearing
Men Became Dominant as Hunters and Warriors
Weapons, Trade, and Knowledge gained from Contact
with Others Gave Men Power
Ideology developed that women were less dominant
than men
Structure has largely remained hidden because sex
characteristics is compelling cultural proof of
difference
PATRIARCHY AND FEMINISM


Feminism – the belief
that “biology is not
destiny.” The
stratification that exists
in modern societies is
according to gender is
unnecessary and wrong
because it harms both
men and women.
Most people (53%) do
not identify as feminist
but 82% agree with
feminist ideals of gender
equality and equity.
PATRIARCHY AND FEMINISM

1st Feminist
movement –
1840-1920
 Women’s Suffrage –
19th amendment 1920
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PATRIARCHY AND FEMINISM
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2nd Feminist
movement – 1960sTrying to earn equal
pay and rights in the
workplace, education,
and family for women
1960-1980
 Title IX
 Equal Pay Act
 No fault divorce, Roe
v. Wade – 9th
amendment

PATRIARCHY AND FEMINISM

3rd Feminist movement
– happening todayincludes a greater focus
on the plight of women
in the Least
Industrialized Nations
1990-present
 Sexual Assault, Rape,
Access to Contraception
 Women of Color
 Women’s Rights in the
Third World

GENDER INEQUALITY TODAY
GENDER INEQUALITY TODAY
GENDER INEQUALITY TODAY
GENDER INEQUALITY TODAY

Gender Inequality in the Work Place still a
persistent problem?

The Pay Gap – men make more than women in the
workplace on average.
Narrowed from 59% in 1974 to 79% today
 At current rate, will not close by 2100

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The Glass Ceiling – men have more access to top
positions
Less than 5% of fortune 500 companies
 20% of US congressional seats are held by women
 10% of 4 star generals are women
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The Glass Escalator – men make more money and
are promoted more often in feminized jobs.
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Men comprise 24% of all teachers, but 49% of principals,
and 76% of superintendents
GENDER INEQUALITY TODAY
Gender Inequality in Education still a persistent
problem?
 Gender Inequality in Education – Gender
tracking is evident and this still remains true.
 Men are more often tracked into certain fields of
education with lower pay
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Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Business
Women are more often tracked into fields of
education with lower pay
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Education, Nursing, Social Work, Human Services
RECAP
SEGMENT 1: Elements of Gender Stratification
 SEGMENT 2: Gender Difference
 SEGMENT 3: Patriarchy and Feminism
 SEGMENT 4: Gender Inequality Today
