Download Sex and Gender

Sex and Gender
Sex
• The “biological
characteristics” of a
person
• sex organs related to
reproduction
• XY Chromosomes
• physical features (more
evident in puberty)
• They distinguish us as:
“male or female”
Gender
• The “social characteristics” that a society considers
proper
• Determines femininity and masculinity
• We “learn” these characteristics from society
•You inherit your sex but
you learn your gender…..
• What does society teach you?
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9_w2zmIyOk&feature=related
• Mona Lisa Smile – Gender roles
• Watson (Julia Roberts) strongly encourages her students to be
independent women, seeing their potential to be more than subservient
accessories to a man’s household.
• Examples of current gender bias in advertisement:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djDBMryseB0
• Clorox – Who’s job is the laundry?
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGykVbfgUE
• Old Spice
Gender is a Master Status
• No matter where we
go in life we carry the
label of male or
female
• These labels carry
“images” and
“expectations”
• guides our behavior
• Serves as the basis for
power and privilege
*Barbie and GI Joe are examples of gender-based toys
because they reinforce cultural and societal norms and
roles.
Extreme pictures of kids and
their stuff!
Job Segregation
How do sociologists view
behavior?
• Majority argue that gender-related behavior
is not primarily the result of biology.
• Look more at the culture for clues.
• Sociologists have concluded that while
biological characteristics exist, they can be
modified through social experiences.
• Men and women can learn to be submissive
or aggressive.
***Males are:
•
•
•
•
10% taller than females
20% heavier than females
30% stronger, especially in their upper bodies
Females life expectancy is 79.5 while males is
74.1 years
Babe Ruth
• In the 1930’s Babe Ruth was making $100,000 a year as a
professional baseball player. It took 40 years before a female
athlete would earn $100,000.
• Is this difference in salaries an example of patriarchy or
capitalism?
• Can you name the female athlete and the sport in which she
competed?
Traditional Gender Traits
Male
 Dominant
 Independent
 Intelligent
 Competent
 Rational
 Assertive
 Strong
 Brave
 Ambitious
 Active
 Competitive
 Insensitive
 Sexually aggressive
 Attractive because of achievement
Traditional Gender Traits
Female
• Submissive
• Emotional
• Intuitive
• Cooperative
• Content
• Sex object
• Dependent
• Incapable
• Receptive
• Passive
• Cooperative
• Sensitive
• Attractive because of physical appearance
• http://digital.films.com/play/D3QJRP
• http://www.thesociologicalcinema.com/1/post/2012/09/thesecret-life-of-boys.html
• http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2013/02/20/yes-werestill-gendering-everything/