Gender & FamiliesGender & Families

Introduction to Family StudiesIntroduction to Family Studies

Gender & FamiliesGender & FamiliesIndividuals and families are Individuals and families are influenced by larger social forces influenced by larger social forces that we may not always noticethat we may not always notice

What role does gender play in What role does gender play in families?families?

Gender & FamiliesGender & FamiliesThe distinction between male and The distinction between male and female, masculine and feminine is female, masculine and feminine is basic to the study of familiesbasic to the study of families

All societies exhibit a sharp All societies exhibit a sharp distinction between what women distinction between what women and men do in familiesand men do in families All cultures have a family All cultures have a family division of labor based on genderdivision of labor based on gender

Gender TheoryGender Theory

Gender theory argues that Gender theory argues that differences between men and women differences between men and women are are socially constructedsocially constructed or or createdcreated to to

And these differences help maintain And these differences help maintain power of men over women.power of men over women.

Emphasizes Emphasizes cultureculture, rather than , rather than biology.biology.

In other words being feminine or In other words being feminine or masculine is learned and created masculine is learned and created through our social interactionsthrough our social interactions

Sex & GenderSex & GenderSociologists distinguish between sex and Sociologists distinguish between sex and gendergenderSexSex: : refers to the biological attributes refers to the biological attributes that distinguish females from males such that distinguish females from males such as: chromosomes, hormones, and as: chromosomes, hormones, and anatomical apparatusanatomical apparatus

GenderGender: : refers torefers to the cultural and social the cultural and social meanings, experiences, and meanings, experiences, and characteristics that are defined as characteristics that are defined as appropriate for females and malesappropriate for females and males

i.e. different clothing, expectations of i.e. different clothing, expectations of who can crywho can cry

Gender TheoryGender Theory Because gender is a SOCIAL Because gender is a SOCIAL

construction it is fluid or always construction it is fluid or always changingchanging

Then….

Gender TheoryGender Theory Because gender is a SOCIAL Because gender is a SOCIAL

construction it is fluid or always construction it is fluid or always changingchanging

Now…

Sex

Sex is biologicalSex is biological Gender is a social creationGender is a social creation

Sociologists argue that gender is Sociologists argue that gender is “socially constructed” or created“socially constructed” or created

In other words men and women In other words men and women learnlearn many masculine and many masculine and feminine behaviors though feminine behaviors though socializationsocialization

Sex & GenderSex & Gender

Social Construction of Social Construction of GenderGender

Why do sociologists argue that gender Why do sociologists argue that gender is socially constructed?is socially constructed?1)1) Expectations of each gender vary Expectations of each gender vary from society to anotherfrom society to anotherExample: In Pakistan it is common for male friends to Example: In Pakistan it is common for male friends to hold hands but this is not common among American hold hands but this is not common among American men.men.

2)2) Gender behaviors vary within one Gender behaviors vary within one culture at different points in timeculture at different points in timeExample: MenExample: Men’’s fashions in 17s fashions in 17thth century America were century America were much more much more ““femininefeminine”” compared to men compared to men’’s fashions s fashions today. today.

Social Construction of Social Construction of GenderGender

Why do sociologists argue that gender is socially Why do sociologists argue that gender is socially constructed?constructed? 3) 3) The meanings of masculinity and femininity The meanings of masculinity and femininity

change over the course of a person’s life. change over the course of a person’s life.

Example: The meaning of femininity changes as women Example: The meaning of femininity changes as women age – compare pre-pubescent girls to women who are age – compare pre-pubescent girls to women who are of childbearing age or who are postmenopausalof childbearing age or who are postmenopausal

4) 4) Meaning of gender varies among different Meaning of gender varies among different groups within a particular culture at a given groups within a particular culture at a given point in time. point in time.

Example: Gender behaviors may be structured by Example: Gender behaviors may be structured by class, race, ethnicity, age, region of the country etc.class, race, ethnicity, age, region of the country etc.

Sociological Perspectives on Sociological Perspectives on GenderGender

How are gender roles acquired & how is How are gender roles acquired & how is gender constructed?gender constructed?

Gender role approach focuses on the how Gender role approach focuses on the how parents, and other social institutions transmit parents, and other social institutions transmit gendered expectations about appropriate gendered expectations about appropriate behavior throughbehavior through socializationsocialization

SocializationSocialization is the process by which is the process by which individuals acquire society’s norms and individuals acquire society’s norms and valuesvalues

Socialization is a life long process Socialization is a life long process

Sociological Perspectives on Sociological Perspectives on GenderGender

West and Zimmerman ‘Doing Gender’West and Zimmerman ‘Doing Gender’ Argue that we need to be continually Argue that we need to be continually

“resocialized” into gender roles or “resocialized” into gender roles or reminded how to act like a man or act reminded how to act like a man or act like a womanlike a woman

Gender is produced through interactionGender is produced through interaction For example: in families – doing For example: in families – doing

housework is “doing gender”housework is “doing gender” Men and women reinforce gender roles by Men and women reinforce gender roles by

doing gender appropriate household workdoing gender appropriate household work

Doing Gender in FamiliesDoing Gender in Families

Sociological Perspectives on Sociological Perspectives on GenderGender

West and Zimmerman ‘Doing Gender’West and Zimmerman ‘Doing Gender’ They argue that gender is a “routine They argue that gender is a “routine

accomplishment” embedded in every accomplishment” embedded in every day interactionday interaction

In other words, we are continually In other words, we are continually acting out being a man or being a acting out being a man or being a woman in social situationswoman in social situations

Gender emerges from an interaction Gender emerges from an interaction or a social situationor a social situation

POP QUIZPOP QUIZ

What percent of women (over age 16) What percent of women (over age 16) are in the PAID labor force (employed)are in the PAID labor force (employed)

A. 40 percentA. 40 percent B. 50 percentB. 50 percent C. 60 percentC. 60 percent

Answer CAnswer C Source: U. S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsSource: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

POP QUIZPOP QUIZ

What percent of women who enroll in What percent of women who enroll in college, graduate?college, graduate?

A. 45 percentA. 45 percent B. 60 percentB. 60 percent C. 75 percentC. 75 percent Answer: BAnswer: B The rate is up to 11 percent lower for menThe rate is up to 11 percent lower for men

www.nces.gov

POP QUIZPOP QUIZ

What percent of women age 40 – 44 with What percent of women age 40 – 44 with advanced or professional degrees are advanced or professional degrees are childless (childfree)?childless (childfree)?

A. 12 percentA. 12 percent B. 20 percentB. 20 percent C. 27 percentC. 27 percent Answer 27 percentAnswer 27 percent

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/19/us/19census.html

Doing Gender?

Doing Gender?

Doing GenderDoing Gender

Think of an example of a situation or Think of an example of a situation or interaction when you were “doing interaction when you were “doing gender”gender”

Example “I was doing gender when I Example “I was doing gender when I bought a pink outfit for my niece”bought a pink outfit for my niece”

Women and EducationWomen and Education

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/fashion/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/fashion/07campus.html?scp=1&sq=The%20new07campus.html?scp=1&sq=The%20new%20math%20on%20campus&st=cse%20math%20on%20campus&st=cse

American Council on Education:American Council on Education: http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?

Section=Press_Releases2&TEMPLATE=/CM/Section=Press_Releases2&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=35338ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=35338

Sociological Perspectives on Sociological Perspectives on GenderGender

Taking your husbands name …. Taking your husbands name …. Some argue – it is just easier if couple Some argue – it is just easier if couple

and children have the same name – and children have the same name – Others argue - isn’t changing your Others argue - isn’t changing your

name on all legal documents confusing name on all legal documents confusing and time consuming? and time consuming?

And why is it almost always women who And why is it almost always women who change their names to their husbands’ change their names to their husbands’ name?name?

This is a holdover from older This is a holdover from older patriarchal customspatriarchal customs

SummarySummary Summary Summary Acting in gender appropriate ways Acting in gender appropriate ways

reinforces gender differencesreinforces gender differences Sociologists argue that gender is Sociologists argue that gender is

socially constructed through socially constructed through economic and social constraints on economic and social constraints on women’s behavior and their ability women’s behavior and their ability to achieve equality with men to achieve equality with men

SummarySummary SummarySummary Gender is continuously constructed through Gender is continuously constructed through

everyday interactioneveryday interaction Men’s power is embedded in the social Men’s power is embedded in the social

structurestructure Gender and families are intertwinedGender and families are intertwined Families are a social institution in which Families are a social institution in which

gender is socially constructedgender is socially constructed