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 TraitsMale

Dominant Independent Intelligent Competent Rational Assertive Strong Brave Ambitious Active Competitive Insensitive Sexually aggressive Attractive because of achievement

Traditional Gender TraitsFemale

• 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/the-secret-life-of-boys.html

• http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2013/02/20/yes-were-still-gendering-everything/