( 1 of 12 )
• Objectification is the process of treating human beings as if they were objects
• Objectification of Women– referred to as “females”– seen as “all alike”– subordinate and passive – easily ignored and trivialized
• Cult of thinness– people worship the perfect body
Chapter 10Sex and Gender
( 2 of 12 )
Nichelle Urban Hipster
2005
Marissa Beach baby
2005
Barbie 1960
Barbie's measurements equate to 39-18-33 inches. Those numbers fall far below even today's typical size 8 woman. Far below . . . the waist for a size 8 is 27 inches. And the average woman in the US today is a size 16.
( 3 of 12 )
Ken1960G. I. Joe
1964G. I. Joe
1996
Tyson“Leather”
2004
( 4 of 12 )
• Sex biological and anatomical differences between females and males– Primary sex characteristics (genitals)– Secondary sex characteristics (other than reproductive
organs)
• Intersexual (hermaphrodite) ambiguous sexual differentiation– does not mean a person possesses both a penis and a
vagina
• Transsexual sex-related structures of the brain that define gender are opposite from the physical sex organs of the person’s body
Sex: The Biological Dimension
( 5 of 12 )
• Transvestite a person who lives as the opposite sex but does not alter the genitals– cross-dressers are not transsexuals or transvestites
• Sexual orientation – preference for emotional-sexual relationships with members of the
• opposite sex (heterosexual)• same sex (homosexual)• both (bi-sexual)
• “Transgender”• Homophobia
Criteria for Identificationof homosexual and bi-sexual people (University
of Chicago)
(1) sexual attraction(2) sexual involvement(3) self-identification
( 6 of 12 )
Kinsey Scale
0- Exclusively heterosexual 1- Predominantly heterosexual, only incidentally homosexual 2- Predominantly heterosexual, but more than incidentally homosexual 3- Equally heterosexual and homosexual 4- Predominantly homosexual, but more than incidentally heterosexual 5- Predominantly homosexual, only incidentally heterosexual 6- Exclusively homosexual
( 7 of 12 )
• Gender culturally and socially-constructed differences between females and males– Masculinity– Femininity
• Gender role “appropriate” for each sex• Gender identity perception of self as male or female
• Body consciousness is how a person perceives and feels about his/her body– Eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, obesity– Bodybuilding
– Body dysmorphic disorder
Gender: The Cultural Dimension
( 8 of 12 )
• Sexism subordination of one sex (usually female), based on the assumed superiority of the other sex
Components of Sexism aimed at women:
1) Stereotypical beliefs2) Negative attitudes toward women3) Discrimination
Patriarchy hierarchical system of social organization that is controlled by men
“Matriarchy”
( 9 of 12 )
Gender Socialization• gender-appropriate toys• household chores/task assignment
• Parents• Schools• Peers• Sports• Mass Media
• Gender bias favoritism towards one gender over another
( 10 of 12 )
Economics of Gender Inequality
• Gender-segregated work• Labor market segmentation• Pay Gap
– Pay equity or comparable worth
( 11 of 12 )
Functionalist Perspectives on Gender Stratification
Husband :Instrumental tasks
•economic support•making decisions
Wife :Expressive tasks
•nurturing•caregiving
“The Natural Order of the Universe”
( 12 of 12 )
Feminist Perspectives on Gender Stratification
• Feminism men and women should be valued equally and have equal rights
– Can men be feminists?
Liberal feminism Radical feminism Socialist feminism Multicultural feminism