1. Sex and Gender
Identity
Ch. 10, Sec. 1, pp. 308-115
What do you believe plays a larger role
in determining gender, culture or
biology? Explain.

2. Defining Male and Female
Sex-biological
distinction between
male and female
Biological determinism is the belief
that behavioral differences are the
result of physical differences
Males are built to provide and
protect
Women are built to be passive and
perform domestic work

3. Defining Male and Female
Biological
tendencies have been
shown to be weak
Gender Identity is formed by culture
and is not biological
Becoming a man or woman is a
cultural process
Sex-Biological
Gender-Cultural

4. Biology of Males and
Females
Males
have larger muscle-bone ratios
Different reproductive organs produce
different hormones
Male brain-more specialized, more
activity in adaptive, evolutionary
responses side of brain
Female brain-tend to use both sides
together, more developed region for
social expression, use both ears

5. Biological Debate
Male
babies are more aggressive
Men-physical appearance, younger
mate
Women-slightly older, less emphasis
on looks
Still aren’t sure the extent of biology
and culture

6. Margaret Meade’s Study
Arapesh
tribe study in which both
genders were cooperative,
unaggressive, and empathetic
(female)
 Mundugumor
tribe showed both genders
to be ruthless and unresponsive to others
needs
Tchambuli
showed gender role
reversal when compared to Western
Society

7. Sociologists Perspective
Gender
roles are not fixed at birth
Children treated like the opposite sex
by parents are easily socialized to it
and resist changing back
There are many variations within each
sex
Competitive, aggressive women;
submissive, non-competitive men

8. Conclusions
While
biological characteristics
exist, gender identity can be
modified through social influences
(primary groups)

9. STOP HERE ON THURSDAY!!!

10. Theoretical Perspectives
on Gender
Ch. 10, Sec. 2
pp. 316-321

11. Functionalism & Gender
Any
behavior that does not help
society will become unimportant
Division of male and female roles
helped society
Men were larger and muscular, but
were also expendable
Women were much more vital to
group’s chances of survival

12. Conflict and Gender
Men
prevent women from gaining
influence to sustain their status
Gender roles are outdated
Marrying and having families later
have allowed women to enter the
workforce

13. Symbolic Interactionism &
Gender
Focus
is on gender socialization, how
boy’s and girl’s learn how to act
Parents, peers, teachers, media

14. Role of Parents
Transfer
values and attitudes
regarding how boys and girls should
behave
Toys given to each sex
Infant girls are handled more gently
Boys are often given more
“masculine” chores

15. Role of Schools
Teachers
encourage different
behaviors from boys and girls
Girls may be taught to be passive
Boys were expected to be
assertive

16. Role of Peers
Peer
acceptance or rejection greatly
impacts self-concepts
Respect is given to those who most
closely mirror traditional gender roles
Those who go against traditional roles
are labeled

17. Gender Inequality
Ch. 10, Sec. 3
pp. 323-329

18. Women as a Minority
Biological
determinism has led to
racism as well as sexism.
Sexist ideology justifies male social
leadership positions
While women are gaining ground in
society, wide inequality gaps exist

19. Occupational Inequality
Over
the last 30 years, women in the
work force have increased
significantly (46% of work force)
Occupational sex segregation has
kept most of these women at lowstatus occupations
Women rarely hold high-status
positions in the business world

20. Economic Inequality
In
1997, women earned $.75 to every
$1.00 of men.
Gap has closed from $.60 in 1980
This trend exists across all
occupations, even traditionally female
jobs
World wide women almost always
earn less, except in Australia

21. Legal Inequality
Biases
exist in some state laws
Health benefits for pregnancy
Refusal to keep surname (last name)
Protective legislation to limit work
hours, work load (Civil Rights Act)
Women are more likely to miss work
than men which leads to hiring bias

22. Political Inequality
Number
of women in elective
positions (governors, legislators) has
been growing
Make up 50% of population but 13%
of House of Representatives and 9%
of Senate
Low percentages of women in
appointed positions (cabinet, judges)

23. STOP HERE ON FRIDAY!!!

24. Aging and the Elderly
in America
Ch. 10, sec. 4 & 5
pp.330-343
What is your overall opinion of the
elderly? What role should they have in
our society?

25. What is Ageism
Age
stratification is one more way
that society can be divided
Many elderly and young people
face discrimination based on
ageism.

26. Functionalism and Ageism
Elderly
are treated according to the
role they play
If they play important roles they are
more highly regarded
If they are less useful to society their
status level drops
Increased suicide rates at age 65 for
men

27. Conflict and Ageism
The
elderly are competing with other
age groups for economic resources,
power and prestige
Elderly are more necessary in a preindustrial society
Ageism and stereotypes are weapons
used by the dominant group to force
the elderly from the labor market

28. Symbolic Interactionism
and Ageism
Children
learn negative stereotypes of
elderly through the socialization
process
Stereotypes of senility, forgetfulness,
and stubbornness can not be applied
to all members of the group (just like
any other stereotype)

29. The Elderly Minority
Negative
view of elderly came
from early studies, most of which
were done in institutions
Why are they a minority?

30. Elderly Economics
Elderly
spend more money on
health care and housing
About 20% of elderly are “poor”
While some elderly live well off of
assets and retirement savings,
most do not

31. Elderly Economics (cont)
Discrimination
and poor economic
situations for African American and
Latino elderly are magnified w/ old age
Women of these same groups are one
of the poorest segments of society
Discrimination in the workforce earlier
has put elderly women at a high
economic disadvantage

32. “Gray Power”
Elderly
have power in the political
system
Voter turnout for elderly is nearly
double that of those half their age
If elderly could put differences aside,
they could become a very strong
political voice
Membership in interest groups gains
more power for the elderly