Chapter 4, Our Gendered Identities

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Chapter 4, Our Gendered Identities

• Gendered Identities
• Is Anatomy Destiny?
• Gender and Socialization
• Gender in Adult Lives

2
Masculine Scripts

1. No sissy-stuff - men are expected to distance
   themselves from anything feminine.
2. Big wheel - men should be occupationally or
   financially successful.
3. Sturdy oak - men should be confident and
   self-reliant.
4. Give em hell -men should do what is necessary to
   make it

3
Femininities

• Women should offer emotional support.
• Ideal woman is attractive, not too competitive, a
  good listener and adaptable.
• Women are expected to be good mothers and to put
  the needs of others first.
• Superwoman - successful at a career and a good
  wife/mother.

4
Male Dominance

• Males tend to dominate verbally.
• Male Dominance is evident in politics, religion
  and the economy.
• There are no known societies where women dominate
  men.

5
Male Dominance - Economy

• In 2001, women earned 77 of what employed men
  earned.
• In 2000, only 12.5 of executive positions were
  held by women.
• Even in the same occupational categories, women
  earn less than men.

6
Old-fashioned Sexism

• Measuring statements
• Swearing is more repulsive in a a woman than a
  man.
• It is ridiculous for a woman to run a locomotive
  and for a man to darn socks.

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Old-fashioned Sexism

• Measuring statements
• The father should have greater authority than the
  mother in bringing up children.
• Women are generally not as smart as men.
• It is more important to encourage boys than girls
  to participate in athletics.

8
Modern Sexism

• Measuring statements
• Discrimination against women in the labor force
  is no longer a problem.
• Women shouldn't push themselves where they are
  not wanted.

9
Modern Sexism

• Measuring statements
• Many men are inclined to overcompensate women in
  order not to appear sexist.
• Due to social pressures, some firms have to hire
  under qualified women.

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Biological Theories of Gender

• In order to continue their genes, individuals
  maximize their own and their close kins
  reproduction.
• Men and women have different adaptive strategies
  and skills encoded in the genes.
• Male and female brains differ due to greater
  amounts of testosterone secreted by a male fetus.

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Society Based Gender Stratification

• Foraging and Hoe Societies
• Food production is compatible with pregnancy, and
  nursing.
• Women fully participate economically so males
  are less dominant.

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Society Based Gender Stratification

• Agricultural Societies
• Food production is less compatible with pregnancy
  and nursing.
• Men did the heavy work and women's productive
  labor was less visible.
• Patriarchy became established and increased the
  social control exerted over women.

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Society Based Gender Stratification

• Industrial Societies
• Status of women declined as work became separate
  from home and family life.
• Womens contribution to the economy through
  domestic support and reproduction of the labor
  force became virtually invisible.

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Theories of Socialization

• Social Learning Theory - Children learn gender
  roles as they are taught by parents, schools and
  the media.
• Self-identification theory - Children categorize
  themselves by age three and then identify
  behaviors in their families, the media and
  elsewhere that are appropriate to their sex and
  adopt these behaviors.

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Theories of Socialization

• Gender Schema Theory - Children develop a frame
  of knowledge about what girls and boys typically
  do.
• Children's Theory of Gender - Infants develop a
  primary identification with their primary
  caregiver and later must differentiate
  psychologically and emotionally between
  themselves and their primary caregiver.

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Girls and Boys in the Family

• Parents handle infant sons more roughly and
  respond more quickly to crying baby girls.
• Most parents discourage their children from
  playing with other sex toys.
• Parents allocate household chores according to
  the childs sex.

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Socialization in School's

• More men are in positions of authority
  (principals and superintendents) and women are in
  positions of service (teachers and secretaries).
• Teachers pay more attention to males than to
  females.
• Males tend to dominate learning environments from
  nursery school to college.

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Gender and Stress Women

• Women are oriented to others at the expense of
  self, leading to depression, boredom, and
  dissatisfaction.
• Suicide attempts are more common among women than
  men.
• Women have higher rates of mental illness and
  eating disorders.

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Gender and Stress Men

• Overemphasis on production, competition and
  achievement create anxiety and stress which may
  contribute to shorter life expectancy.
• Physically dangerous behaviors (smoking, unsafe
  driving, drug use, violence) shorten mens lives.
• Hiding their feelings can lead to hidden
  depression and isolation.