gender and identity Flashcards
(13 cards)
what is meant by Sex?
the biological differences between males and females e.g. chromosomes and genitalia
what is meant by gender?
cultural expectations. they change over time and differ from culture to culture. masculine or feminine behaviour.
what are gender differences a result of?
society’s expectations
what is meant by hegemonic gender identities as suggested by Connell 1995?
hegemonic masculinity - the stereotype of a ‘typical’ or ‘ideal’ male. Men who fail to conform are likely labelled as ‘wimps’ or a ‘girl’.
what is wrong with the idea of hegemonic gender identities?
they are problematic, reinforce patriarchy and gender became rigid.
e.g. mental health problems with ppl who don’t know where their place in society is.
how are we gender socialised through primary socialisation?
Oakley suggested four ways:
- manipulation (encourage and reward appropriate beh.)
- canalisation (appropriate toys)
- verbal appellations (boys and girls exposed to diff lang and nicknames)
- differential activities (watching role models and being given different activities)
what does Stratham say about gender codes?
most children had a clear gender identity by the age of 6. they knew which gender they belonged to and what constituted appropriate behaviour for that gender.
He claimed the existence of gender codes allowed for social conformity. these codes included colour codes, appearance codes, toy codes, play codes and control codes.
how are we gender socialised through secondary socialisation in education?
Spender 1983 suggested that women were ‘invisible’ as their lives and achievements were not represented as being of any significance. reflected in ‘Malestream’ curriculum.
what does Stanworth 1983 suggest?
teachers attitudes to female pupils tended to underestimate their potential.
what does Sue Sharpe 1976 suggest?
girls themselves had lower aspirations. when she followed up her study in 1991, she found far more girls staying on in school to attain higher qualifications. However, traditional socialisation was creating a contradictory message for girls.
how do peers influence gender identities?
- people try to gain acceptance through peers by conforming to norms.
- conforming to stereotypical masculine and feminine identities
- double standards in terms of sexual aspects of identities
- sexual promiscuity and sexual ‘conquest’ are seen as approved masculine beh and encouraged to boys. (achieving status)
- promiscuous girls and women called slags and sluts.
- promiscuous men are studs or stags.
how does the media influence gender identities?
as suggested by Tuchman 1981, a ‘symbolic annihilation’ of women through absence, condemnation and trivialisation of women in media.
e.g. page 3 of the SUN.
what is meant by crisis of masculinity as suggested by Mac and Ghail?
the challenges and uncertainties men face today regarding their traditional male roles and identities. how changes in society, such as shifts towards gender equality, the decline of traditional male-dominated industries, and evolving family structures, have left some men questioning their place and purpose.
