Gender And Sexual Identities

Question 1

Sex

Answer 1

Biological traits which society uses to assign someone as male or female : chromosomes, reproductive organs

Question 2

Gender

Answer 2

Cultural classifications of masculinity and femininity, socially constructed characteristics, norms, relationship. Society sees them as more appropriate for one sex than another

Question 3

Sexuality

Answer 3

Sexual identity, attraction and experiences which may or may not align with sex and gender. Includes but not limited to heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, queer and so on

Question 4

Femininity

Answer 4

The attributes, behaviours and roles associated with women and girls in society. = socially constructed so characteristics can be negotiated and changed

Question 5

Masculinity

Answer 5

Social expectations of being a man. Roles, behaviours, attributes appropriate for boys and men in society. Constructed and defined socially characteristics can be negotiated or changed

Question 6

Hegemonic femininity

Answer 6

Most dominant/traditional style of femininity, requires a woman to be heterosexual, child-bearing, attentive, passive subordinate, quiet

Question 7

Hegemonic masculinity

Answer 7

Most dominant form of masculinity that is privileged and upheld by society characterised by strength, being the breadwinner, courage, aggression

Question 8

Social constructionism

Answer 8

Biological characteristics such as sexuality and gender are products of human definition and interpretation and are shaped by social, cultural and historical contexts

Question 9

Biological determinism

Answer 9

Individual characteristics and behaviour are dictated by some aspects of biology, human behaviour is innate (fixed from birth) and determined by genes

Question 10

Instrumental role

Answer 10

Male’s role which is based on physical strength and being the breadwinner or protector of the family

Question 11

Expressive role

Answer 11

Female’s role which is natural and based on their child-bearing role

Question 12

Patriarchy

Answer 12

Society that is dominated by men

Question 13

What does Parsons say?

Answer 13

Traditional gender identities
Females have an expressive role based on their child-bearing role
Males have an instrumental role based on their physical strength

Question 14

Anne Oakley

Answer 14

TRADITIONAL GENDER IDENTITIES

Gender role socialisation takes place in 4 main ways and that primary socialisation is key to developing a sense of gender identity. Supports argument that children are socialised into hegemonic femininity/masculinity
Manipulation, canalisation, verbal appellations, domestic activities

Question 15

Manipulation

Answer 15

Encouraging or discouraging gender appropriate behaviour

Question 16

Canalisation

Answer 16

Parents directing child’s interest into certain toys and play

Question 17

Verbal appellations

Answer 17

Parents using stereotypical feminine and masculine descriptions such as ‘gentle’ girls and ‘strong’ boys

Question 18

Domestic activities

Answer 18

Daughters have cultural expectations of future responsibilities (helping out with house work)

Question 19

What does McRobbie suggest?

Answer 19

Bedroom culture
TRADITIONAL GENDER IDENTITIES

Question 20

What is bedroom culture

Answer 20

Females are confined to their bedroom and this is where they spend their leisure time alone or with friends

Question 21

What is the culture of femininity

Answer 21

Friendship and shared culture with other girls. Used to overcome their knowledge and their future will be restricted

Question 22

What does Sian Lincoln say

Answer 22

Bedroom culture does still exist but significantly less privatised

Question 23

What does Billington?

Answer 23

TRADITIONAL GENDER IDENTITIES

The media presents masculinity as dominant and femininity as subordinate.

Question 24

Nakuamara

Answer 24

TRADITIONAL GENDER IDENTITIES

Although women are stereotyped in the media, digital communication and the internet are increasingly being used by women, from a range of different ethnic and class backgrounds, as a forum for support when they face discrimination and inequality

Question 25

Content analysis

Answer 25

Method used by sociologists to research media and now it represents groups or issues. Involves categories and counting up number of times different topics are featured within a media text

Question 26

Ferguson

Answer 26

- TRADITIONAL GENDER IDENTITIES conducted content analysis of women’s magazine- cult of femininity

Question 27

Cult of femininity

Answer 27

Promoted the idea that excellence is achieved through caring for others, family, marriage and appearance

Question 28

Mitsos and Browne

Answer 28

TRADITIONAL GENDER IDENTITIES Suggest a reason for boys doing less well than girls in education is that teachers tended to be less strict with boys = more leeway.

Question 29

What was reinforced by teachers in school and socialised boys into their gender roles where behaviour between boys and girls was seen as distinctly different

Answer 29

Anti-learning culture

Question 30

Skelton

Answer 30

TRADITIONAL GENDER IDENTITIES Argues that the ‘hidden curriculum’ is responsible for perpetuating gender differences in subject choice

Question 31

How does the hidden curriculum transmit traditional gender roles

Answer 31

-people persuaded by teachers + peers -teachers make assumptions

Question 32

Kelly

Answer 32

-TRADITIONAL GENDER IDENTITIES science is seen as a masculine subject -due to textbooks showing pictures of boys and examples that would interest boys -boys dominate science classrooms by shouting out answers and grabbing equipment first

Question 33

Colley

Answer 33

TRADITIONAL GENDER IDENTITIES Argues that school subject choices are affected by three things, their perception of gender roles, subjects preferences and learning environment

Question 34

Perception of gender roles

Answer 34

Whether pupils choose typically masculine and feminine subjects depends on the extent to which they have been socialised into a typically masculine or feminine identity. Those which strong identities are more likely to choose stereotypical subjects

Question 35

Subject preferences

Answer 35

Males and females choose subjects based on their perception of the types of tasks and activities required in the subject.

Question 36

Learning environment

Answer 36

Subject choices influenced by whether school is single sex or mixed sex. Girls more likely to choose maths and science subjects in single sex schools

Question 37

Horizontal segregation

Answer 37

Men and women are expected to do different types of jobs. Males = high speed ride operatives, females = catering roles

Question 38

Connell

Answer 38

CHANGING IDENTITIES Argues that there are 4 different types of masculinity, hegemonic, complicit, subordinate and marginalised

Question 39

Hegemonic masculinity

Answer 39

Traditional heterosexual masculinity tends to be dominant now

Question 40

Complicit masculinity

Answer 40

Men who believe men and women should share roles within the family

Question 41

Subordinate masculinity

Answer 41

Masculinities which are less powerful and carry a lower status

Question 42

Marginalised masculinity

Answer 42

Masculine identity held by those men who did traditionally masculine jobs and now their masculinity is under threat as many of these jobs have been lost

Question 43

Tony Sewell

Answer 43

Hyper-masculinity= adopt exaggerated version of hegemonic traditional masculinity due to being from matriarchal backgrounds.

Question 44

Sean Nixon

Answer 44

CHANGING IDENTITIES Men can care about their appearance and how they present themselves

Question 45

Mort

Answer 45

CHANGING IDENTITIES Changes in men’s style create a new masculine identity and cause men’s consumption patterns to change as a result of the male body in the media

Question 46

Sue Sharpe

Answer 46

1970s=girls priorities were love, marriage, husbands and children 1990s=girls priorities were job, career and being able to support themselves

Question 47

Jackson

Answer 47

CHANGING IDENTITIES Ladettes Assertive femininity

Question 48

Weeks

Answer 48

SEXUAL IDENTITIES Many would not say heterosexual but would say gay or lesbian making a statement about belonging and their relationship to dominant sexual codes

Question 49

Plummer

Answer 49

-SEXUAL IDENTITIES homosexual career -males accept label of homosexual and will join a subculture where stereotypical homosexual characteristics become the norm.

Question 50

Mc Cormack

Answer 50

-SEXUAL IDENTITIES declining homophobia is due to the rise of conservative politics, backlash from the AIDS crisis and the banning of promotion of homosexuality in schools.

Question 51

Mac an Ghail

Answer 51

SEXUAL IDENTITIES Suggests the 3 F’s as a way of avoiding the reality of their sexual identity

Question 52

Mc Intosh

Answer 52

SEXUAL IDENTITIES Suggests that the homosexual role may include effeminate mannerisms (higher voice and attention to appearance) Also says once a male has accepted the label or identity or ‘homosexual’ he will start to fulfil these expectations

Question 53

Rich

Answer 53

SEXUAL IDENTITIES Suggests women’s sexuality is oppressed by men in patriarchal society through institutions such as marriage, sexual violence and rape and through sexual objectification of women. Also suggests compulsory heterosexuality