Social Identities: Sex, Gender and Sexuality Flashcards
(12 cards)
Describe the relationship between society and biology in formations of gender identity.
The distinction between sex and gender is key to being able to examine gender and sexuality as social variables rather than biological variables.
Since the term sex refers to biological or physical distinctions, characteristics of sex will not vary significantly between different human societies.
Define and differentiate between sex, gender, and sexuality.
Sex refers to physical or physiological differences between males and females, including both primary sex characteristics (the reproductive system) and secondary characteristics such as height and muscularity
Gender is a term that refers to social or cultural distinctions and roles associated with being male or female.
Gender identity is the extent to which one identifies as being either masculine or feminine
As gender is such a primary dimension of identity, socialization, institutional participation, and life chances, sociologists refer to it as a core status
Discuss the role of homophobia and heterosexism in society.
Heteronormativity is when a society supports heterosexuality as the norm; most societies are this way. Homophobia is a response to seeing homosexuality as deviant.
Distinguish between transgendered, transsexual, intersexual, and homosexual identities.
Individuals who identify with the gender that is the opposite of their biological sex are transgendered. Transgendered individuals who wish to alter their bodies through medical interventions such as surgery and hormonal therapy — so that their physical being is better aligned with their gender identity — are called transsexuals. Intersex is a group of conditions where there is a discrepancy between the external genitals and the internal genitals (the testes and ovaries). The older term for this condition is hermaphroditism
Describe the dominant gender schema and discuss how it influences social perceptions of sex and gender.
The dominant gender schema is an ideology that, like all ideologies, serves to perpetuate inequalities in power and status. This schema states that: a) sex is a biological characteristic that produces only two options, male or female, and b) gender is a social or psychological characteristic that manifests or expresses biological sex.
Explain the influence of socialization on gender roles in Canada.
Gender socialization occurs through four major agents of socialization: family, education, peer groups, and mass media. Causes gender stereotyping, intolerance to those who do not fit gender roles, and gender inequality.
Discuss the effect of gender inequality in major North American institutions.
In Canada, women’s experience with wage labour includes unequal treatment in comparison to men in many respects:
Women continue to do more of the unpaid labour in the household
Women’s participation in the labour force has been increasing from 42% of women in 1976 to 58% of women in 2009
Women now make up 48% of the total labour force (compared to 37% in 1976)
low paying, low status, often unskilled jobs that offer little possibility for advancement
Despite women making up nearly half (48%) of payroll employment, men vastly outnumber them in authoritative, powerful, and, therefore, high-earning jobs
Discuss the effect of gender inequality in major North American institutions.
Women do more unpaid labour in the household, have lower wages than men, often face discrimination in job hiring and are left with low paying/status jobs, Women are vastly outnumbered in authority positions in the workforce. Face sexual harassment and are undervalued.
Describe the structural-functionalism perspective on sex and sexuality.
Is focused on sex’s purpose in reproduction and roles in the family unit. Support the regulation of sexual activity and the limit of this intimacy within marriage
Describe the critical sociological perspective on sex and sexuality.
Focus on breaking down sex and sexuality-based inequality
Describe the symbolic interactionist perspective on sex and sexuality.
Interactionists focus on the meanings associated with sexuality and with sexual orientation, specifically the negative emotions associated with femininity
Describe the queer theory perspective on sex and sexuality.
problematizes the manner in which we have been taught to think about sexual orientation
