A.  Sex and Gender

     1. biological considerations classification based on physical differences - sex

     2. sociological and psychological considerations = self definition, lifestyle, social categorization -- gender

B.  Gender Roles  socially determined task assignments based on birth as male or female

C. Gender Stereotyping portrayals of women and men based on assigned commonalities

D.  Gender Socialization  the formation of inequality hierarchies based on sex.

 E.  Theoretical Explanations of Gender

     1.  Classical functionalism - contributions to societal survival, family as basic unit of society, instrumental tasks, expressive tasks

critique - selective, simplified view of reality, societal differences globally, ignore dysfunctional consequences, failure to explain why they are stratified

    2. Conflict Model - instruments of oppression in society, preserve advantages to males in society, not solely based on biological differences, often based on resource and technology control

critique - selective, simplified view of reality, associated exclusively with capitalism, economic stratification

    3.  Symbolic Interactionist - the way in which gender is expressed in society, symbols identifying gender and responses to violation of gender expectations.

critique - doesn't explain social movements

E. Gender Stratification - inequalities based on gender in society

     1. Work

     2.  Income

     3.  Politics

     4.  Law

F.  Gender Equality    Social Theory

    1.  Functionalists - maintain that traditional gender roles promote societal survival, attitudes toward change

     2.  Conflict theory - need to overcome economic differences that currently divide society

     3. Symbolic Interactionism - meanings attached to gender differences and their impact upon the cultural beliefs and social patterns
 

Return to schedule