Gender and FamiliesGender and Families
Family SociologyFamily Sociology
FCST 342FCST 342
Gender & FamiliesIndividuals and families are influenced by larger social forces that we may not always noticeToday we focus on three critical dimensions of familiesGender Race/ethnicity
Gender & FamiliesThe distinction between male and female, masculine and feminine is basic to the study of families
All societies exhibit a sharp distinction between what women and men do in families All cultures have a family division of labor based on gender
Gender Theory
Gender theory argues that differences between men and women are socially constructed.
Emphasizes culture, rather than biology. In other words being feminine or
masculine is learned and created through our social interactions
Sex & GenderSex & GenderSociologists distinguish between sex and genderSex: refers to the biological attributes that distinguish females from males such as: chromosomes, hormones, and anatomical apparatus
Gender: refers to the cultural and social meanings, experiences, and characteristics that are defined as appropriate for females and males
i.e. different clothing, expectations of who can cry
Gender TheoryGender Theory Because gender is a SOCIAL construction
it is fluid or always changing
Then….
Gender TheoryGender Theory Because gender is a SOCIAL construction Because gender is a SOCIAL construction
it is fluid or always changingit is fluid or always changing
Now…
Sex is a biological creation Gender is a social creation
Sociologists argue that gender is “socially constructed” or created
In other words men and women learn many masculine and feminine behaviors though socialization
Sex & GenderSex & Gender
Social Construction of Gender Why do sociologists argue that gender is
socially constructed?1) Expectations of each gender vary from society to anotherExample: In Pakistan it is common for male friends to hold hands but this is not common among American men.
2) Gender behaviors vary within one culture at different points in timeExample: Men’s fashions in 17th century America were much more “feminine” compared to men’s fashions today.
Social Construction of GenderSocial Construction of Gender Why do sociologists argue that gender is socially
constructed? 3) The meanings of masculinity and femininity change
over the course of a person’s life.
Example: The meaning of femininity changes as women age – compare pre-pubescent girls to women who are of childbearing age or who are postmenopausal
4) Meaning of gender varies among different groups within a particular culture at a given point in time.
Example: Gender behaviors may be structured by class, race, ethnicity, age, region of the country etc.
Sociological Perspectives on Gender
How are gender roles acquired & how is gender constructed?
Gender role approach focuses on the how parents, and other social institutions transmit gendered expectations about appropriate behavior through socialization
Socialization is the process by which individuals acquire society’s norms and values
Socialization is a life long process
Sociological Perspectives on Gender
West and Zimmerman ‘Doing Gender’ Argue that we need to be continually
“resocialized” into gender roles or reminded how to act like a man or act like a woman
Gender is produced through interaction For example: in families – doing housework is
“doing gender” Men and women reinforce gender roles by
doing gender appropriate household work
Sociological Perspectives on Gender
West and Zimmerman ‘Doing Gender’ They argue that gender is a “routine
accomplishment” embedded in every day interaction
In other words, we are continually acting out being a man or being a woman in social situations
Gender emerges from an interaction or a social situation
Sociological Perspectives on Gender
West and Zimmerman ‘Doing Gender’ Can you think of an example when you
were doing gender:
I was doing gender when:
Doing Gender in Families
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_21434.aspx
Doing Gender?
Doing Gender?
Paid Work, Gender & Families
After rising for several decades, the labor force participation rate for women has shown no growth in recent years
The participation rate for adult men has drifted down over time.
Mothers with older children have highest labor force participation rate
According to the most recent figures: the According to the most recent figures: the unemployment rate:unemployment rate:
for men: 27% up from 20% in 1970for men: 27% up from 20% in 1970
for women 40.5% decreased from 57% in 1970for women 40.5% decreased from 57% in 1970
The latest figures on unemployment
2008
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment and earnings online JanuaryRetreived from http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/labor_force_employment_earnings/labor_force_status.html, September 24, 2010
Male dominance in governmenthas declined only recently
Before 1992, there had never been more than 2 women among our 100 U.S. senators.
As of 2007, 16 women in the Senate (out of 100) 71 women in House of Representatives
(out of 435) http://womenincongress.house.gov/profiles/index.html
The former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, is a woman! Now she has been replaced by a man
Only 16 percent of the U.S. Congress are women
Source: History News Networkhttp://hnn.us/roundup/entries/33847.html
Male dominance in governmenthas declined only recently
A recent set of polls conducted BEFORE the presidential election found:
67 - 71 percent believe the U.S. is ready to elect a woman president
Over 74 percent believe the U.S, is ready to elect an African/American/black candidate
Source: http://www.pollingreport.com/politics.htm://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/Facts/Elections/pres08_polls/Gallup_6in10.pdf
Sociological Perspectives on Gender
Another prominent ways that patriarchy or male dominance is reinforced is through linguistic sexism.
Examples: Men are referred to as Mr. This title reveals nothing about a man’s relationship to a
women Women are referred to as Miss and Mrs. (and Ms.) which
define women in terms of their relationship with a man Women still continue to be subsumed under their husbands
names for example, Mrs. John Smith
Sociological Perspectives on Gender
Taking your husbands name …. Some argue – it is just easier if couple and
children have the same name – Others argue - isn’t changing your name on all
legal documents confusing and time consuming?
And why is it almost always women who change their names to their husbands’ name?
This is a holdover from older patriarchal customs
Summary
Summary Acting in gender appropriate ways
reinforces gender differences Sociologists argue that gender is
socially constructed through economic and social constraints on women’s behavior and their ability to achieve equality with men
Summary Summary Gender is continuously constructed through
everyday interaction Men’s power is embedded in the social
structure Gender and families are intertwined Families are a social institution in which
gender is socially constructed