sociologyexchange.co.uk shared resource

GENDER AND IDENTITYHOW DOES GENDER SHAPE YOUR

IDENTITY?

LEARNING OBJECTIVESExplain how gender

influences a person’s identity.

Be able to evaluate the notion that gender identities have been socially constructed.

SEX AND GENDER – WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?SEX GENDERBiological differences

between males and females.

Chromosomes, hormones, menstruation and genitalia.

Cultural expectations. Each gender is expected

to conform to masculine and feminine behaviour.

These concepts are not fixed; they change over time and differ from culture to culture.

BIOLOGY V CULTUREWhat evidence do

the Sociobiologists use to explain the differences between the sexes?

What evidence does the feminist Ann Oakly use to counter-argue the biological arguement?

GENDER STEREOTYPES•Men are: strong, rational, tough, business- minded, capable, logical.

•Women are: passive, gentle, caring, emotional, dizzy, maternal.

GENDER STEREOTYPES - DISNEY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8O8p0Ac1Rg

GENDER ROLE SOCIALISATIONGender differences

between males and females are largely the result of society’s expectations.

Masculinity and Femininity are SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED rather than being the product of biology.

HEGEMONYConnell (2002) –

hegemonic masculinity and femininity dominated our culture until recently.

Distinct maternal and paternal family roles.

ANN OAKLEY (1982) – 4 PROCESSES TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF GENDER IDENTITY.MANIPULATION –

encourage and reward sex appropriate behaviour.

CANALIZATION – directed towards appropriate toys

DOMESTIC ACTIVITIES

VERBAL APPELLATIONS

GENDER CODESStatham (1986) – by the age of 5, most

children have acquired a clear identity.

THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND TRADITIONAL GENDER ROLE SOCIALISATIONSue Sharpe – study of working class girls in

the 1970’s –found that girls education was regarded as less important than boys.

Early feminist studies in the 1970’s

CRITICISMS OF GENDER ROLE SOCIALISATIONAre the experiences

of all men and women the same? Do they differ according to age, ethnicity, class?

Are we so passive that we accept the gender roles imposed upon us?