Inequality Matters

GENDERED INEQUALITY

A Textbook Conundrum

• Gender empowerment /best of times vs Gender inequality/worst of times

• It’s a man’s world vs The End of Men/The Ascent of Women

• From patriarchy to matriarchy?

Chapter Assumptions

• Comparison to past , others, but present

• Gender relations = unequal relations

• Gender Matters/ Social location

• Gendered society / Gendered reality

Gendered Society

• Distinction • Division of Labour• Devaluation • Deeply embedded in society • How expressed: misogyny, sexism, androcentrism, patriarchy

= gendered reality: Formal equality but system not designed, nor reflect/ nor level playing field/ nor equal opp

= Astaire/Rogers + Bem insight = To date: reform, not transform= a (patriarchal) man’s world, still?

Patriarchy= structural inequality/systemic bias

• Ideas+ideals about what’ normal regarding gender = so embedded, beyond awareness, yet privileging

• System designed, organized, controlledby for and about men

• Reflect, reinforce, advance male interests• Male activities/characteristics valued or norm• Men = preferential access• Androcentrism

Parable of the Textbooks“Alphabetism in an Alphabet Blind Society”

• Henry Yu, Alphabetism (google)• Textbook distribution based on last name,

alphabetically• Then distribute on basis of merit

• History matters• Elusiveness of level playing field/equal opp.

Gender Income Differences (2007/08)

criteria Differences

All male and female workers 64%

Full time, full year 71 % (median 76%) (12th out of 17th peer) (age 25-29 = 85%, 50-54 = 72%)

Hourly work 85 % (99% health, arts, govt; ss, educ) (70-74 % primary, mfg, trades, sales

Women with professional-post grad/BAProf = 96?Assoc Prof 97%Assistant Prof 98% (2012)

Never married women, with degree, in 20s 100%

Power and privilege/status

• Economic Power - CEOs and Board of Directors • Education - the good and the bad

• Political Power - Premiers

• Media stereotyping - appearances + relationships

Corporate appointments advertised in the globe and mail

Sept 1, 2011 to May 20, 2013(for illust. purposes, rather than scientific study)

• White males = 1400 (approx)• White females = 400• Racialized males = 60• Racialized females = 20

Gender Differences as Gendered Inequality

‘white’ (non racialized) women(or racialized white women)….”vs”

Minority Women

Minority Men…”vs” Minority Women

Minority Women =

• Aboriginal Women• Racialized Women of Colour• Immigrant and Refugee Women

Income Differences: Race, Gender, Birthplace

males females average

• Racialized minority (CB**) $42 433 $33 519$38 582• Racialized minority (FB***) $35 329 $27 075$31 829• Whites (CB) $43 456 $31 150$38 529• Whites (FB) $46 457 $31 627$40 854• Aboriginal peoples $32 369 $26 361$29 290

• * Full-time, full-year earnings for those aged 25 to 64. ** Canadian born *** Foreign born

• Source: Adapted from Kunz et al. 2001. Source: 1996 Census, Public Use Microdata File.

Intersectionality

• Multiplier effect gender X race X class X ethnicity = amplify

• Value = holistic = inequality is intensified = women/minority experiences at core

Intrasectional Analysis

• Differences within Differences• Gender (disaggregate Minority Women)

intersects with etc.

* Violence toward Minority Women = intersectional + intrasectional

Mid term test

• Tu, May 28, 7-9, this room• “Snow date” = May 30• Accessories = pencil, eraser, pen• Content = ch 1-6 + class • Format = MC + short answers

Sample questions• MC (about 60)1) What is subject matter of this course? a) social change b) social inequality c) class and power d) none of the above2) Which of the following is NOT addressed in this course? a) social inequality b) class c) poverty d) Evolution

• Short Answer: Explain in 3 Sentences (define, characteristics, application) (about 8 out of 11) - social inequality: Symbolic interactionist approaches - functionalist vs conflict models of social inequality