Gender Inequality PDF - Prof-Collins Ifeonu

Gender Inequality Prof-Collins Ifeonu, PhD Simon Fraser University Introduction to Sociology October 24, 2024  Sex “A determination made through the application of socially agreed upon biological criteria for classifying persons as male or female” (West and Zimmerman, 1989...

Gender Inequality Prof-Collins Ifeonu, PhD Simon Fraser University Introduction to Sociology October 24, 2024  Sex “A determination made through the application of socially agreed upon biological criteria for classifying persons as male or female” (West and Zimmerman, 1989, p. 127). "Socially agreed upon" - meaning the criteria we use to classify people as males or females are not inherent or fixed, but products of social norms and consensus on how biological science should be used to establish such categorizations. Criteria could be genitalia, chromosomes, testosterone (they don't always agree with each other). The work of Anne Fausto-Sterling (2000) suggests there at least five biological sexes. True hermaphrodites: one ovary and one testis. Male pseudo hermaphrodites: testes, no ovaries but some elements of female genitalia. Female pseudo hermaphrodites: ovaries, no testes, but some elements of male genitalia. It gets even more complicated when we realize that some people’s primary sex characteristics and chromosomes do not match.  Our sex identity is an And in cases of people who ascribed status. At the time are born intersex of, or before birth we are (combination of female and assigned the label of “male” male biological traits), most or “female” based on our are surgically altered to fit sex organs or genes. into these labels  Placement in a sex category is achieved by applying the sex criteria. Initially done by someone with the institutional accreditation to assign i.e. doctor. Sex But in everyday life placement is sustained by the socially required identificatory displays that proclaims one’s Category masculinity or femininity (West and Zimmerman, 1989, p. 127) We hardly see the physical or biological characteristics that determine our sex, yet we use certain cues to presume sex. What are they?  “The culturally and socially constructed sets of attitudes that dictate what behaviours, thoughts and mentions are appropriate for each sex – these are culturally specific, change over time and are associated with notions of masculinity and femininity" (Kendall et al., 2017,p. 67) What is In terms of emotions, intellect, psychology, appearance, Gender? behaviours, preferences, and social roles and expectations. Gender categorization influences life chances and outcomes. Explicit and implicit categorization Simone de Beauvoir The Second Sex (1949) “One is not born but becomes a woman” In other words, becoming a man or woman is not conditioned by birth. Rather we learn/are taught how to act in accordance with these categories. Gender isn’t what we are, its what we do.  1. Act in accordance with a set of socially constructed roles assigned to the identities of “man” or “woman”, “masculine” or “feminine”. 2. Living in a world system where one’s actions are So, what does perpetually run the risk of gender assignment. (West and Zimmerman, 1987) it mean to “do” gender Hence, as long as we live in a world where virtually any behavior can be assessed according to the gender binary, doing gender is unavoidable.  Judith Butler Gender Trouble (1990) Gender is a performance. Not contrived, but our performances literally make us our gender. Social Constrained by patriarchy - Cis-gendered heterosexual construction men have greater privileges than other genders. of Gender Gender as “impersonation” with no inherent characteristics. Performativity: Gender norms are performed repetitively until they are habitualized and institutionalized. 10  Ideas of masculinity and femininity that a society subscribes to at a specific historical period. Masculinity: attributes, behaviors and social Gender roles associated with men and boys Ideology Femininity: attributes, behaviors and social roles associated with women and girls Question: What gender ideologies do you subscribe to and how different or similar would they have been 50 years ago?  Masculinity Femininity Dominant Submissive The Gender Rational Emotional Binary Rough Neat Driven by reason Driven by impulse Leader Unable to lead Not nurturing Neat Tough Meek Using the Gender Binary as our standard, we police ourselves and each other. Women who perform too much masculinity violate the gender binary. Same with men, but not to the same extent, and certainly not with the same consequences… “I wore this long-ass dress because I had a motherfucking AK-47 up under it.” – Young Thug  Essentialist Perspective (Hard Essentialism): Gender is a biological fact. The categories of “man” and “woman” are stable categories with essential The genealogy characteristics. of Gender in the Social Sciences Historically, women were only socially valued because of their reproductive function: "the ability to continue the species.  Treats gender as a universal experience – Problems Ignores variance across cultures and historic periods with the Essentialist Ignores the role of power in reproducing gender difference and ideologies perspective Prescribes behavior based on sex  “…a belief system that arises out of current tensions between liberal feminist ideals of equal opportunity and stubbornly persistent commitments to the idea of natural sex difference…” (p. 152) Soft Essentialism (Messner, 2011) Stresses equal opportunity for women, while simultaneously retaining a hard essentialist view of men and women as hard-wired for certain behaviors, roles, etc. Examples: Career choice, Parenting roles The Case of Rwanda In 81% of the world’s legislature, woman hold less than a third of seats Rwanda is an exception. As part of its post-genocide recovery plan, its constitution mandated that 30% of political seats be reserved for women  “Shopping, you have to do shopping, even the situation of having to know that there is no onion, there is no salt, […] being responsible for a big project of the ministry, or you are a permanent secretary somewhere, you are managing finances, managing the staff and the whole life of a certain ministry The Case of somewhere; and you add on managing that other project that make us survive. The daily project of Rwanda where the socks are; where the shirt is; is it ironed? - because you may be having a domestic worker but, you must make sure that it is ironed properly and give it to your husband or if he picks it from the hanger, he has to be sure that you already monitored […]There are many issues that the woman is charged with in the home.” (Uvuza, 2014, p. 142) More Definitions Gender identity: An inner sense of belonging to one, several, or no particular gender(s). Gender expression: The way you present gender – through actions, dress, demeanor (spectrum of femininity and masculinity i.e.) androgyny) Gender Identities Cisgender: Gender identity and gender expression corresponds with “assigned at birth” sex Transgender: Identify with a gender different from their sex assigned at birth. Non-binary: Gender identities outside of the gender dichotomy (male/female) More Definitions (cont’d) Genderfluid: Describes a person whose gender identity changes over time and contexts Two-Spirited (2S): An Indigenous person who identifies as having both a masculine and feminine spirit, one or more sexualities, gender, or spiritual identities Agender: Does not identify as having any particular gender  The conflict perspective emphasizes how gender inequality services the needs of capitalism. Conflict Capitalism requires the low-cost reproduction of a workforce. This happens through the maintenance Perspective and continuous production of traditional family structures. on Gender Mothers are thus tasked with the responsibility of keeping the family (or otherwise put, the workforce) healthy and happy. The Second Shift Conflict Perspective (cont'd) Association between consumerism and the spread of gender ideologies. Gendered products (toys, beauty products). Gendered notions of color preferences.  Hegemony: Dominance of one group over another, through a set of legitimating norms. Makes dominance ‘natural’ Hegemonic A type of masculine performance, idealized by men and women, which functions to justify Masculinity and naturalize gender inequality. Hegemonic masculinity creates the “real” man in our collective imagination  Hegemonic masculinity reinforces gender hierarchies – allows for the subjugation of women and men who do not fit this archetype. Encourages both overt and covert forms of Problems with domination. Hegemonic Produces and reinforces stereotypes about men Masculinity and masculinity. In trying to create an “archetype” version of a man, it sets an impossible list of standards that no man can hope to fulfill in its entirety Intersectionality Coined by the Combahee River Collective, a group of Black lesbian feminists who sought to highlight the interlocking systems of patriarchy and racism Emerged from critiques of the both the women’s and civil right's movements of the 60s and 70s Intersectionality seeks to understand how different aspects of our identity shape interlocking systems of oppression and disadvantage A good way to think about intersectionality is to “ask the other question” (Matsuda, 1991) Intersectionality A good way to think about intersectionality is to “ask the other question” (Matsuda, 1991) “When I see something that looks racist, I ask ‘Where is the patriarchy in this?’ When I see something that looks sexist, I ask ‘Where is the heterosexism in this?’” Note: Intersectionality is always systems-focused.