Chapter 1 Theoretical Perspectives on Gender PDF

“Gender can be understood in different perspectives. Each situation depicts several views that we all can learn CHAPTER 1 from.” (MCF Siwagan) THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON GENDER GENDER AND SOCIETY...

“Gender can be understood in different perspectives. Each situation depicts several views that we all can learn CHAPTER 1 from.” (MCF Siwagan) THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON GENDER GENDER AND SOCIETY AY 2021-2022 Prepared by: Jevy Lou V. Piape, RPm Learning Objectives At the end of this chapter, students are able to: Explain Explain the concept of gender in contrast to sex; Differentiate the three major theoretical perspectives on view of gender Differentiate lens: functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interactionist, and; Evaluate Evaluate the importance of gender roles in the society. The terms sex and gender are often used interchangeably in the vernacular. However, in a scientific sense, these words are not synonymous. Sex pertains to the physical aspect of the human body. The sex of an individual is determined by their respective reproductive organs and hormones, the biological spectrum of the individual. On the other hand gender is “psychological,” “social,” or “cultural.” A person’s gender can be different from a person’s sex. Gender is thus “socially constructed” in the sense that, unlike biological sex, gender is a product of society. If society determines what is masculine or feminine, then society can change what is considered masculine, feminine, or anything in between. No one needs to be locked into fixed gender categories. Any individual is free to identify their gender as they see fit. Gender comes from the Latin word genus, meaning kind or race. It is defined by one's own identification as male, female, or intersex; gender may also be based on legal status, social interactions, public persona, personal experiences, and psychologic setting. On the other hand, sex, from the Latin word sexus, is defined by the gonads, or potential gonads, either phenotypically or genotypically. It is generally assigned at birth by external genital appearance, due to the common assumption that this represents chromosomal or internal anatomic status. A person's sex is a primary state of anatomic or physiologic parameters As the main focus of this chapter, gender refers to the socially constructed roles ascribed to individuals. These roles, which are learned, change over time and vary widely within and between cultures. Unlike sex (the biological distinction between males and females), gender refers to socially learned behavior and expectations that distinguish between masculinity and femininity. The concept of gender also includes the expectations held about the characteristics, aptitudes, and likely behaviors of both men and women. Men and women view the social world in various ways. An individuals’ views are based on our ones’ experiences and perspectives in life. A perspective is simply a way of looking at the world. A theory is a set of interrelated propositions or principles designed to answer a question or explain a particular phenomenon; it provides us with a perspective. Sociological theories help us to explain and predict the social world in which we live. Sociology includes three major theoretical perspectives: the functionalist perspective, the conflict perspective, and the symbolic interactionist perspective (sometimes called the interactionist perspective, or simply the micro view). Each perspective offers a variety of explanations about the social world, human behavior, and gender. The functionalist perspective emphasizes the interconnectedness of society by focusing on how each part influences and is influenced by other parts. Functionalist perspective explores the “what oath to be” of a particular individual. The functionalist perspective sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. This approach looks at society through a macrolevel orientation and broadly focuses on the social structures that shape society as a whole Functionalist Perspective Sociologists have identified two types of functions: manifest and latent (Merton 1968). Manifest functions are consequences that are intended and commonly recognized. Latent functions are consequences that are unintended and often hidden. For example, the manifest function of education is to transmit knowledge and skills to society’s youth. But public elementary schools also serve as babysitters for employed parents, and colleges offer a place for young adults to meet potential mates. The baby-sitting and mateselection functions are not the intended or commonly recognized functions of education; hence they are latent functions. Functionalist Perspectives Cont’n Functionalists argue that gender roles were established well before the pre-industrial era when men typically took care of responsibilities outside of the home, such as hunting, and women typically took care of the domestic responsibilities in or around the home. These roles were considered functional because women were often limited by the physical restraints of pregnancy and nursing and unable to leave the home for long periods of time. Once established, these roles were passed on to subsequent generations since they served as an effective means of keeping the family system functioning properly Functionalist Perspectives Cont’n This theory suggests that gender inequalities exist as an efficient way to create a division of labor, or as a social system in which a particular segment of the population is clearly responsible for certain acts of labor and another segment is clearly responsible for other labor acts. The feminist movement takes the position that functionalism neglects the suppression of women within the family structure. Functionalist Perspectives Cont’n  Conflict Perspective The origins of the conflict perspective can be traced to the classic works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. For Marx all societies go through stages of economic development. As societies evolve from agricultural to industrial, concern over meeting survival needs is replaced by concern over making a profit, the hallmark of a capitalist system. Industrialization leads to the development of two classes of people: the bourgeoisie, or the owners of the means of production (e.g., factories, farms, businesses); and the proletariat, or the workers who earn wages  Conflict Perspective Society is a struggle for dominance among social groups (like women versus men) that compete for scarce resources. When sociologists examine gender from this perspective, we can view men as the dominant group and women as the subordinate group. According to conflict theory, social problems are created when dominant groups exploit or oppress subordinate groups. Consider the Women’s Suffrage Movement or the debate over women’s “right to choose” their reproductive futures. It is difficult for women to rise above men, as dominant group members create the rules for success and opportunity in society (Farrington and Chertok 1993)  Conflict Perspective Friedrich Engels, discusses that the same owner-worker relationship seen in the labor force is also seen in the household, with women assuming the role of the proletariat. This is due to women’s dependence on men for the attainment of wages, which is even worse for women who are entirely dependent upon their spouses for economic support. Contemporary conflict theorists suggest that when women become wage earners, they can gain power in the family structure and create more democratic arrangements in the home, although they may still carry the majority of the domestic burden, as noted earlier (Rismanand and Johnson-Sumerford 1998  Conflict Perspective Conflict theory asserts that social problems occur when dominant groups mistreat subordinate ones, and thus advocates for a balance of power between genders. Frederich Engels compared the family structure to the relationship between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, suggesting that women had less power than men in the household because they were dependent on them for wages. Men, like any other group with a power or wealth advantage in fought to maintain their control over resources (in this case, political and economic power). Conflict between the two groups caused things like the Women’s Suffrage Movement and was responsible for social change.  Symbolic interactionism aims to understand human behavior by analyzing the critical role of symbols in human interaction. This is certainly relevant to the Symbolic discussion of masculinity and femininity. Imagine that you walk into a bank hoping to get a small loan for Interactionist school, a home, or a small business venture. If you meet with a male loan officer, you may state your case Perspective logically by listing all the hard numbers that make you a qualified applicant as a means of appealing to the analytical characteristics associated with masculinity. If you meet with a female loan officer, you may make an emotional appeal by stating your good intentions as a means of appealing to the caring characteristics associated with femininity.  Because the meanings attached to symbols are socially created and not natural, and fluid, not Symbolic fixed, we act and react to symbols based on the current assigned meaning. Interactionist The word gay, for example, once meant “cheerful,” but by Perspective the 1960s it carried the primary meaning of “homosexual.” In transition, it was even known to mean “careless” or “bright and showing” (Oxford American Dictionary 2010). Furthermore, the word gay (as it refers to a homosexual), carried a somewhat negative and unfavorable meaning fifty years ago, but it has since gained more neutral and even positive connotations. When people perform tasks, or possess characteristics based on the gender role assigned to them, they are said to be doing gender. This notion is based on the work of West and Zimmerman (1987). Whether we are expressing our masculinity or femininity, West and Zimmerman argue, we are always “doing gender.” Thus, gender is something we do or perform, not something we are. Symbolic Interactionist Perspective  1. Gender is the socially constructed roles ascribed to males and females. These roles, which are learned, change over time and vary widely within and between cultures. It is socially learned behavior and expectations that distinguish between masculinity and femininity. Unlike sex, which is the biological distinction between males and females. 2. The three major theoretical perspectives are: the functionalist perspective, the conflict perspective, and the symbolic interactionist perspective (sometimes called the interactionist perspective, or simply the micro view). 3. Functionalist perspective highlights the interconnectedness of society by focusing on how each part influences and is Summary 4. influenced by other parts. Conflict theory suggests that society is a struggle for dominance among social groups (like women versus men) that compete for scarce resources. From this perspective, we can view men as the dominant group and women as the subordinate group. 5. Symbolic interactionism aims to understand human behavior by analyzing the critical role of symbols in human interaction. Gender is something we do or perform, not something we are Activity 1: (Turn in to designated classwork section) General Instructions: Create an outline showing the differences of the three (3) major theoretical perspectives. Functionalist Conflict Symbolic Interactionist Definition Views on Gender Examples Activity 2: (Turn in to designated classwork section) A google form will be posted.