Guest Lecture - Sarah Cumming PDF

Lecture notes: Introduced two music videos to us ‘If I was a boy” Beyoncé ○ Talking from male perspective ○ Boys not being loyal, players, unappreciative, they can do whatever they want, they have jobs that have power, aggressive ○ Pretending to...

Lecture notes: Introduced two music videos to us ‘If I was a boy” Beyoncé ○ Talking from male perspective ○ Boys not being loyal, players, unappreciative, they can do whatever they want, they have jobs that have power, aggressive ○ Pretending to boy and boy and what her life would be like “Stupid girls” Pink ○ Specific type of girlhood ○ Thin, bimbo, can't drive, anorexic, blonde, tan, sexual, dumb, The version that we are taught to be men and women (ways that we are taught to live) ^^^^^ Sex: (Biology literally physical anatomy) Biologically rooted, describes our physical bodies whereby distinguishes between male and female Categorized based on binaries implying diametrical opposites “opposite sex” You can either only be male or female (body parts) Gender: Socially constructed characteristics associated with girls and boys men and women Masculinity and femininity Also suggests binary opposition Your masculinity and femininity according the sex your were born into (if you were born as a female you were taught to take on feminine attributes, and if you were male, masculine means providing for the family) 1 (Connell, 1987) Idea of masculinity that men are supposed to strive to achieve Requires men to be successful, capable, and reliable Irrevocably tied to hetrosexuaility The most desired form of masculinity (not the most common) ○ Authority, successful, capable, Emphasized femininity: Being the ideal female ○ Always ready and available, always looks good, enthusiastic, supportive ○ Always beautiful, smiling, put together Shifts over time: We have seen shifts in what it means to be an ideal female over the last 60-70 years Looking like a child was a trait at one time, now girls with big body parts Men appeared to be the same over time (they arent as many shifts) Cisgender: A term to describe whos peoples gender identity with the sex they were born with ○ If you are born as female, and act like a female, you are cisgnder Problematizing the binary construction of sex and gender: Intersex ○ Born with both male and female body parts ○ As well as male body parts, they can be born with opposite hormones ○ 1 and 2000 births are intersex individuals Back in the 70’s, if someone born with both body parts, if penis was small enough, doctor would cut it off and make child female Transgender: In translation from one sex to the other ○ Transgender: Used as an umbrella term for those who do not fit in normative constructions of sex gender ○ Transexual: Used to encompass those who undergo sex reassignment (realignment) surgery ○ Transvestite: Are born into one sex, however often dress as the other Non-binary: People who feel their gender cannot be defined within the margins of gender binary. Instead, they understand their gender in a way that goes beyond simply identifying as either a man or a woman. Some non-binary people may feel comfortable within trans communities and find this is a safe space to ne with others who don't identify as cis, but this isn’t always the case They/them/their Doing drag: Refers to a stylistic performance where individuals dress up as a different gender than the one they are assigned at birth They do not necessary identity with that sex, rather enjoy the gender performativity Two-spirit: A term used by some indigenous peoples within north america to describe people within their communities who fulfill one of many traditional non-comforming roles that transgress the hegemonic gender binary Viewed as a gift There are 70 genders have been identified Socialization methods:  The family: ○ Gender expectations begin at birth Bring pink clothes for girls, blue for boys You are either deemed a girl or a boy based on body parts When you walk into a kids toy store, there are either boy or girls toys Girls kitchen stuff, barbies, makeup, teaching girls how to be a wife from a young age Boys tool kit toys, fire trucks, police trucks, etc ○ Child-rearing practices are deeply gendered ○ Parents spend more time talking to girls while leaving boys alone; punish their sons more often than daughters ○ Gendered divisions of household labour Reproducing gender: education: Hidden curriculum; girls learn that they are not as important as boys Teachers interact with boys more than girls in classroom Praise girls for being congenial and neat while boys praised for intellectual quality Reproducing gender: The media: Gender divisions reflected in and reinforced by all forms of media Music-the videos we heard at the beginning as one example Commercials Disney is the devil: Taught us that step moms are the devils Middle age women as shown as Modern day business: Many books young adults read (think twilight, nora roberts, colleen hoover, etc) are really based on the premises of old school disney Fifty shades of grey is really disney on crack The ideology of gender: A set of widespread social benefits is that gender is a binary and that there are natural differences between men and women. For example, this ideology assumes that men are naturally more aggressive, competitive and rational than women. This ideology considers traits such as nurturing, kindest. Empathy, as feminine traits which are viewed as negative So called masculine traits such as risk-taking, strength, aggression, exploration seen as positive Toxic masculinity: Refers to harmful attitudes and behaviour of men that occur as a result of hegemonic masculinity  These are the consequences of socializing men to be unemotional, violent, and sexually aggressive Socializing men to be sexually aggressive toward women leads to increased sexual harassment and assault HOWEVER, much of the impact of toxic masculinity is felt by men. ○ Sexualize women, view them as objects ○ Te tough guise is an act wherein boys and men learn to show the world only those parts of themselves that the dominant culture has defined as manly, tough, strong, physical, in control Sociological approaches to gender: Functionalist theory: ○ Women and men perform separate, specialized and complementary roles to maintain cohesiveness ○ Instrumental and expressive roles ○ Well-defined roles reduce confusion and conflict regarding gender expectations Conflict theory ○ Focus on meaning gender differences in access to and control of scarce resources ○ Nuclear family from, monogamous marriage and men's control of women's sexuality emerged from need to ensure paternity ○ Engles argued that it wasn’t until we were worried about inheritance that male domination really came into effect ○ Industrial revolution forced women in the homemaker role Symbolic interactionism: ○ Interested in the meanings of male and female of masculinity and femininity ○ Social institutions teach gender-related behaviours ○ Based on operant conditioning ○ “Doing” gender Sociological approaches to gender: ○ Gender is socially constructed ○ Attempt to identify the ways in which institutionalized and internalized norms limit women's behaviors and opportunities Textbook notes chapter 9: Sex vs. Gender: Sex: Biological differences (anatomy, genetics, hormones) traditionally categorized as male and female.  Gender: Social and cultural expectations tied to biological sex, including roles, behaviors, and identities (masculinity/femininity). Sex as a Binary: Binary categories (male/female) are oversimplified and do not account for the complexity of human biology. Examples of biological variation: Chromosome configurations (XX, XY, XXY, etc.) and intersex individuals. Gender as a Social Construct: Gender roles are learned, not natural. Social expectations vary across societies and time periods. Dominant Gender Ideals: Hegemonic masculinity: Strength, assertiveness, athleticism, heterosexuality. Emphasized femininity: Attractiveness, supportiveness, accommodating men’s desires. Intersex and Binary Problematization: Intersex individuals: Born with ambiguous genitalia or atypical chromosomes. Estimated 1 in 2000 births involve intersex conditions requiring medical decision-making at birth. Suggests sex exists on a spectrum rather than a strict binary. Transgender and Non-Binary Identities: Transgender: Umbrella term for individuals whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth. Not all transgender people undergo physical transition; gender presentation varies. Non-binary: Rejects strict male/female categories; gender identity is fluid or outside the binary. Cultural Representation: Visibility of transgender and non-binary individuals is increasing in media and society. Examples: Caitlyn Jenner, Laverne Cox, Sam Smith, Asia Kate Dillon. Inclusivity Practices: Growing use of preferred pronouns (e.g., she/her, he/him, they/them) in institutions and public spaces. Encourages respect for diverse gender identities. Families  Gender socialization begins even before birth, reinforced by traditions like gender-reveal parties and gender-specific decor and gifts. Parents interact with children differently based on gender: ○ Boys are left to cry longer and punished more. ○ Girls are encouraged toward nurturing roles, while boys are pushed toward problem-solving and physical activities. Household chores are often gendered, with boys doing outdoor tasks and girls managing indoor duties. Some studies suggest a shift toward more egalitarian parenting, especially among highly educated parents and as children grow older. Education Gender-neutral upbringing can be undone by gendered expectations in schools, such as gender-specific washrooms, sports teams, and classroom activities. The "hidden curriculum" teaches students that gender differences matter. Teachers may unconsciously favor boys in STEM subjects while girls excel in arts and humanities, impacting career paths. Female participation in post-secondary education has risen, but stereotypes and biases still discourage women from entering and staying in STEM fields. Media Media perpetuates gender stereotypes from a young age. ○ Disney movies historically depicted princesses as helpless, dependent on male saviors, but recent films (e.g., Frozen, Brave) portray stronger, independent female characters. Advertisements often objectify women and reinforce toxic masculinity for men. ○ Women, especially racialized women, are sexualized and dehumanized in ads. ○ Documentaries like Killing Us Softly and Tough Guise critique these portrayals, linking them to societal issues like domestic violence and aggression. Broader Implications Media, education, and family structures all contribute to reinforcing traditional gender roles. There are shifts toward equality and more nuanced portrayals of gender, but persistent stereotypes and structural barriers remain significant challenges. The Ideology of Gender Gender ideology views gender as a binary, with "natural" differences between men and women. ○ Men are seen as aggressive, rational, and better suited for roles like scientists. ○ Women are seen as passive, emotional, and nurturing, which limits their ambitions.  These traits are socially valued: masculinity is seen positively, and femininity negatively. Gender ideology reinforces societal roles: ○ Men justify privilege and dominance. ○ Women tolerate subordination, risking criticism when defying expectations. Toxic Masculinity Results from hegemonic masculinity, socializing men to suppress emotions, act violently, and be sexually aggressive. Impacts on others: ○ Increased sexual harassment and assault. Impacts on men: ○ Difficulty forming emotional connections, expressing vulnerability, or developing skills associated with caregiving. ○ Non-conforming men face heightened social consequences. Patriarchy A system where men hold power, justified by the ideology of gender. Patriarchy persists even without explicit legal enforcement, shaping societal norms and practices: ○ Examples include fathers giving away daughters in marriage and wives taking husbands’ last names. Historical legal inequalities in Canada reflect patriarchy: ○ The Indian Act privileged male lineage for passing on "Indian status." ○ Recent amendments aim for gender equity but have not fully addressed past biases, leaving First Nations women vulnerable to delays in progress. Gender Inequality in Labour and Workplace Gendered Division of Labour: Women are more likely to occupy lower-paying, less prestigious, part-time, and precarious jobs compared to men. This reflects systemic gender stratification, even with women’s increased participation in the workforce. COVID-19 Impact: The pandemic disproportionately slowed women’s return to work due to child care, school closures, and lockdown measures. Wage Gap: Despite gains in labour force participation, women in Canada earn about 75% of what men earn for full-time work, with larger gaps for marginalized women (e.g., Black, Indigenous, disabled women). Pink ghettos and the glass ceiling hinder women's progress, while men benefit from the glass escalator in female-dominated professions. Intersectionality: Women face compounded inequities based on race, education, and family obligations, which influence their opportunities and income. Domestic Inequality Despite increased workforce participation, women continue to perform the majority of unpaid domestic labour in heterosexual households.  Terms like "second shift" describe the burden of managing both paid and household work. Egalitarian attitudes have not significantly altered these dynamics, but same-sex couples show more equitable household labour distributions. Violence and Victimization Women, particularly Indigenous women, are disproportionately victims of violence, including domestic violence and sexual assault. Over 4,000 Indigenous women have been murdered or gone missing since 1980, leading to the National Inquiry’s conclusion of genocide against Indigenous peoples. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened domestic violence due to stressors like social isolation and economic hardship. Sexual Harassment Sexual harassment persists in schools and workplaces, with the Supreme Court defining it as unwelcome sexual conduct causing harm. Gender stereotypes often perpetuate these issues. Functionalist Perspective: Views traditional gender roles as beneficial for societal cohesion. Men are assigned instrumental roles (financial providers, stability). Women are assigned expressive roles (caretakers, emotional support). Overlooks inequalities, such as women's double burden of paid and unpaid labor. Conflict Theorist Perspective: Links gender inequality to capitalism and private property. Traditional roles are seen as outcomes of economic systems that exploit women. Argues that dismantling capitalism is necessary for gender equality. Symbolic Interactionist Perspective: Explores how gender is performed and socially constructed through interactions. Socialization agents (family, education, media) reinforce gender norms via rewards and punishments. Candace West and Don Zimmerman: Gender is actively "done" daily, creating perceived biological differences. Feminist Sociology: Emerged in the 1970s, highlighting gender as a social construct and addressing inequalities. Judith Butler:  ○ Argues gender and sexuality are performances shaped by cultural repetition. ○ Challenges the idea that gender roles are natural or linked to biological sex. Patricia Hill Collins: ○ Developed the matrix of domination, highlighting how race, class, gender, and disability intersect to amplify inequality. Intersectionality: Gender inequities are compounded by other factors like race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status. Institutions like Canada's GBA+ (Gender-Based Analysis Plus) use intersectional approaches to uncover systemic inequities. Key Insights: Traditional gender roles and stereotypes perpetuate inequality. Diverse identities (non-binary, racialized, differently abled) experience unique challenges within societal systems.