9.6 Conclusion
We opened this chapter by discussing some of the key implications for women, women’s bodies, and families with the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. In addition to the individual hardships women may experience during a time when they have less reproductive rights, nationally we are seeing a shift in how women are viewed. A legislative decision in the U.S. government renders women as less powerful when it comes to making medical decisions regarding their bodies. Regardless of your personal views on abortion, we can see that decision removes women’s rights that were previously protected at the federal level.
Gender is experienced at the individual, interactional, and structural level. From our gender identity to our interactions with others, we constantly participate in the process of “doing gender.” We tend to be held accountable for performances of masculinity and femininity that align with our sex. Yet, for some of us, those performances may be unattainable. Others may choose to intentionally avoid participation in hegemonic forms of masculinity and femininity. The experience and embodiment of gender also intersects with other aspects of our lives such as race and class. As you’ve learned in this chapter and others, our identities are closely tied to power relations. We can encounter sexism during our interactions, but what escalates the experience of oppression is when we begin to see sexism built into our social institutions.
9.6.1 Review of Learning Objectives
In this chapter, you learned more about gender through a social constructionist perspective. You learned to distinguish between concepts like sex, gender, gender identity, transgender, and intersex. Our interactions shape the roles and expectations that are placed on individuals as they navigate performances of masculinity and femininity. In addition to interactional inequalities related to gender, you examined how inequalities are embedded in some of our social institutions. Finally, you learned about the social change through the continual evolution of feminist theory. The next chapter will explore the ways sociologists study sexuality.
9.6.2 Additional Resources
- Genderbread Person discussion – Sam Killerman https://www.itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2011/11/breaking-through-the-binary-gender-explained-using-continuums/
- Roe v. Wade – Learn more about Roe v. Wade decision and challenges here: https://www.britannica.com/event/Roe-v-Wade
- Trans Student Educational Resources https://transstudent.org/graphics/
- Waves of Feminism – see https://sociologydictionary.org/feminism/ for a more information on each wave and influential work during those time periods.
9.6.3 Key Terms
Cisgender: refers to those who identify with the sex they were assigned at birth are often referred to as cisgender, utilizing the Latin prefix cis-, which means “on the same side.”
Doing gender: idea that individuals perform gender based on the way that gender is socially constructed within their society; they are held accountable for enacting gendered behaviors. These gendered performances are expected and contribute to why we think about gendered behavior as “natural.”
Egalitarians: relationships in which both partners do a fair share of earning income, housework, and childcare.
Emphasized femininity: the pattern of femininity which is given most cultural and ideological support. This type of femininity involves compliance with subordination and is oriented to accommodating the interests and desires of men.
Essentialism: view gender as a biological and unchanging, two-category system.
Feminism: perspective based on the idea that women and men should have equal legal and political rights. Feminism views the systematic oppression of people based on gender is problematic and should be changed. Also discussed as feminist movement or a series of political campaigns for reform on a variety of issues that affect women’s quality of life
Gender: refers to behaviors, personal traits, and social positions that society attributes to being female or male
Glass ceiling: an invisible barrier that women encounter when trying to win jobs in the highest level of business
Gender dysphoria: a diagnostic category in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) that describes individuals who do not identify as the gender that most people would assume they are.
Gender identity: is a person’s deeply held internal perception of one’s gender.
Gender policing: judging people’s gender practices and reminding others of the rules of “doing gender.” This practice reinforces gender order and reproduces gender inequality.
Gender role: the expected role determined by an individual’s sex and the associated attitudes, behaviors, norms, and values.
Hegemonic masculinity: the masculine ideal that is viewed as superior to any other kind of masculinity as well as any form of femininity.
Patriarchy: refers to an environment where characteristics associated with men and masculinity have more power and authority.
Intersex: general term used to describe people whose sex traits, reproductive anatomy, hormones, or chromosomes are different from the usual two ways human bodies develop. Some intersex traits are recognized at birth, while others are not recognizable until puberty or later in life
Neo-traditionalists: modified version of traditionalism where they supported the idea of women working if they desire to do so, but only if it does not interfere with her ability to take care of her family.
Pay gap: the difference in earnings between men and women
Sex: refers to physical or physiological differences between males and females, including both primary sex characteristics (the reproductive system) and secondary characteristics such as height and muscularity.
Sexism: the belief that some individuals or groups are superior to others based on sex or gender.
Traditionalists: value the breadwinner/housewife model and believe men should primarily be responsible for earning income while women are responsible for housework and childcare
Transgender: refers to a person whose sex assigned at birth and gender identity are not necessarily the same.
Queer: term used to describe gender and sexual identities other than cisgender and heterosexual
9.6.4 Discussion Questions
- According to sociologists, what is the difference between sex and gender? Why do they suggest it’s important to distinguish these terms?
- How does gender socialization shape children’s play? Are toys and activities becoming more or less “gendered” compared to when you were a child?
- What is intersectionality and how does it change the approach we use when studying gender?
- What can be done to lessen the effects of gender stratification in the workplace? How does gender stratification harm both men and women?
- What can be done to narrow the pay gap for women?
- Why is it important to have women in politics?
- List and describe the different waves of feminism. What inspired the emergence of each wave? What inequalities do you think the fifth wave will hope to address?
9.6.5 Licenses and Attributions for Conclusion
“Conclusion” by Jennifer Puentes is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
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