Thank you for choosing this textbook as a resource for teaching the Sociology of Gender. This textbook uses the tools of sociology (sociological perspectives, research, and theory) to demonstrate that dominant gender norms, including the gender binary, are real but not true. In other words, they are socially constructed, imposed, enforced, reproduced, challenged, and negotiated, that:

• … have not always existed
• … do not universally exist today
• … are not biologically determined
• … maintain unequal systems of power
• … are maintained at the expense of people whose gender identity and sexuality do not align with dominant gender norms
• … can be harmful to individuals and society

This theme is reinforced with Real But True sidebars that use three interlocking puzzle pieces to draw attention to examples of the sociological imagination in action, sociological research, and sociological theories that demonstrate that gender is real in its consequences but not universally true.

This textbook acknowledges that sociology has been a discipline historically dominated by White, cisgender men, in which the perspectives of women, people who identify as LGBTQIA+ and People of the Global Majority have been excluded, minimized, and tokenized. As an equity-focused project, this textbook embraces efforts to expand the sociological canon by highlighting efforts to recover and reconsider historical research, theory, and methods produced by women, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, and People of the Global Majority.

The equity focus of this textbook is also demonstrated by centering and celebrating the leadership, research, and theories of contemporary scholars and activists who identify as women, LGBTQIA+, and People of the Global Majority. Special attention is also paid to the relationship between theory-making and activism, as well as the relationship between the evolution of the feminist movement and other movements for civil rights and liberation.

This textbook takes care to accurately and respectfully represent culturally specific constructions of gender and sexuality from cultures Indigenous to the Americas and the Global South. As such, the relationship between colonialism and gender is surfaced and interrogated within the context of an intersectional analysis of unequal systems of power.

As an equity-focused project, this book also uses and models inclusive language. Diligent efforts were made to identify and use the pronouns and identity categories people use to describe themselves, and pronouns are used when people are introduced (i.e., they/them, she/her, he/him). We also try to avoid making assumptions about an individual’s gender and therefore describe people as “nonbinary-, feminine- or masculine-presenting” rather than “male” or “female.”

Because this is a text about gender, we use the contested term “Latinx” in solidarity with people who are Queer, Trans, or Nonbinary that have adopted the term, except in cases where cited data sets, like census data, use “Hispanic” or another term. We also capitalize all racial categories in acknowledgment that race, like gender, is a social construction that is also real but not true. To further de-center white supremacy, we use “People of The Global Majority (PGM)” as a generalized term to refer to people who are not White.

Helpful elements for student learning include interactive review questions in each chapter section, discussion questions for reviewing learning objectives, and Looking Through The Lens exercises that encourage students to engage with the material through self-reflection. There are also sidebar “Learn More” resources that direct students to optional source material and readings.

Integrated Openly Licensed Course Materials

This book includes openly licensed course materials that fully integrate with the open textbook. Anyone can retain, revise, remix, reuse, and redistribute them. Best of all, future instructors can build on existing learning pathways that are aligned with textbook and chapter learning outcomes.

You can access openly licensed course materials in two ways:

• Sociology of Gender Instructor Course Packs: A collection of aligned and accessible course materials shared by pilot instructors teaching at multiple Oregon institutions. Instructors designed each course pack with an equity lens in consultation with an instructional designer. In most cases, each course pack was revised with feedback from Oregon students and an advisory board of workforce members. Each course pack includes a complete course map, an instructor guide, and ancillary materials including weekly assignment prompts, rubrics, and suggested activities.
• Sociology of Gender OER Commons Group: An ongoing repository of instructor-created course materials that integrate with the open textbook. Materials may include syllabi, assessments and assignments, lesson plans, activities, and entire course shells. Please note: not all OERC resources are reviewed for digital accessibility.

You are welcome to contribute your own openly licensed course materials that align with this textbook to the OERCommons Group. Thank you for building a more inclusive future for students and future educators!

Licenses and Attributions for Instructor Resrouces

Author Message to Instructors by Heidi Esbensen is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Integrated Openly Licensed Course Materials by Open Oregon Educational Resources is licensed under CC BY 4.0.