CHAPTER 11: SEX AND GENDER

Objectives:Define FeminismProvide examples of gender inequality

in education, the workplace and everyday life

Explain how violence against women continues to be a significant social problem today and give examples

HOW FEMALES BECAME A MINORITY GROUP

Minority Group: a group that is discriminated against on the basis of its members’ physical or cultural characteristics

gender is the primary division between people with every society setting up barriers that ensure unequal access to power, property, and prestige on the basis of sex

ORIGINS OF PATRIARCHY

Men dominated society because:--women were able to bear children, so this took up a lot of their time/energy women working/being responsible for domestic activities most of their lives--men were less “tied down” so they could hunt, travel, trade, engage in battle increased their prestige in society--others claim that men dominate society because of their superior strength

GENDER INEQUALITY IN THE UNITED STATES

Feminism: the philosophy that men and women should be politically, economically, and socially equal

1st wave: finally got right to vote in 1920

2nd wave: more women in workforce/ changing roles of women in 1960s

Women in US enjoy more rights than ever before, but many forms of gender inequality, in education, the workplace, and politics, continue to persist

INEQUALITY IN EDUCATION

There are now more women than men in college

More women are seeking professional degrees (ie: medicine, law, dentistry)

Still major discrepancy in certain areas (ie: doctorates in science)

See Graphs/Tables306-308

INEQUALITY IN EVERYDAY LIFE/WORKPLACE

Words associated with femininity are used as insults (ie: “you throw like a girl”, “wearing a skirt”)

The Pay Gapwomen who work full time average

only 65% of what men are paidaverage women who graduates

from college makes about the same as a man who drops out of college.

See chart pg. 311-312

INEQUALITY IN WORKPLACE CONT…

Glass Ceiling: the mostly invisible barrier that keeps women from advancing to the top levels at work

Glass Escalator: the mostly invisible accelerators that push men into higher-level positions. More desirable work assignments and higher salaries

Sexual Harassment: the abuse of one’s position of authority to force unwanted sexual demands on someone

GENDER AND VIOLENCE

Quick Research…Each group will pick an example of violence against

females and take a few minutes to research their topic. In the last 10 minutes of class, each group will

give a brief description of their form of violence to the class.

Possible Topics:Foot BindingSuttee/SatiRape/Date RapeForced Prostitution/Human TraffickingFemale Circumcision/Female Genital Cutting (FGC)Acid Throwing