AS sociology Topic 4 – gender identities

Getting you thinking

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to …. List the key agents of socialisation involved in the creation of

gender identities and roles,

Identify the ways in which agent of socialisation influence the creation of gender identities and roles,

Illustrate the key arguments surrounding the creation of gender identity and gender roles.

What do you think

Gender socialisation

Family

Primary socialisation

Secondary socialisation

Peer groupEducationMass media

ReligionWork

What is gender identity

Males and females seen to have different natures thus different identities and destinies.

The above idea has been challenged by sociologist who claim that many of the differences are not natural but rather socially created.

Differentiation between sex and gender is required in order for sociologist to see those differences more clearly.

Sex Gender

Gender identity

Physical and biological differences between males and females,

Differences in hormones, genes, genitals and secondary sexual characteristics,

Sex is regarded as ascribed as it is the result of biology.

Cultural expectations which are attached to someone based on their sex,

Women seen as caring and nurturing,

Men seen as brave and strong, Gender assumptions such as

those above tend to be highly stereotypical and exaggerated,

Biology or society ?

Key questions:

1. Where do gender differences come from ? 2. Are they the result of biological differences? 3. Are they created by society?

Biological Determinism

Approach believes that gender is based on NATURE, Genetic differences between males and females create

natural differences in their attitudes and abilities, Steven Goldberg – argues that men have an inbuilt

dominance tendency which is why they occupy the top roles in society.

Male and female brain ?

Biology or society ? Social construction is an approach which suggest that

gender is actually based on nurture (socialisation). Societies each create a set social expectations which are

gender based and aim to steer individuals in the right direction.

Margaret Mead (1935)

Sex and gender – a conclusion Differences between men and women are seen as a matter

of dispute – one which can be argued, Distinction between sex and gender allow us to see that

biological differences do not have direct effect on social roles,

Societies have a wide degree of freedom to choose gender characteristics and roles.

Group task

Family

What were the two ways in which Oakley said that parents teach their children different gender roles pp.62 – pink baby/blue baby ?

Using the toys in class and carrying out research on the internet, complete the table which you have been given and state what each toy might teach ?

Education

Are girls and boys treated differently at school ?

List any of the differences you noticed?

What is the hidden curriculum and how does this contribute to gender identities and gender roles?

Look at pp.63 what is Skelton’s point?

Media List two roles models for girls and, two for boys in the media.

What values and norms are those role models teaching?

Look at pp.65 in your bible and read through Tunstall and Gauntlett. How does their research differ?

Look at pp.64 – what did Ferguson and McRobbie find when they analysed girls magazine and how does this influence the creation of gender roles and gender identities?

Work Watch a clip on YouTube of The Full Monty – how does it show the crisis of

masculinity ? Why would we see these men as in a crisis (Mac and Ghail)?

Think about jobs where most of the employees are females, and then those where most the employees are males. This is called horizontal segregation. What are the common features of the female/male jobs?

Use the internet to find out what percentage of childminders, primary school teachers and nurses are females; and what percentage of bank managers, prime ministers, fire fighters and train drivers are males – use alternative professions with interesting gender divides if you cannot find information on the ones you mentioned.

Religion

Using the internet, books and your own knowledge list 10 religious role models or characters from texts and stories.

Are they male or female ? What roles do they play?

Read the debate between Burchill and Watson in your pack pp.66. who supports headscarves for Muslim women and why?

Peers

Jot down the ways in which Hey’s sample of girls sanctioned each other. Which norms and values did the working class girl conform to ? How did this contribute to the creation of gender identities?

Read Klee’s work on pp.64 – how does this connect to Hey’s work?

How did the boys in Renold’s study sanction each other ?

Gender socialisation – an evaluation The idea of gender roles socialisation has been criticised on a number

of counts: The experiences of men and women vary greatly and huge differences based

on age, ethnicity, class and geographical location must be accounted for.

There is a clear assumptions that women passively accept the gender identity imposed on them and neglects the choice that we as individuals have in developing an identity.

Many men and women in fact reject the stereotypes associated with gender and resist attempts made by the agencies of socialisation in making conform to specific gender roles.