Chapter 11

Gender Stratification

Chapter Outline Are the Sexes Separate and Unequal? What Produces Gender Inequality? Gender-Role Socialization Gender Inequality and Work

Sex and Gender Sex

The physical and biological differences between men and women. 

GenderThe social, psychological, and cultural attributes of masculinity and femininity that are based on the previous biological distinctions.

Question The physical and biological differences

between men and women is referred to as:

A. gender.

B. sex.

C. sex role.

D. gender role.

Answer: B The physical and biological differences

between men and women is referred to as sex.

Question If you could temporarily be the other

gender, how long would you like to do so?

A. One day

B. One week

C. I have no desire to be the other gender

Gender and Disease

Heart Attack Men are more likely to suffer heart attacks. More women than men die each year from heart disease.

Cancer

Cancers are the 2nd leading cause of death for women. Women smokers are 20% to 70% more likely than men to develop lung cancer.

HIV/AIDS Women are ten times more likely then men to contract HIV during unprotected sex with an infected partner.

Gender and Disease

Cardiovascular Disease

1 in 9 women ages 45–64 has some cardiovascular disease, rising to 1 in 3 at age 65 and older.

Diabetes and Other Chronic Illnesses

Diabetes is a cause of increased mortality among minority women, especially among middle-aged and older American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic, and African-American women.

Osteoporosis 80% of people with osteoporosis are women; more than half of women over 65 are afflicted with it.

Gender and Disease

Immunologic Diseases

Autoimmune thyroid diseases have a 15:1 ratio of women to men. Rheumatoid arthritis has a 3:1 ratio of women to men.

Mental Disorders

Women are twice as likely as men to be depressed and 2 to 3 times more prone to anxiety disorders.

Gender and Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease

The incidence is higher among women, and it increases dramatically after age 85.

Visual and Hearing Impairments

Men have nearly a 50% greater likelihood of experiencing these problems.

Responses to Stress Gender differences influence the way men and

women react to stress. When primitive man was threatened by wild

animals while hunting, testosterone combined with adrenaline enabled him to react quickly to danger.

When women are confronted by stress, they tend to respond by seeking out contact and support from others.

The Functionalist Viewpoint Functionalists argue that it was useful to

have men and women fulfill different roles in Preindustrial societies.

Because women spent their time near the home, they prepared food, cleaned, etc.

To the male fell the duties of hunting, defending the family, and herding.

The Conflict Theory Viewpoint According to conflict theory, males dominate

females because of their power and control over key resources.

By subordinating women, men gain greater economic, political, and social power.

Conflict theorists believe the main source of gender inequality is the economic inequality between men and women.

Gender-role Socialization A lifelong process whereby people

learn the values, attitudes, motivations, and behavior considered appropriate to each sex according to their culture.

In any society males and females are socialized differently.

Question How comfortable are you with the

gender roles our society defines as appropriate for males and females?

A. Very comfortableB. Somewhat comfortableC. UnsureD. Somewhat uncomfortableE. Very uncomfortable

Maines and Hardesty: Men’s Linear, Temporal World When men project what the future might hold

for them, they define it in terms of career accomplishments.

Men don’t view a family as much of an issue in terms of pursuing career goals.

Men see little problem in coordinating career and family demands.

Many expect to have a traditional division of labor in their families, which will support their career pursuit.

Maines and Hardesty: Women’s Contingent, Temporal World Work, education, and family all are seen as

having to be balanced against one another. Careers are seen as pursuits that may have to

be suspended or halted at certain points. The vast majority of women envision problems

in their careers and see family responsibilities as a major issue.

Instead of having a clear vision of the steps to accomplish career goals, women are more tentative about their future.

Question In comparison to working men, working

women:

A. consistently earn less.

B. are less likely to be in unions.

C. are more likely to occupy low-paying jobs.

D. all of these choices are correct.

Answer: D In comparison to working men, working

women consistently earn less, are less likely to be in unions, and are more likely to occupy low-paying jobs.

Job Discrimination In 2004, more than 59% of all American women

were part of the paid labor force. The median income for men in 2004 was

$60,093, and for women it was, $42,307. Male managers and professionals earned

$53,976 in 2001, compared with $38,064 for females.

Male technical sales workers earned $34,684, while females earned $24,596.

Professions That Are Disproportionately Male and Female

Disproportionately Male

% MaleDisproportionately

Female %

Female

Automobile Mechanics

98.9 Secretaries 98.9

Carpenters 98.3 Dental Hygienists 98.5

Airplane Pilots 96.3 Receptionists 96.7

Truck Drivers 95.3Speech

Therapists

93.5

Firefighters 96.2 Bank Tellers 90.0

Professions That Are Disproportionately Male and Female

Disproportionately Male

% Male

Disproportionately Female

% Female

Mechanical Engineers

93.7 Dietitians 89.9

Forestry and Logging

91.6 Librarians 85.2

Police Detectives 87.9Elementary Teachers

83.3

Architects 76.5 Health Aides 82.6

Programmers 73.5 Special Education

Teachers 82.6

Question If you were taking a new job and had

your choice of a boss, would you prefer to work for a man or a woman?

A. Man

B. Woman

C. No preference

Advanced Degrees Awarded toWomen, 1970 and 2002

Three Ways Women Experience Discrimination in the Business World

1. The hiring process, when women are given jobs with lower prestige than men with equivalent qualifications.

2. Through unequal wage policies, by which women receive less pay than men for equivalent work.

3. In awarding promotions, as women find it more difficult than men to advance up the career ladder.

Recent Improvements in Women's Earnings In 2001, women held nearly 49.5% of all executive,

administrative, and managerial jobs, up from 34.2% in 1983.

In 1998, women were: 56.1% of people awarded bachelor’s degrees 57.1% of those awarded master’s degrees 42% of the doctorate recipients 41% of the of those receiving M.D.s 43.9% of those receiving law degrees

Quick Quiz

1. Gender is defined as:A. the physical differences between

men and women.B. the social, psychological, and

cultural attributes of masculinity and femininity.

C. the ascribed status that accompanies gender roles.

D. the differences that are biological in nature.

Answer: B Gender is defined as the social,

psychological, and cultural attributes of masculinity and femininity.

2. The process of learning the values, attitudes and behavior appropriate to each sex in one's own culture is known as:

A. gender-role socialization.

B. childhood socialization.

C. adolescent socialization.

D. resocialization.

Answer: A

2. The process of learning the values, attitudes and behavior appropriate to each sex in one's own culture is known as gender-role socialization.

3. The process of learning the values, attitudes and behavior appropriate to each sex in one's own culture is known as:

A. gender-role socialization.

B. childhood socialization.

C. adolescent socialization.

D. resocialization.

Answer: A The process of learning the values,

attitudes and behavior appropriate to each sex in one's own culture is known as gender-role socialization.