Gender and Social Inequality
Possible causes of female equality
Women may have few social resources to enable them to
Characteristics challenge patriarchy
Women may accept their subordinate position because
of women resistance causes them social difficulties
Men have significant interest in reproducing patriarchy and
Characteristics their own dominant position in society
Men control social resources and so access to equality is in
of patriarchy their control
Nature of All social groups are influenced by cultural values and
religious ideologies
society and The nature of agencies of social control and socialisation
culture will impact on people's identities
Theoretical explanations of gender inequality
FUNCTIONALISM
- Hold 2 positions in relation to gender differences, both with the underlying
assumption that gender differences are functional for society
1. Gender differences exist as way of fulfilling different roles in society- women
expressive caregivers / men instrumental roles
2. Gender is a way in which certain parts of the social system become clearly
responsible for different tasks, with women fulfilling domestic roles and men
exercising power outside the home
- For functionalists, gender differences are an efficient way of ensuring that all the
basic needs to society are being met and that society remains stable and predictable
Criticism
- Feminists- because functionalism sees gender differences as being good for society,
the genuine inequality that affects women is seen as ‘natural’- gender differences
are thus made real / institutionalised in society
- Liberal and Marxist feminists-functionalist view prevents women from actively
participating in society outside the home, so it accepts discriminatory practice in
politics and the workplace
Possible causes of female equality
Women may have few social resources to enable them to
Characteristics challenge patriarchy
Women may accept their subordinate position because
of women resistance causes them social difficulties
Men have significant interest in reproducing patriarchy and
Characteristics their own dominant position in society
Men control social resources and so access to equality is in
of patriarchy their control
Nature of All social groups are influenced by cultural values and
religious ideologies
society and The nature of agencies of social control and socialisation
culture will impact on people's identities
Theoretical explanations of gender inequality
FUNCTIONALISM
- Hold 2 positions in relation to gender differences, both with the underlying
assumption that gender differences are functional for society
1. Gender differences exist as way of fulfilling different roles in society- women
expressive caregivers / men instrumental roles
2. Gender is a way in which certain parts of the social system become clearly
responsible for different tasks, with women fulfilling domestic roles and men
exercising power outside the home
- For functionalists, gender differences are an efficient way of ensuring that all the
basic needs to society are being met and that society remains stable and predictable
Criticism
- Feminists- because functionalism sees gender differences as being good for society,
the genuine inequality that affects women is seen as ‘natural’- gender differences
are thus made real / institutionalised in society
- Liberal and Marxist feminists-functionalist view prevents women from actively
participating in society outside the home, so it accepts discriminatory practice in
politics and the workplace
