Sociology Lesson 12
What is the difference between sex and gender? - ✔✔ correct answer Sex refers to the biological and
anatomical differences between males and females. These differences are constant over time and
between societies, while the meaning of gender varies over time and within societies. Gender refers to
the culturally constructed meanings, behaviors, and attitudes associated with what it means to be male
or female in a given society.
What are gender roles? Provide some examples of the male and female gender roles. - ✔✔ correct
answer Gender roles are behaviors, attitudes1, and activities that are socially defined as appropriate for
each sex to exhibit. Men are expected to present themselves in one manner and women are expected to
act in a different manner. For example, men are expected to be strong, rational, aggressive, independent,
competitive and insensitive. Women, in contrast traditionally have been expected to be weak,
emotional, receptive, dependent, cooperative, and emotional.
What is the difference between patriarchy and matriarchy? Which is more common? - ✔✔ correct
answer Patriarchy is a form of social organization in which men dominate women through control for the
economic, cultural, and political institutions of a society. In contrast, matriarchies are a form of social
organization in which women dominate men through control of the major social institutions. Patriarchies
are much more common historically than matriarchies. The US is a largely patriarchal society.
What is the relationship between differential socialization and gender roles? - ✔✔ correct answer There
are different gender roles for men and women. These different roles are learned through socialization. In
this context, differential socialization refers to the process of raising boys and girls differently because of
the different roles each is expected to play as an adult. Families tend to encourage more aggressive
behaviors in boys. Girls receive different types of toys and clothing than do boys. Peers transmit gender
stereotypes to girls and boys about they way each is expected to behave. Schools also treat boys and
girls differently, devoting more time, energy, and attention to boys than to girls. This reinforces the
stereotype that boys are more important than girls. The media transmit different different images about
what it means to be male and female, frequently portraying men in positions of dominance and women
in positions of submissiveness. The different messages that boys and girls receive from these agents of
socialization serve to inculcate and reinforce the socially expected gender roles.
Why do sociologists consider women to be a minority group? - ✔✔ correct answer A minority group is
any group that receives less than its proportionate share of valuable social resources, such as good jobs,
leisure time, and fair pay. Sociologists consider women to be a minority group for several reasons. First,
reflective of the patriarchal nature of social organization, men treat women unequally. Second, women
experience several gaps in the way they are treated relative to the way men are treated. The wage gap
refers to the fact that women receive less pay then men, earning about 77% of what men do for similar
work. Women also experience a leisure gap. Even though most men and women now work full time
outside the home, women are expected to fulfill the traditional role of homemaker when they return
home, often while the husbands relax Women do more of the domestic chores than men. Women also
, Sociology Lesson 12
experience occupational sex segregation into subordinate jobs, such as secretary, nurse, and teacher, as
compared to executive, doctor and principal. All of these forms of unequal treatment lead sociologists to
consider women a minority group.
How does the functionalist perspective account for the existence of gender inequality? - ✔✔ correct
answer There are two ways in which the functionalist perspective accounts for the existence of gender
inequality. The theory of complementarity argues that men and women perform different roles because
it is functionally necessary for social stability and survival. Men play instrumental roles, such as acquiring
economic resources, and women perform expressive roles, such as child rearing and homemaker. The
human capital model explains women's subordinate position in the labor market as a result of the
choices that men and women make. This explanation states that women choose employment in low-
wage and low-skill jobs, such as waitress or retail sales clerk, It also states that women choose to exit and
enter the workforce more frequently than men (often for child rearing purposes). These choices limit the
earning potential of women relative to men.
How does the conflict perspective explain gender inequality? - ✔✔ correct answer Conflict explanations
argue gender inequality is caused by patriarchy and male use of their greater physical, economic and
political power to protect the privileged position they occupy in society. Orthodox Marxist explanations
view male control over economic resources as a key way in which men restrict women's opportunities
and freedoms. Gender roles are viewed as serving to legitimate male domination.
What is feminism? Describe the types of feminist approaches toward and solutions for gender inequality.
- ✔✔ correct answer Feminism is the belief that men and women are equal and should be treated
equally. There are three ways in which feminism explains gender inequality.
1. Liberal Feminists accept the organization of society but argue that women should be accorded equal
opportunity, equal treatment, and reproductive freedom.
2. Socialist Feminists believe that gender inequality is a result of capitalist forms of economic
organization. A socialist revolution is believed necessary to free women from patriarchal subordination.
3. Radical feminists believe that liberal and socialist feminists do not go far enough to eradicate gender
inequality. In this view, gender inequality is rooted in the very notion of gender. To eliminate such
inequality, the notion of gender itself must be eliminated. Doing this would involve the use of new
reproductive technologist that would free women from the childbearing role. This would eliminate the
basis for gender distinctions and would hence lead to an end of male domination.
comparable worth - ✔✔ correct answer The belief that pay ought to reflect the worth of a job not the
race or gender of the worker
What is the difference between sex and gender? - ✔✔ correct answer Sex refers to the biological and
anatomical differences between males and females. These differences are constant over time and
between societies, while the meaning of gender varies over time and within societies. Gender refers to
the culturally constructed meanings, behaviors, and attitudes associated with what it means to be male
or female in a given society.
What are gender roles? Provide some examples of the male and female gender roles. - ✔✔ correct
answer Gender roles are behaviors, attitudes1, and activities that are socially defined as appropriate for
each sex to exhibit. Men are expected to present themselves in one manner and women are expected to
act in a different manner. For example, men are expected to be strong, rational, aggressive, independent,
competitive and insensitive. Women, in contrast traditionally have been expected to be weak,
emotional, receptive, dependent, cooperative, and emotional.
What is the difference between patriarchy and matriarchy? Which is more common? - ✔✔ correct
answer Patriarchy is a form of social organization in which men dominate women through control for the
economic, cultural, and political institutions of a society. In contrast, matriarchies are a form of social
organization in which women dominate men through control of the major social institutions. Patriarchies
are much more common historically than matriarchies. The US is a largely patriarchal society.
What is the relationship between differential socialization and gender roles? - ✔✔ correct answer There
are different gender roles for men and women. These different roles are learned through socialization. In
this context, differential socialization refers to the process of raising boys and girls differently because of
the different roles each is expected to play as an adult. Families tend to encourage more aggressive
behaviors in boys. Girls receive different types of toys and clothing than do boys. Peers transmit gender
stereotypes to girls and boys about they way each is expected to behave. Schools also treat boys and
girls differently, devoting more time, energy, and attention to boys than to girls. This reinforces the
stereotype that boys are more important than girls. The media transmit different different images about
what it means to be male and female, frequently portraying men in positions of dominance and women
in positions of submissiveness. The different messages that boys and girls receive from these agents of
socialization serve to inculcate and reinforce the socially expected gender roles.
Why do sociologists consider women to be a minority group? - ✔✔ correct answer A minority group is
any group that receives less than its proportionate share of valuable social resources, such as good jobs,
leisure time, and fair pay. Sociologists consider women to be a minority group for several reasons. First,
reflective of the patriarchal nature of social organization, men treat women unequally. Second, women
experience several gaps in the way they are treated relative to the way men are treated. The wage gap
refers to the fact that women receive less pay then men, earning about 77% of what men do for similar
work. Women also experience a leisure gap. Even though most men and women now work full time
outside the home, women are expected to fulfill the traditional role of homemaker when they return
home, often while the husbands relax Women do more of the domestic chores than men. Women also
, Sociology Lesson 12
experience occupational sex segregation into subordinate jobs, such as secretary, nurse, and teacher, as
compared to executive, doctor and principal. All of these forms of unequal treatment lead sociologists to
consider women a minority group.
How does the functionalist perspective account for the existence of gender inequality? - ✔✔ correct
answer There are two ways in which the functionalist perspective accounts for the existence of gender
inequality. The theory of complementarity argues that men and women perform different roles because
it is functionally necessary for social stability and survival. Men play instrumental roles, such as acquiring
economic resources, and women perform expressive roles, such as child rearing and homemaker. The
human capital model explains women's subordinate position in the labor market as a result of the
choices that men and women make. This explanation states that women choose employment in low-
wage and low-skill jobs, such as waitress or retail sales clerk, It also states that women choose to exit and
enter the workforce more frequently than men (often for child rearing purposes). These choices limit the
earning potential of women relative to men.
How does the conflict perspective explain gender inequality? - ✔✔ correct answer Conflict explanations
argue gender inequality is caused by patriarchy and male use of their greater physical, economic and
political power to protect the privileged position they occupy in society. Orthodox Marxist explanations
view male control over economic resources as a key way in which men restrict women's opportunities
and freedoms. Gender roles are viewed as serving to legitimate male domination.
What is feminism? Describe the types of feminist approaches toward and solutions for gender inequality.
- ✔✔ correct answer Feminism is the belief that men and women are equal and should be treated
equally. There are three ways in which feminism explains gender inequality.
1. Liberal Feminists accept the organization of society but argue that women should be accorded equal
opportunity, equal treatment, and reproductive freedom.
2. Socialist Feminists believe that gender inequality is a result of capitalist forms of economic
organization. A socialist revolution is believed necessary to free women from patriarchal subordination.
3. Radical feminists believe that liberal and socialist feminists do not go far enough to eradicate gender
inequality. In this view, gender inequality is rooted in the very notion of gender. To eliminate such
inequality, the notion of gender itself must be eliminated. Doing this would involve the use of new
reproductive technologist that would free women from the childbearing role. This would eliminate the
basis for gender distinctions and would hence lead to an end of male domination.
comparable worth - ✔✔ correct answer The belief that pay ought to reflect the worth of a job not the
race or gender of the worker
