Objectification is the process of treating human beings as if they were objects Objectification of...

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• Objectification is the process of treating human beings as if they were objects

• Objectification of Women– referred to as “females”– seen as “all alike”– subordinate and passive – easily ignored and trivialized

• Cult of thinness– people worship the perfect body

Chapter 10Sex and Gender

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Nichelle Urban Hipster

2005

Marissa Beach baby

2005

Barbie 1960

Barbie's measurements equate to 39-18-33 inches. Those numbers fall far below even today's typical size 8 woman. Far below . . . the waist for a size 8 is 27 inches. And the average woman in the US today is a size 16.

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Ken1960G. I. Joe

1964G. I. Joe

1996

Tyson“Leather”

2004

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• Sex biological and anatomical differences between females and males– Primary sex characteristics (genitals)– Secondary sex characteristics (other than reproductive

organs)

• Intersexual (hermaphrodite) ambiguous sexual differentiation– does not mean a person possesses both a penis and a

vagina

• Transsexual sex-related structures of the brain that define gender are opposite from the physical sex organs of the person’s body

Sex: The Biological Dimension

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• Transvestite a person who lives as the opposite sex but does not alter the genitals– cross-dressers are not transsexuals or transvestites

• Sexual orientation – preference for emotional-sexual relationships with members of the

• opposite sex (heterosexual)• same sex (homosexual)• both (bi-sexual)

• “Transgender”• Homophobia

Criteria for Identificationof homosexual and bi-sexual people (University

of Chicago)

(1) sexual attraction(2) sexual involvement(3) self-identification

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Kinsey Scale

0- Exclusively heterosexual 1- Predominantly heterosexual, only incidentally homosexual 2- Predominantly heterosexual, but more than incidentally homosexual 3- Equally heterosexual and homosexual 4- Predominantly homosexual, but more than incidentally heterosexual 5- Predominantly homosexual, only incidentally heterosexual 6- Exclusively homosexual

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• Gender culturally and socially-constructed differences between females and males– Masculinity– Femininity

• Gender role “appropriate” for each sex• Gender identity perception of self as male or female

• Body consciousness is how a person perceives and feels about his/her body– Eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, obesity– Bodybuilding

– Body dysmorphic disorder

Gender: The Cultural Dimension

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• Sexism subordination of one sex (usually female), based on the assumed superiority of the other sex

Components of Sexism aimed at women:

1) Stereotypical beliefs2) Negative attitudes toward women3) Discrimination

Patriarchy hierarchical system of social organization that is controlled by men

“Matriarchy”

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Gender Socialization• gender-appropriate toys• household chores/task assignment

• Parents• Schools• Peers• Sports• Mass Media

• Gender bias favoritism towards one gender over another

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Economics of Gender Inequality

• Gender-segregated work• Labor market segmentation• Pay Gap

– Pay equity or comparable worth

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Functionalist Perspectives on Gender Stratification

Husband :Instrumental tasks

•economic support•making decisions

Wife :Expressive tasks

•nurturing•caregiving

“The Natural Order of the Universe”

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Feminist Perspectives on Gender Stratification

• Feminism men and women should be valued equally and have equal rights

– Can men be feminists?

Liberal feminism Radical feminism Socialist feminism Multicultural feminism