Theoretical Perspectives

Gender

Functionalism and Gender• Functionalists argue that any pattern of

behavior that does not benefit society will become unimportant. – Division of responsibilities between males

and females survived because it benefited human living. • Example: Early Humans: men hunted/protected

because they were expendable.

• Today, traditional division of labor has created problems for modern society.

Conflict Theory and Gender

• According to the conflict theory, it is the men’s advantage to prevent women from gaining access to political, economic, and social resources. – If men can prevent women from gaining their

potential, men can maintain status quo.– Example: Taliban women

• Conflict theorists see tradition gender roles outdated. They are inappropriate for the industrial and postindustrial era.

Symbolic Interactionism and Gender

• Symbolic interactionists focus on how boys and girls learn to act the way they are “supposed to act.”– Gender socialization: the social process of learning

how to act as a boy or girl.• Taught through interaction with peers, parents and

media.• How do parents contribute to gender socialization?• In what ways do schools reinforce gender socialization?• http://

www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-12-17-texas-school-hair_N.htm

• How do peers contribute to gender socialization?• How does the media contribute to gender socialization?• http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CWMCt35oFY&feature=player_embedded

• How do sports contribute to gender socialization?• http://

www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=208

• http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/01/14/portraying-athletes-his-and-hers-sports-illustrated-covers/

Women and Sport• Educational Amendment Act of 1972:

Title IX – Bars the discrimination on the basis of

gender in any program – including athletics at any educational institution receiving federal funds.

– High School participation: • 1971: 294,000• 2006: 3 million

– Media • 1989: 5% televised• 2004: 6% televised (mostly tennis)

• http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/04/25/sports/100000000786802/roster-management.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=thab1

Extreme pictures of kids and their stuff!

Job Segregation