Monday, March 29, 1999
Announcements:

• 2^nd exam is Monday, April 5. Bring in blue books either Wednesday or Friday. Come early for the test.

NOTE: Women comprise ½ of the world’s population, they do 2/3 of the work, and only collect 1/10 of the world’s income. 66% of the world’s illiterates are women

1. Gender Identity

1. Theories of Gender Identity and roles

1. Freudian Theory – gender identity and role is a result of Oedipal Conflict. During the ages of 3-6, children discover that one of their parents is biologically different from them. The same sex parent is a rival for affection from the other parent. This creates anxiety in the child, and it is resolved by identifying with the same sex parent. The child begins to incorporate gender roles associated with the same sex parent.
2. Cultural-Transmission Theory – gender identity is a learning process – observation, imitation, reinforcement. Through interaction with significant others symbols are transmitted and a child learns gender, roles and values.
3. Cognitive-Development Theory – Kohlberg

1. Self-socialization (18 months – 3 years) – children self-label themselves and adopt the behavior of their new status.
2. Stereotype conception (6-7 years) – children learn stereotypes of how males and females are supposed to act. They then organize their thoughts to fit into the male or female stereotype.
3. Gender Schema – Children then develop a gender map as to how they must go through life as a male or female

1. Functionalist Perspective on Gender Inequality

1. Talcott Parsons (hated by feminists) – gender differentiation is important for smooth running of society.
2. Men should play instrumental roles – rational thinking, competitive, achievement oriented, task oriented, the providers
3. Women should play expressive roles – nurturers, maintain harmony in the family, emotionally sustain family
4. The two different roles compliment each other

1. Conflict Perspective on Gender Inequality

1. Men and Women have differences in societal valued resources. Men control the 4 P’s (power, privilege, prestige, property) and thus, control women.
2. Female subjugation by men – men control all valuable resources.
3. Fredrick Engels – Men began to control women when they acquired private property. Private property is the basis for female subjugation. Monogamous marriages began because men wanted to know to whom their property was being transmitted.
4. Capitalism and gender inequality – capitalism intensifies male domination through a sex-structured work force.
5. Division of Labor – Men benefit from the Dual Labor Market because they can pay them lower because of the stereotypes associated with women

1. Interactionist Perspective on Gender Inequality

1. Social Construction - everything in life is a social construction, including gender.
2. Socio-cultural – Gender is a part of the social process.
3. Cultural Meaning – is the basis of gender inequality in all societies. Societal change will come when we change the cultural meanings attached to gender.

1. Political and Economic Power

1. What is Power? Power is essential for social life; collective goals can be achieved through power. Example: If the university had no power over the students, there would be total chaos. Power is the basis of societal institutions.
2. Max Weber defines power as the ability to achieve desired ends, despite resistance from others.
3. What is a State? A source of legitimate force. Violence is the ultimate foundation of any political power. The State claims the right to use violence on its people.
4. What is Authority? Legitimate power – people accept authority as right. Example: A cop pulls you over and gives you a ticket – he has authority over you because we give policeman that power. If the professor were to flag you down and say you were speeding and that you had to pay a fine, you would think she was crazy because she does not have that authority. If a student went up to the professor and told her she should be fired, nothing would happen because the student does not have the authority to fire her. Authority is RELATIONAL, SITUATIONAL, and LEGITIMATE.

1. Max Weber noted 3 kinds of authority

1. Traditional – power is legitimized through respect for long-standing cultural patterns. Example: China made citizens build the wall because they had respect for traditions.