Gender: Biological vs. Social Constructs
Sex is a biological concept that classifies individuals as male or female, while gender is a social construct encompassing traits and behaviors associated with masculinity and femininity. Differences between men and women are shaped by cultural influences and societal norms. Gender ideology dictates expectations, values, and disparities based on gender. Social values often favor characteristics traditionally attributed to men, perpetuating gender inequality.
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Presentation Transcript
Are you a man or a woman? How do you know?
Sex is a biological concept. It divides human beings into two categories: male or female Gender is a social concept. It consists of socially defined traits and behaviors that are considered normal for each sex: masculine or feminine
Essentialist Social Constructionist differences in men s and women s behaviors are cultural and vary among societies biological sex differences create behavioral differences in men & women concerned with the ways we think about and use gender categories to structure our experience of the social world
Common Assumptions: Only two sexes Mutually exclusive One-to-one correspondence Male Masculine = Man Female Feminine = Woman
Men and women are understood as biological opposites that are complimentary Dominance of men over women is natural and rooted in reproductive anatomy and function Creates assumptions about bodies and their capacity
Gender Ideology The ideology of gender determines: - What is expected of us - What is allowed of us - What is valued in us The ideology of gender also determines the nature and extent of: - Disadvantage - Disparity - Discrimination
Social value placed on the differences that exist between women and men Men s characteristics and behaviors are perceived as more valuable then women s characteristics and behaviors as a result, we see gender inequality
Aggressive Assertive Dominating No Emotions Logical Loud Messy Competent Athletic Strong Bread winner Money Maker Friendly Fragile Submissive Emotional Nurturing Quiet Neat/Clean Childlike Slender Weak Child rearing Home maker
Gender Ideology in Media Represents idealized versions of masculine and feminine bodies Provides information (social rules, codes, images, symbols) about appropriate gendered appearances & behavior Reinforces dominant system or preferred view of gender arrangements
Questions to consider as we view film: How do media images construct feminine / masculine bodies? Think about how these images make you feel? In what sorts of ways do our bodies incorporate these gender codes? In what ways do our bodies resist them? How do these images of gendered bodies reinforce notions of biological sex difference?
