Gender and Identity

Question 1

What is one of the first things infants come to think about themselves?

Answer 1

I am a girl/boy

Question 2

What do sociologists think gender identities are socially constructed through?

Answer 2

Through socialisation where we learn the cultural expectations associated with being male or female in our society.

Question 3

What is universal all over the world?

Answer 3

Our sex does not determine our gender roles and identities. The views, behaviour and attitudes between Men and Women are not universal all over the world, whilst biological sex is.

Question 4

What did Margaret Mead (1935) evidence gender as?

Answer 4

As social construction in
showing Cultural Flexibility.

Question 5

What was found about the Arapesh?

Answer 5

Both sexes were gentle and submissive (feminine).

Question 6

What was found about the The Mundugamor?

Answer 6

Both sexes were aggressive, rough, and competitive (masculine).

Question 7

What was found about The Tchambuli?

Answer 7

The gender roles were reversed compared to Western stereotypes.

Question 8

Who researched tribes in New Guinea?

Answer 8

Mead (1935)
The Arapesh
The Mundugamor
The Tchambuli:

Question 9

What did Connell (2002) claimed society had?

Answer 9

Hegemonic (Dominant) Masculinity and Femininity as a traditional set of ideas of how men and women are supposed to behave in our society e.g. male as the breadwinner.

Question 10

What do hegemonic definitions make it hard to do?

Answer 10

These Hegemonic Definitions influence gender identity and make it hard to adopt alternative identities.

Question 11

What does Ann Oakley (Feminist) claim about parents?

Answer 11

Claims parent’s are
instrumental in the formation of Gender during Primary Socialisation.

Question 12

What 4 processes does Oakley find?

Answer 12

Manipulation: Encouraging children to adopt behaviour
suited to their Gender.

Canalization: Children directed to different toys suited to
their gender.

Verbal Appellations: Exposed to different language.
“You’re a brave boy.” “You’re a beautiful princess.”

Differential Activity: Children directed to different
activities (Leisure and work) suited to their gender.

Question 13

What do we often seek from our peers?

Answer 13

We often seek acceptance form our peers by conforming to the norms
of the group. This typically means stereotyped gender identities.

Question 14

What do peers regulate?

Answer 14

Peers regulate the behaviours / identities of their group. Often
through ridicule.

Question 15

What do sexual experiences see?

Answer 15

Sexual experiences sees double standards. Men are encouraged to
achieve “conquests” to achieve status, whereas a women would be
condemned by both men and women for the same behaviour.

Question 16

What did Willis say about the ‘Lads’ and girls?

Answer 16

Paul Willis: The “Lads” constantly chased the girls for sex but often
dropped them, labelling them “loose” once they had sex.

Question 17

What did such ridicule and double standards reinforce?

Answer 17

The conformity to
stereotyped gender identities.

Men = Hegemonic Sexual Athletes

Women = Hegemonic Passive, faithful lovers

Question 18

What did Skelton say school reinforced?

Answer 18

Gender norms

Question 19

How where gender norms reinforced in schools? (Skelton)

Answer 19

Male teachers were the ones who moved heavy equipment or led
activities

Boys whose names were forgotten would often be called “You” or
“Boy”.

Whereas girl’s were often called things like “Darling” or
“Sweetheart”.

Question 20

What was found about teachers attitudes?

Answer 20

Girls and boys treated differently and given
different advice based on the views and attitudes of the teachers. E.g
Boys are naturally more boisterous and girls should be quiet.

Question 21

What movies reinforce gender stereotypes?

Answer 21

Disney films

Question 22

How does Laura Mulvey say women are seen?

Answer 22

Sex Objects: Laura Mulvey refers to the “Male Gaze”.
Media (often created by men) portray how women
should look. Slim, submissive, scantily clad etc.

Question 23

How does Naomi Wolf say women are seen?

Answer 23

Naomi Wolf: “Beauty Myth” – Industry perpetuates the
need for women to achieve a level of beauty which isn’t
possible.

Question 24

What is assumed about stereotypes?

Answer 24

Assumes that people are passive and controlled
in this process. Many people resist gender
stereotypes.

Question 25

What is not considered when regarding gender?

Answer 25

Experiences of men and women vary greatly. What about the effect of Age, Class, Ethnicity and Sexuality?

Question 26

What is there evidence of changing?

Answer 26

There is evidence that Gender Identities are changing. These resist and challenge the hegemonic gender roles.

Question 27

What are more and more people arguing?

Answer 27

More and more people argue that the traditional Hegemonic definitions of Gender are going or indeed gone! Argue that men and women are displaying multiple characteristics that would be typical of the opposite gender.

Question 28

Where are more and more women seen now?

Answer 28

More and more women are in work. Women are seen a more “suited” to the skills required for success in the new service industry. These Service roles favouring more feminine traits such as “people skills”, communication.

Question 29

What has happened as traditional male jobs have declined?

Answer 29

Traditional male jobs have declined and the rise of the Service Industry has presented more opportunities for women. This has led to the decline in the idea of the single male breadwinner.

Question 30

What decreases now women are more independent?

Answer 30

Women have become more independent and more career focussed. There financial need for marriage decreases. Women can choose from a range of feminine identities.

Question 31

Who's study shows change for women?

Answer 31

Sue Sharpe: Changing aspirations of girls in the 70 and 90s.

Question 32

What are women now forging for?

Answer 32

Whereas women were once confined to the home as domestic goddesses, women are now forging their own identities.

Question 33

What are some careers women are now taking which oppose the stereotypes?

Answer 33

Business Politics Football Comedy

Question 34

What is a ladette willing to do?

Answer 34

The ladette is willing to booze, swear, shout, be lewd and indulge in her sexual appetites (and even brag about them).

Question 35

What did the WHO (2006) find?

Answer 35

The WHO (2006) found that girls in the UK were among the most violent in the world and nearly 1 in 3 British teenage girls admitted to having been involved in a fight within the last year. The survey also linked the rise in binge drinking and “ladette” culture to this increased violence.

Question 36

What did Carolyn Jackson find about ladette behaviour?

Answer 36

Found this Ladette behaviour in education in 2006 between 13-14 year olds. Girls adopted the same assertive, boisterous and crude “laddish” and confrontational anti-school activity traditionally associated with boys.

Question 37

What is happening to the number of female role models?

Answer 37

There is an increasing number of new female role models in the media that attract huge followings. Generally seen as women who are: Sassy / Strong / Independent / Don’t give a damn Willing to compete on equal terms with men

Question 38

What is happening to the traditional male identity?

Answer 38

It is being threatened

Question 39

How is the traditional male identity under threat?

Answer 39

Women becoming more economically and socially independent, not house bound. Women are competing with men in “their domains.” This supported in equality laws. The role of males as breadwinners/head of the household/the decision makers etc is being challenged by women. The traditional male manual work is disappearing. Males are underachieving when compared to women in education, limiting job opportunities.

Question 40

What is Mac an Ghail's theory for the traditional male identity being under threat?

Answer 40

“Crisis of Masculinity”

Question 41

What did the 1980s see the emergence of?

Answer 41

The “New Man”. Moving away from the hegemonic views of masculinity, the New Man changed what it meant to be a man.

Question 42

What were features of the New Man?

Answer 42

Not sexist / Not aggressive / Sensitive / Considerate / “In touch with their feminine side”

Question 43

What does Mort (1996) mean about the 'Metrosexual'?

Answer 43

Sometimes used instead of the New Man. It is a man who cares about his appearance. Dress, skin, hair, smell, image etc.

Question 44

Who is a perfect embodiment of the Metrosexual?

Answer 44

David Beckham

Question 45

What have we seen an increase in due to the emergence of the Metrosexual?

Answer 45

With the emergence of the Metrosexual, we have seen an increase in the use of the male body to sell products. So whereas women were the primary objects for selling products (and to be ogled over while doing it), now men are being used.

Question 46

What is an example where the male body is used to sell products? (Metrosexual)

Answer 46

Old spice body wash advert

Question 47

What was a response to the New Man?

Answer 47

In the 2000s, we see the emergence of the “New Lad” as a response to the New Man. It became fashionable again for young men to have a good time through sex, football, lager and loutish behaviour.

Question 48

What is an example of the 'New Lad'?

Answer 48

Tool Academy

Question 49

Where are gender identities overlapping?

Answer 49

Fashion is another area where gender identities seem to be overlapping. Traditionally fashion was associated with women and “real” men didn’t care about how they dressed.

Question 50

Men and women have greater choice than ever before, gender is becoming more....

Answer 50

...fluid.

Question 51

What do postmodernists say about gender and identity?

Answer 51

Gender is not an important part of identity. Hobsbawn - 'identities like shirts' , they are interchangeable and not permanent.

Question 52

What is there greater recognition and acceptance of?

Answer 52

The LGBT

Question 53

What is not to be over exaggerated?

Answer 53

The extent of the change

Question 54

What is still held today?

Answer 54

Aspects of the traditional stereotypes are still held by many today either outright or in more subtle ways.

Question 55

How are traditional stereotypes still held today?

Answer 55

Women still earn less than men, do most of the housework, childcare and emotional work in the family. Women can often feel like a failure if they fail to meet society’s expectations e.g a “good mother” Children still grow up holding stereotyped views of gender. Many women still strive for hegemonic femininity. (Appearance, motherhood) Many men still strive to for hegemonic masculinity. (Appearance, success)

Question 56

To conclude, what is still an import aspect of identity?

Answer 56

So yes, Gender Socialisation is still an important aspect of identity.