Lecture 12 Gender Relations

Lecture 12 Gender RelationsGender as a social construction✱ The ideology of gender● patriarchy and sexism✱ Gender inequalities● at home – unpaid work● At the (paid) workplace: glass ceilings● prejudice and discrimination

Sexism as a social problem✱ Mainly a problem for women?● Links with other social problems● Social consequences of sexism● Health consequences of sexism✱ Why sexism is a problem for men too● Objectification● Discrimination

Other problems in gender✱ Violence and victimization● domestic violence● date rape● Resistance to victimization✱ What do the media contribute?● “objectification of women”

Problems for gender relations✱ Can unequal people …● Trust each other and cooperate?● Speak openly to each other?● Willingly sacrifice for each other?✱ If not, what are consequences for● Family life● childbearing● Workplace cooperation?✱ Are these problems new?

Theoretical questions:● How are gender groups like classes?● How are gender groups like ethnicgroups?● Why does gender differentiation occur?● Why does gender differentiationpersist?● Why does gender inequality persist?

The biggest theoretical question✱ Does the decline of gender differentiationproduce a decline in gender inequality?✱ If so, how can we further reduce genderdifferentiation?✱ How has gender differentiation beenreduced so far?● Protest● Legislation● Other factors

Horizontal differentiation (again)✱ Are women “closer” than men?✱ Are women “close” because of● connectedness● similarity● identification(structural)(demographic)(psychological)✱ How are gender groups affected by● language and culture● prejudice and discrimination?

Are genders social systems?✱ No, they are not institutionally complete✱ They don’t t have shared● goals, leaders, politics● ceremonies, ritual objects● deep beliefs, tension releasing practices✱ Or do they?✱ How to gain institutional completeness?

Melting pot or multiculturalism?✱ Which would benefit society most?● Gender assimilation, or● Gender multiculturalism✱ Which would benefit women most?● Gender assimilation, or● Gender multiculturalism

Case study: Styles of speakingIn classroom presentations…..✱ Women are more likely than men to raisetheir voice at the end of a statement✱ Why do they do this?✱ What are the consequences of thisdifference in speaking style?

Case Study: Careers in science✱ Sonnert and Holton, Amer Scientist, vol.84✱ Among former recipients of prestigiouspostdoc fellowships in science, math, eng● in all but biology, women are almost one fullrank behind men of equal productivity● women leaving science were more likely tocite family responsibilities● 73% of women report discrim, , exclusion -e.g., not treated like colleagues by advisors

Female versus male scientists✱ Women are more meticulous: theirarticles cited more often than men’s s (insame field)✱ Yet, women report less self-confidence,ambition, ability than men✱ Women likelier to cite “bad luck”in career✱ Women more likely to take their post-docto be with spouse (esp. if they have child)● this group is less successful in career

The importance of informality✱ “The way people succeed is being able torecognize, take advantage of a goodthing.”✱ Keys to success in science favor men:● good mentor makes introductions● teaches junior scholar how to play game● junior scholar must play freely, bravely✱ Men have more “entrepreneurial spunk” -show off more