This document discusses several topics related to gender and families, including: 1) Theoretical perspectives on gender discrimination and its impact on the institution of family. 2) The differences between cultural and structural sexism and examples of their pervasiveness. 3) How traditional gender socialization creates problems like the feminization of poverty and relationship conflicts. 4) Issues with demographic identification and classification of individuals into gender and sexual orientation categories. 5) Biological and social explanations of sexual orientation and how beliefs about origins relate to attitudes. 6) The nature, prevalence, and risk factors of abuse in families as well as prevention and response strategies. 7) How social structure and policies can

1. “Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a
precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing
poverty, promoting sustainable development and
building good governance.”
—Kofi A. Annan, Nobel Prize winner, 7th Secretary-
General of the United Nations

2. 1) Apply theoretical perspectives to explain forms and
contexts for gender discrimination in our world and
society. In doing so, discuss the impact of gender norms
on the institution of Family and problems that we find
in this institution.
2) Differentiate between cultural and structural sexism
and provide examples illustrating their pervasiveness in
the world.
3) Explain how “traditional” gender role socialization
creates social problems, including the feminization of
poverty, social-psychological and other health costs,
and conflict in relationships.
4) Explain the problems associated with the demographic
identification and classification of individuals into
gender and sexual orientation categories.

3. 5) Compare biological and social explanations of sexual
orientation and explain how beliefs about the origins of
sexual orientation are related to attitudes toward
homosexuality and family structures.
6) Discuss the nature, prevalence, and risk factors
associated with abuse and the strategies to prevent
and respond to abuse in families.
7) Examine ways social structure (policies and institutions)
can be used to strengthen families. Your discussion
should include contributions from Functionalist and
Conflict perspectives
8) Describe changing patterns in U.S. families and
households that have occurred over the last several
decades utilizing the theoretical perspectives. In doing
so, discuss the importance and limitations of defining
“who is family” in our society.

4. » Sex and Gender are Social Statuses
people occupy
» Sex is determined by biology
˃ “Easy” to put people into categories
based on objective criteria (mostly)
+ Male, Female, and Intersex
» Gender is an identity
˃ Measuring “identity” empirically is difficult
» The 2 are separate, yet social norms assume a connection.
˃ Often used interchangeably because of this assumption
˃ Sharing of category names adds to confusion.

5. » Gender is also a Social Construct
˃ Proper behaviors and attitudes for males and females

6. » Gender roles can be adopted to
communicate status
˃ What do you “do” to communicate your
status?
˃ How much effort do you spend thinking
about the way you “do” your gender?
» What happens when people do not
conform to established norms
surrounding gender?
Think of a coat rack: Sex is
the physical structure of
the coat rack. Gender
norms are what you hang
on the coat rack to indicate
how it “fits” in the house

7. » Why do we gender clothing?
˃ How would a functionalist and a conflict theorist answer this question
differently?
» HOW is our world designed to enforce the norms
surrounding the gender binary?
˃ What role do institutions play in socializing conformity to these
norms?
˃ What sorts of sanctions exist in society to reinforce the binary?
» WHY is the world designed to enforce the gender binary as a
norm?
˃ How would a functionalist and conflict theorist see these reasons
differently?

8. » What is the norm that connects gender and sex in our
society? How strongly is this norm held?
˃ Your sex, as assigned at birth, determines your gender.
˃ Using these terms interchangeably reinforces the norm.
» What would the functionalist see in the recent waves of bans
targeting transgendered individuals?
˃ Functions?
˃ Dysfunctions?
» Are transgendered people causing the problems, or are rigid
social structures causing the problems?
˃ How does your answer to this question impact your own views
regarding the solutions we pursue surrounding social problems
related to transgender identity?

9. » What does women not editing Wikipedia have to do with the
sexism?
˃ Why are women choosing not to edit it?
˃ Are any of the choices women make about being editors influenced by
the structure of Wikipedia as an institution?
˃ Do we want/need women to be editors on Wikipedia?
» Is competitiveness about nature, or nurture?
˃ Do you see problematic ways we have embedded competition into our
social structures?
˃ In what ways would less emphasis on competition be harmful to
society? Could it be helpful to society at all?
» Ultimately findings suggest that as women are treated more
like men they are less happy in society. Why do you think this
is?

10. If you could temporarily be the other sex, how long
would you like to do so?
A. One Day
B. At least one week
C. At least 1 month
D. At least 1 year
E. No thank you
One woman’s experience!

11. FOR NEXT CLASS
 Read “The Public Has Mixed Views on the Modern
American Family” report from the Pew Center (all 8
pages). Complete a write-up as described on
BlackBoard.