HOW DOES GENDER SHAPE YOUR IDENTITY?
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
 Explain how gender
influences a person’s
identity.
 Be able to evaluate the
notion that gender
identities have been
socially constructed.
SEX AND GENDER – WHAT IS THE
DIFFERENCE?
SEX
GENDER
 Biological differences
 Cultural expectations.
between males and females.
 Chromosomes, hormones,
menstruation and genitalia.
 Each gender is expected to
conform to masculine and
feminine behaviour.
 These concepts are not fixed;
they change over time and
differ from culture to culture.
BIOLOGY V CULTURE
 What evidence do the
Sociobiologists use to
explain the differences
between the sexes?
 What evidence does the
feminist Ann Oakly use
to counter-argue the
biological arguement?
GENDER
STEREOTYPES
•Men are: strong,
rational, tough,
business- minded,
capable, logical.
•Women are:
passive, gentle,
caring, emotional,
dizzy, maternal.
GENDER STEREOTYPES - DISNEY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8O8p0
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GENDER ROLE SOCIALISATION
 Gender differences
between males and
females are largely the
result of society’s
expectations.
 Masculinity and
Femininity are
SOCIALLY
CONSTRUCTED rather
than being the product
of biology.
HEGEMONY
 Connell (2002) –
hegemonic masculinity
and femininity
dominated our culture
until recently.
 Distinct maternal and
paternal family roles.
ANN OAKLEY (1982) – 4 PROCESSES
TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF
GENDER IDENTITY.
 MANIPULATION –
 DOMESTIC ACTIVITIES
encourage and reward
sex appropriate
behaviour.
 CANALIZATION –
directed towards
appropriate toys
 VERBAL
APPELLATIONS
GENDER CODES
 Statham (1986) – by the age of 5, most children have
acquired a clear identity.
THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND
TRADITIONAL GENDER ROLE
SOCIALISATION
 Sue Sharpe – study of working class girls in the 1970’s –
found that girls education was regarded as less
important than boys.
 Early feminist studies in the 1970’s
CRITICISMS OF GENDER ROLE
SOCIALISATION
 Are the experiences of all
men and women the
same? Do they differ
according to age,
ethnicity, class?
 Are we so passive that we
accept the gender roles
imposed upon us?
How is it done?
 Examples of role
modelling, imitation and
sanctions in
 Primary agents
 Secondary agents
 E.g