Question 1

Patriarchy refers to male-dominated social structures that lead to the oppression of women.

Accepted Answer

Patriarchy is a social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of property. This often leads to the oppression and subordination of women, as they are not typically given equal access to power and resources.

Question 2

First, define sexism, androcentrism, and patriarchy. Next, describe the relationships between these concepts.

Accepted Answer

Sexism is the belief or attitude that one gender is superior to the other, leading to discrimination or prejudice against individuals based on their gender. Androcentrism is the practice of placing a male, or the masculine point of view, at the center of one's worldview, thereby marginalizing or ignoring the experiences and perspectives of women. Patriarchy refers to a social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property.

These concepts are interconnected in that patriarchy is the overarching system that perpetuates androcentrism and sexism. In a patriarchal society, men hold the majority of power and influence, which leads to the prioritization of male experiences and perspectives (androcentrism) and the devaluation and marginalization of women (sexism). Androcentrism and sexism are both tools used to maintain and reinforce the patriarchal system, as they serve to uphold male dominance and control. In turn, patriarchy perpetuates androcentrism and sexism by maintaining the power imbalances and social structures that benefit men at the expense of women. Therefore, these concepts are deeply intertwined and mutually reinforcing within a patriarchal society.

Question 3

According to functionalism, the wife-mother should take the instrumental role in the family.

Accepted Answer

Functionalism suggests that individuals in a family have either an expressive or instrumental role, but it does not prescribe a specific gender or family member for each role. The instrumental role is typically associated with providing financial support and making decisions, while the expressive role involves nurturing and emotional support. It is not based on gender roles, but rather the needs of the family and the strengths of each individual member.

Question 4

Compare and contrast the basic premises of any two sociological theories. According to each of these theories, why does gender inequality exist and why is it maintained?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast the basic premises of...

Question 5

Karl Marx applied Friedrich Engels' ideas of class struggle to the family.

Accepted Answer

Friedrich Engels applied Karl Marx's ideas of class struggle to the family in his work, not the other way around. Engels' analysis in "The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State" is based on Marx's broader theories of historical materialism and class struggle.

Question 6

Compare and contrast liberal, socialist, and radical feminist perspectives. According to each of these perspectives, why does gender inequality exist and what must be done to eliminate gender inequality?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast liberal, socialist, and radical...

Question 7

A dramaturgical approach considers human interaction as an enactment on a stage.

Accepted Answer

In a dramaturgical approach, human interaction is viewed as a performance on a stage, with individuals adopting different roles and personas in various social situations. This perspective was developed by sociologist Erving Goffman in the 1950s and has since become a popular framework for understanding social behavior.

Question 8

Many young women refuse to identify themselves as feminists. Why is this the case?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Many young women refuse to identify themselves...

Question 9

The sociological definition of status is

Accepted Answer

In sociology, status refers to the category or position a person occupies within a social structure, which can be ascribed or achieved.

Question 10

Radical feminism seeks to empower women by emphasizing the positive qualities that are associated with women's roles, such as nurturing and cooperation.

Accepted Answer

Radical feminism seeks to challenge and ultimately dismantle patriarchal systems of power and oppression, including gender roles and expectations that limit women's autonomy and freedom. It does not prioritize or emphasize positive qualities associated with women's traditional roles, but rather seeks to create a society where all individuals, regardless of gender, have equal access to opportunities and resources.

Question 11

"Female" is an example of a(n)

Accepted Answer

"Female" is an ascribed status because it is something that is assigned to a person based on their biological sex at birth and is not something that can be achieved or earned.

Question 12

The expected behavior associated with a status is called a

Accepted Answer

Roles are the behaviors, obligations, and privileges attached to a status. They define how individuals in a specific status are expected to behave.

Question 13

Shared rules that guide people's behaviors in specific situations are called

Accepted Answer

Norms are shared rules that guide people's behaviors in specific situations. Stereotypes are simplified and often inaccurate beliefs about a group of people. Status sets are a person's social positions in society, and roles are the behaviors expected of a person in a particular status set.

Question 14

I am a mother, a daughter, a college professor, and an author simultaneously. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes having multiple roles or statuses, which makes it an example of a status set. A status set refers to all of the statuses that a person occupies at any given time.

Question 15

Societies categorize members by statuses and then rank these statuses in some fashion. This is known as

Accepted Answer

Social stratification refers to the way societies categorize individuals into different statuses and then rank those statuses in a hierarchy. This can be based on factors such as wealth, occupation, education, or social class.

Question 16

The sociological concept of anomie refers to______ in times of great social change.

Accepted Answer

Anomie refers to a sense of normlessness, a lack of social cohesion, and a breakdown in social norms and values, which can occur during times of great social change. It is characterized by a feeling of disorientation and a loss of direction, and can lead to feelings of anxiety and uncertainty. Anomie can be caused by a variety of factors, including rapid social change, economic upheaval, and breakdowns in social institutions such as the family and religion.

Question 17

The oversimplified conception that people who are a part of a group all share the same characteristics is called

Accepted Answer

A stereotype is a belief or assumption about a group of people based on a limited understanding or oversimplified conception. This can be harmful and incorrect as people within a group can have a wide range of characteristics. Racism, discrimination, and sexism all involve prejudiced attitudes and behaviors towards a specific group, but they are not equivalent to the concept of a stereotype.

Question 18

When male-centered norms operate throughout all social institutions of a society, that society can be said to be

Accepted Answer

A patriarchal society is one in which men hold more power and privilege than women, and male-centered norms operate throughout all social institutions. This includes institutions such as government, religion, education, and the economy. In patriarchal societies, men tend to hold more leadership positions and have greater access to resources and decision-making power, while women are often relegated to subordinate roles and experience more discrimination and inequality.

Question 19

Androcentrism refers to

Accepted Answer

Androcentrism is a term used to describe the idea that male perspectives and experiences are considered the norm, and are therefore privileged over those of women. This can manifest in a variety of ways, including the marginalization or trivialization of women's voices and experiences in society.

Question 20

The belief that the female status is inferior to the male status is called

Accepted Answer

Sexism refers to the belief that one gender is superior to the other. In this case, the belief that females are inferior to males is a form of sexism. Stereotyping refers to making assumptions about individuals based on their membership in a particular group, and androcentrism refers to the belief that male perspectives and experiences are more valuable or central than those of females. Homophobia refers specifically to a fear or hatred of homosexuality or individuals who identify as LGBTQ+.

Quiz 1: The Sociology of Gender Theoretical Perspectives and Feminist Frameworks