Passage
During the 1800s, the United States (U.S.) transitioned from a farming society to an industrialized society, which resulted in occupations becoming more specialized and socially labeled as "masculine" or "feminine." Today, the U.S. is experiencing an equally dramatic transition into what is referred to as a knowledge economy, marked by a decline in manufacturing and manual labor occupations, often referred to as "blue-collar" professions (which are dominated by males) , and a rise in information, technology, and service sector jobs. Sociologists argue that this has led to shifting roles and expectations for both males and females in the U.S. workforce.As demand for blue-collar occupations has declined in recent decades, demand for "pink-collar" (feminine-typed) occupations has increased, particularly in health care (eg, registered nurses, health aides) , but males appear to avoid pink-collar occupations for various reasons. Research indicates that socially defined gender roles may dissuade males from even considering pink-collar professions due to a perception that one's job will conflict with one's male status. Male students-in-training for pink-collar professions (eg, nursing) have a higher rate of attrition than their female classmates, which may be partly due to the unintended messages conveyed by the informal curriculum: that male students do not belong in these professions (eg, a lack of male role models, female-only images in textbooks) . Of the males who enter pink-collar professions, many find that they are more quickly promoted into managerial roles (believed to be more appropriately masculine) than their equally qualified female counterparts, a phenomenon known as the glass escalator.Data show that females continue to be underrepresented in many high-paying fields, which are predominantly masculine-typed industries such as aeronautics, engineering, medical surgery, business (executive-level) , and computer science/technology. Data also show that within all job categories, even those considered feminine-typed, females are still paid less than their male peers, a phenomenon sociologists call the gender pay (or wage) gap (Figure 1) . The gender pay gap persists even when differences in hours worked, job choice, education, and other qualifications are taken into account. Research suggests that mothers earn less than men and women who are not mothers, a phenomenon termed the "motherhood penalty" by sociologists.
Figure 1 Gender pay gap by age
P. F. Drucker ©1994 The Atlantic Monthly; B. R. MacWilliams, B. Schmidt, and M. R. Bleich ©2013 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
-A feminist theorist would be most interested in which of the following?

Question

Passage
During the 1800s, the United States (U.S.) transitioned from a farming society to an industrialized society, which resulted in occupations becoming more specialized and socially labeled as "masculine" or "feminine." Today, the U.S. is experiencing an equally dramatic transition into what is referred to as a knowledge economy, marked by a decline in manufacturing and manual labor occupations, often referred to as "blue-collar" professions (which are dominated by males) , and a rise in information, technology, and service sector jobs. Sociologists argue that this has led to shifting roles and expectations for both males and females in the U.S. workforce.As demand for blue-collar occupations has declined in recent decades, demand for "pink-collar" (feminine-typed) occupations has increased, particularly in health care (eg, registered nurses, health aides) , but males appear to avoid pink-collar occupations for various reasons. Research indicates that socially defined gender roles may dissuade males from even considering pink-collar professions due to a perception that one's job will conflict with one's male status. Male students-in-training for pink-collar professions (eg, nursing) have a higher rate of attrition than their female classmates, which may be partly due to the unintended messages conveyed by the informal curriculum: that male students do not belong in these professions (eg, a lack of male role models, female-only images in textbooks) . Of the males who enter pink-collar professions, many find that they are more quickly promoted into managerial roles (believed to be more appropriately masculine) than their equally qualified female counterparts, a phenomenon known as the glass escalator.Data show that females continue to be underrepresented in many high-paying fields, which are predominantly masculine-typed industries such as aeronautics, engineering, medical surgery, business (executive-level) , and computer science/technology. Data also show that within all job categories, even those considered feminine-typed, females are still paid less than their male peers, a phenomenon sociologists call the gender pay (or wage) gap (Figure 1) . The gender pay gap persists even when differences in hours worked, job choice, education, and other qualifications are taken into account. Research suggests that mothers earn less than men and women who are not mothers, a phenomenon termed the "motherhood penalty" by sociologists.

Figure 1 Gender pay gap by age
P. F. Drucker ©1994 The Atlantic Monthly; B. R. MacWilliams, B. Schmidt, and M. R. Bleich ©2013 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
-A feminist theorist would be most interested in which of the following?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

11ecba2d_0d6b_674c_a3bf_818bfd1e1702_MD0008_00 In sociology, feminist theory explains differences in power between males/masculinity and females/femininity in society, known as gender inequality. Feminist theory includes both macro- and micro-level approaches. At the macro-level, feminist theory considers how social structures maintain gender inequality. For example, workplace practices that discriminate against women (eg, less pay, fewer promotions) result in the underrepresentation of women in certain fields (eg, surgery). At the micro-level, feminist theory considers how one-on-one interactions also maintain gender inequality by objectifying or devaluing females/femininity. For example, patients often assume a female surgeon is a nurse. Removing barriers to female entry into a variety of occupations is consistent with a macro-level feminist theory concern as it addresses structural factors that contribute to gender inequality. (Choice A) Feminist theory would not suggest that females in different occupational fields, which require different skill sets and qualifications, should be paid at the same rate. Instead, feminist theory would focus on how men and women within the same occupational field should be compensated equivalently. (Choice C) In a patriarchal society, males possess most of the power and prestige; therefore, focusing on increasing access for males is less likely to be the goal of feminist theorists than is providing access to power and prestige to females who have less of it. (Choice D) Balancing the number of males and females in a given occupation would seem to remove career choice, which is not a feminist goal. Removing the barriers to access so that all occupations become legitimate options for females would be the feminist focus. Educational objective: Feminist theory explains differences in power between males/masculinity and females/femininity (gender inequality). Feminist theory examines both macro-level impacts of social structures as well as micro-level factors such as individual prejudice and discrimination.

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