Question 1

How does the "lens of androcentrism" lead one to view the world?

Accepted Answer

Androcentrism is the practice of placing a masculine point of view at the center of one's world view, culture, and history, thereby culturally privileging masculinity. This perspective makes everything male appear to be the neutral norm or the universally human standard, often marginalizing or rendering women's perspectives and contributions invisible.

Question 2

How is gender essentialism flawed?

Accepted Answer

Gender essentialism is flawed because it doesn't account for all bodies, and it is akin to stereotyping.

Question 3

How did functionalist theory in sociology support the status quo?

Accepted Answer

Functionalism, a major theoretical perspective in sociology, posits that every aspect of society serves a function and is necessary for the survival of that society. This perspective supports the status quo by arguing that existing social structures and roles, such as complementary sex roles in families and society, are necessary for social stability and cohesion.

Question 4

What was one major flaw of the feminist theory that came to question functionalism in the 1970s?

Accepted Answer

The major flaw of the feminist theory that emerged in the 1970s, which critiqued functionalism, was its narrow focus on the experiences and issues of white, middle-class women, often overlooking the diverse experiences of women from different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds, including African American women.

Question 5

How does the interactionist approach understand gender?

Accepted Answer

The interactionist approach views gender as something that is actively constructed and performed in social interactions, rather than a fixed role or inherent trait.

Question 6

What is the focus of structuralist theories of gender?

Accepted Answer

Structuralist theories of gender focus on how gender inequalities are embedded and perpetuated within societal institutions, organizations, and broader social structures, rather than on individual identities or interpersonal interactions.

Question 7

What does it mean when Joan Acker says that organizational structures are gendered?

Accepted Answer

Joan Acker argues that organizational structures are gendered in the sense that the way organizations are designed, including their practices, cultures, and norms, inherently creates and perpetuates gender inequalities. This includes how job roles are defined, how work is valued, and how power is distributed, often reinforcing traditional gender roles and biases.

Question 8

What does it mean to say that gender is a social institution?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What does it mean to say that...

Question 9

How do power, prestige, and wealth affect gender difference?

Accepted Answer

The more power, prestige, and wealth are at stake, the more stratified and unequal the gender differences tend to be. This is because these factors often reinforce existing social hierarchies and inequalities, including those based on gender.

Question 10

What does Ann Arnett Ferguson's study of African American schoolboys reveal about the "culture of poverty" thesis of "insubordinate" students?

Accepted Answer

Ann Arnett Ferguson's study challenges the "culture of poverty" thesis by showing that the issues faced by African American schoolboys are not merely individual failings but are deeply rooted in the interactions between the boys and school staff, as well as being systemic issues related to race in the American educational system.

Question 11

The symbolic interactionist perspective known as _________ says that gender is a performance that we are constantly engaged in to show that we are women or men, girls or boys. Others can judge our performances as acceptable or not.

Accepted Answer

The symbolic interactionist perspective known as "Doing gender" posits that gender is not a fixed attribute but rather a continuous performance enacted through social interactions. This perspective emphasizes that individuals perform gender roles in their daily lives, which are then socially recognized as feminine or masculine. This performance is subject to evaluation by others, who may deem it acceptable or not based on societal norms and expectations.

Question 12

The mid-twentieth century sociological theory of ____________ saw the heterosexual breadwinner/homemaker family as ideal and natural and, in spite of their importance to the survival of black families, viewed working black wives as pathological.

Accepted Answer

Structural functionalism posited that each element of society serves a particular function to ensure the stability and continuity of the social structure. The theory idealized the heterosexual breadwinner/homemaker family model, considering it the cornerstone of a well-functioning society. It often pathologized deviations from this norm, including the necessity of working black wives, by suggesting that such deviations represented a breakdown in the social structure rather than adaptations to economic and social realities.

Question 13

How does the "lens of gender polarization" lead one to view the world?

Accepted Answer

The "lens of gender polarization" refers to the tendency to view the world in terms of binary gender opposites, categorizing things as either male or female, masculine or feminine.

Question 14

Which of the following is true regarding parents' views of gender socialization, or how children are taught the appropriate roles associated with their sex?

Accepted Answer

Each statement reflects different aspects of parents' views on gender socialization. A) shows a general trend towards challenging traditional gender roles. B) highlights a gender difference in attitudes towards gender socialization, with mothers being more progressive. C) indicates a specific direction in the encouragement of cross-gender activities, favoring girls engaging in traditionally male activities over boys engaging in traditionally female activities. Collectively, these statements illustrate the complexity and diversity of parents' attitudes towards gender socialization.

Question 15

Social learning perspectives often view socialization into the established gender order as being complete by adulthood. By contrast, symbolic interactionist believe that gender is part of the ____________, meaning we actively create and reproduce gender in interaction.

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interactionists argue that gender is part of the "negotiated order," emphasizing that gender is not a static attribute but is continually created and re-created through social interactions. This perspective highlights the active role individuals play in constructing their gender identities through everyday interactions.

Question 16

Garfinkle and Devor present the lives of extraordinary people to illustrate the ways that accomplishing gender operates in more mundane lives. This is because:

Accepted Answer

Garfinkle and Devor's work illustrates that gender, whether for transgender or cisgender individuals, involves performance and stylings that society often views as natural. They argue that these performances are not inherent but are imitated and learned, making the case that all individuals, regardless of their gender identity, engage in a form of gender performance. This perspective encourages a reevaluation of what is considered "natural" gender expression and highlights the similarities in how gender is performed across different identities.

Question 17

What is undoing gender?

Accepted Answer

Undoing gender refers to actions and behaviors that challenge and disrupt traditional gender norms and stereotypes, rather than reinforcing them. This involves actively working against gender inequality and not reproducing stereotypical gender roles through social interactions and collaborations.

Question 18

Thorne observes that the relationship between ___________ may be more socially equal than other types of relationships.

Accepted Answer

Thorne's observations suggest that the relationship between sisters and brothers may be more socially equal compared to other types of relationships, reflecting a dynamic where traditional gender roles might be less pronounced or influential.

Question 19

Proponents of ________ theories, like Giddens and Kanter, say that human beings both create social structures through our beliefs, norms, and practices and that we are the products of the social structures which have conditioned us.

Accepted Answer

Proponents of structuralist theories, like Giddens and Kanter, argue that social structures are both created by human actions and beliefs and also shape and condition human behavior, reflecting a duality of structure.

Question 20

Kanter observes that opportunity structures, power structures, and _________ inform and constrain the activities that individual deem attainable in society.

Accepted Answer

Kanter's theory suggests that opportunity structures, power structures, and relative numbers (the proportion of different groups in a setting) influence what individuals perceive as achievable in society.

Quiz 4: Gender Theory