Question 1

Talcott Parsons characterized the essence of femininity as nurturance and sensitivity to others. What term did he use to describe these traits?

Accepted Answer

Parsons used the term "expressive traits" to describe femininity as being characterized by nurturance and sensitivity towards others.

Question 2

Contrary to the essentialist perspective, which of the following is known to occur in social situations in which women have to cope with high levels of competition and threat?

Accepted Answer

Contrary to the essentialist perspective, studies have shown that women do not become paralyzed with fear or more dependent on men in high-pressure social situations. Instead, they may actually become more aggressive in order to compete with other women. This is known as the "queen bee" phenomenon, in which women in leadership positions or high-stress environments may become more hostile towards other women in order to maintain their status. Therefore, the best choice is D, women become more aggressive.

Question 3

Megan believes that the subordination of women developed alongside industrial capitalism: when people began to acquire surplus wealth and property, they required a system of inheritance. Since men can never be sure of the parentage of their children in the same way women can, men needed to develop a way to control women. Which theory is Megan's belief consistent with?

Accepted Answer

Megan's belief aligns with conflict theory, which suggests that inequality and conflict arise due to the struggle for resources and power between different groups in society. In this case, men created a system that could give them control over women as a means to ensure the inheritance of their property and wealth.

Question 4

Rob and his teenage son Doug have been arguing a great deal in the last few months. Doug doesn't like the activities that Rob liked when he was a youth: sports, like football, and hobbies, like fixing cars. Doug is much more interested in literature and fashion. Rob tells Doug that he is worried that if he persists in pursuing these activities girls will think he's not manly, and will not want to be his girlfriend. According to the textbook, which of the following perspectives is Rob adopting with regard to Doug's behaviour?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rob and his teenage son Doug have...

Question 5

According to the textbook, which of the following arguments helped lead feminists to discount capitalism as the sole root of male domination?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the textbook, which of the...

Question 6

According to the textbook, in which of the following would we be most likely to find a decrease in women's tendency to stress the "good provider" role in selecting male partners and men's tendency to stress women's domestic skills?

Accepted Answer

In societies with low levels of gender inequality, there is often greater gender equality and women have more opportunities for education and employment. This can lead to a decrease in their emphasis on a male partner's ability to provide financially and an increase in the importance of other qualities. Similarly, in these societies, men may not feel as much pressure to prioritize women's domestic skills because there may be more gender equality in terms of sharing household duties.

Question 7

What term is used for the preference for members of the opposite sex as sexual partners?

Accepted Answer

Heterosexuality is the sexual and romantic attraction to people of the opposite sex.

Question 8

Talcott Parsons characterized the essence of masculinity as rationality, self-assuredness, and competitiveness. What term did he use to characterize these traits?

Accepted Answer

Talcott Parsons used the term "instrumental traits" to characterize the essence of masculinity, referring to qualities such as rationality, self-assuredness, and competitiveness that are valued in achieving success and dominance in society.

Question 9

When Carolina is interested in nurturing her baby dolls and playing with her Easy-Bake Oven, what is she following?

Accepted Answer

Carolina is following a gender role, which refers to the societal norms dictating the types of behaviors that are considered acceptable, appropriate, or desirable for people based on their actual or perceived sex. Playing with baby dolls and an Easy-Bake Oven are traditionally seen as feminine activities, aligning with societal expectations for girls.

Question 10

Brittany is a seven-year-old girl. If she has been socialized appropriately according to cultural messages, which of the following toys will she select when she goes to after-school care?

Accepted Answer

According to cultural messages and gender stereotypes, Barbie dolls are often marketed towards young girls, while GI Joe dolls and books about cars are marketed more towards young boys. Dinosaur puzzles may be gender-neutral, but Barbie would be the most common choice for a seven-year-old girl.

Question 11

Which of the following theoretical approaches adopts an essentialist viewpoint in claiming that traditional gender roles help to integrate society?

Accepted Answer

Functionalists adopt an essentialist viewpoint that traditional gender roles help to integrate society by establishing clear social expectations and roles for men and women. Functionalists argue that these roles help to create stability and solidarity within families and communities.

Question 12

Ellen is the CEO for a large multinational advertising firm. Most of her employees consider her highly competitive and aggressive. While she is married and does have a child, her husband, a musician, stays home with the child. What does the existence of this couple suggest?

Accepted Answer

The existence of this couple suggests that traditional gender roles can be broken and that there are no inherent biological differences that make it necessary for women to be the primary caretakers of children. This challenges essentialist arguments for innate gender differences.

Question 13

Professor Johnson tells her gender psychology class that males and females are naturally suited for their complementary roles as breadwinners and homemakers because males are innately more competitive, making them very good at business, while females are innately more nurturing, making them better suited for taking care of husbands and children. Which of the following perspectives is Professor Johnson following?

Accepted Answer

Professor Johnson is following an essentialist perspective, which suggests that gender roles are determined by innate biological differences between males and females.

Question 14

Over a lifetime, a woman can give birth to about 20 children; consequently, women must make a greater investment in mate selection than men in order to ensure the survival of offspring. With which of the following theories of gender is this argument associated?

Accepted Answer

This argument is associated with essentialism, which posits that gender differences are inherent and biologically determined. The emphasis on biological capacity for childbirth and the implications for mate selection align with essentialist views on gender roles and differences.

Question 15

Jimmy is at the pub after a fight with his wife. He is making it clear to any who will listen that he thinks it is ridiculous that his wife would work outside the home. He believes it would be very damaging for his son and daughter to see either of them outside their proper roles. Which of the following perspectives is his reasoning consistent with?

Accepted Answer

Jimmy's reasoning is consistent with functionalism, which emphasizes the importance of traditional gender roles for maintaining social order and stability. He believes that women should stay at home and men should work outside, and he thinks deviating from these roles could have negative consequences for his children.

Question 16

Scholars who see gender differences as a reflection of naturally evolved, biological dispositions are approaching gender from which theoretical position?

Accepted Answer

Scholars who view gender differences as biologically determined are taking an essentialist position, which suggests that characteristics of gender are inherent and fixed, rather than socially constructed.

Question 17

Which of the following critiques of essentialism have conflict and feminist theorists put forward?

Accepted Answer

Conflict and feminist theorists argue that essentialism overlooks how power dynamics and authority shape gender relations, focusing instead on inherent differences.

Question 18

According to sociobiologists and evolutionary psychologists, what are existing behaviour patterns designed to do?

Accepted Answer

According to sociobiologists and evolutionary psychologists, existing behavior patterns are designed to ensure the survival of the species by maximizing reproductive success and passing on genes to the next generation.

Question 19

Which of the following groups believes that apparently natural or innate features of life, such as gender, are actually sustained by social processes that vary historically and culturally?

Accepted Answer

Social constructionists believe that apparently natural or innate features of life, such as gender, are actually sustained by social processes that vary historically and culturally. Functionalists believe that these features are necessary for the smooth functioning of society, while conflict theorists believe that they are a source of social inequality and struggle. Ethnomethodologists study how people make sense of their social world through everyday interactions, but do not necessarily focus on the construction of social categories like gender.

Question 20

According to the research on gender socialization, which of the following may inspire Dustin to avoid playing with the Easy-Bake Oven at preschool?

Accepted Answer

Research on gender socialization suggests that boys are often discouraged from playing with toys that are seen as "feminine" because of the fear of social disapproval or ridicule from authority figures, such as parents or peers. Therefore, it is likely that Dustin may avoid playing with the Easy-Bake Oven due to the idea that his dad might see him and get mad at him for it.

Quiz 8: Sexuality and Gender