Question 1

In The Mismeasure of Women,social psychologist Carol Tavris argues that there is nothing "universal and nonvarying . . .in the natures of men and women." If you agree with her,you would have to reject the concept of
A) essentialism.
B) queer theory.
C) symbolic interactionism.
D) social construction.

Accepted Answer

Essentialism is the belief that certain things, like gender or race, are determined by inherent and unchangeable characteristics rather than social and cultural factors. Tavris argues against this view by stating that men and women do not have universal and nonvarying natures, implying that gender is not an inherent characteristic but rather a socially constructed concept.

Question 2

With what issue is first-wave feminism MOST strongly associated?
A) women's suffrage
B) women's education and equality in the classroom
C) equal opportunity for women in the workplace
D) women's reproductive rights

Accepted Answer

First-wave feminism was most strongly associated with women's suffrage, the movement to secure women the right to vote. This was a significant political and social goal for early feminists, and their advocacy led to the passage of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution in 1920, which granted women the right to vote. While first-wave feminism also addressed other issues such as education and workplace equality, suffrage was the central focus of the movement.

Question 3

What can be concluded regarding gendered occupations?
A) "Pink collar jobs" are considered more desirable in a patriarchal society.
B) Men tend to be overrepresented in jobs that involve caretaking.
C) Men outnumber women in occupations that entail prestige and higher salaries.
D) Women and men are similarly represented in occupations that require a college degree.

Accepted Answer

This conclusion is supported by research showing that men hold a disproportionate number of high-paying, prestigious occupations such as CEOs, engineers, and doctors.

Answer: B 
 This conclusion is supported by research showing that men tend to be overrepresented in occupations that involve caretaking, such as doctors, nurses, and social workers.

Answer: A 
 This conclusion is supported by the use of the term "pink collar jobs," which indicates that certain occupations that are typically female-dominated (such as teaching, nursing, and administrative work) are considered less important than traditionally male-dominated jobs.

Answer: None of the above 
 The statement "Women and men are similarly represented in occupations that require a college degree" is not supported by research. While women have made significant gains in higher education, they are still generally underrepresented in traditionally male-dominated fields like science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Question 4

In the workplace,aggressive men are often described as "go-getters," but aggressive women are often described as "bitches." This is an example of
A) gender role socialization.
B) a microaggression.
C) romanticism.
D) male liberationism.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the workplace,aggressive men are often described...

Question 5

A five-year-old boy hurts himself while playing with his toys and immediately begins to cry.His father walks over to him and says,"Don't be a sissy; boys don't cry." This is an example of
A) gender role socialization.
B) sexism.
C) transphobia.
D) gender inequality.

Accepted Answer

The father's statement is an example of gender role socialization, as he is reinforcing traditional gender norms by telling the boy that crying is not acceptable for boys.

Question 6

In 2006,New York City announced that it was moving forward with a plan to allow transgender residents to change the sex listed on their birth certificates.This would be permitted if they had lived in their adopted gender for at least two years,but no physiological change or medical authorization would be required.How is New York City defining gender?
A) New York is separating gender from sex.
B) New York is accepting the principle of human sexual dimorphism.
C) New York is taking an essentialist approach.
D) New York is assuming that gender is stable over time.

Accepted Answer

By allowing transgender residents to change the sex listed on their birth certificates based solely on their self-identified gender and without any medical authorization or physiological change, New York City is separating gender from sex. This means that they are recognizing that gender is a social and cultural identity rather than a purely biological attribute.

Question 7

What term was used by nineteenth-century explorers and missionaries to describe Native Americans who were neither male nor female but somehow both?
A) transsexuals
B) berdaches
C) transvestites
D) queers

Accepted Answer

The term used by nineteenth-century explorers and missionaries to describe Native Americans who were neither male nor female but somehow both was "berdaches." This term has now largely been replaced by the contemporary term "two-spirit." The other options (transsexuals, transvestites, queers) may be considered offensive or inaccurate when describing individuals who identify as two-spirit.

Question 8

The names given to positions of power and authority,like "chairman" and "policeman," often emphasize the male gender.Why does this matter?
A) The names imply that one gender is more suited for a particular job than another.
B) The names are confusing because more women are entering these professions.
C) It doesn't really matter what words are used to describe positions.
D) The names help deter men from entering incompatible fields.

Accepted Answer

The names given to positions of power and authority that emphasize the male gender may imply that one gender is more suited for a particular job than another, thus limiting opportunities for women and perpetuating gender stereotypes. This reinforces gender discrimination and can result in women being excluded from certain fields and opportunities for advancement.

Question 9

A same-sex couple holding hands or kissing in public may receive disapproving looks or even abusive comments from other people.This is an example of
A) misogyny.
B) homophobia.
C) transphobia.
D) sexism.

Accepted Answer

Homophobia refers to a dislike or prejudice against individuals who identify as LGBTQ+. A same-sex couple being subjected to disapproving looks or abusive comments is a clear example of homophobia.

Question 10

Social movements that are organized around a belief in the social,political,and economic equality of the sexes are called
A) sexism.
B) interactionism.
C) queer theory.
D) feminism.

Accepted Answer

Feminism is a social movement organized around the belief in equality between the sexes. Sexism refers to discrimination based on sex, and interactionism is a sociological perspective that focuses on the interactions between individuals. Queer theory is a framework for understanding human sexuality and gender that challenges traditional assumptions about these concepts.

Question 11

The second-wave feminist movement was associated with the issue of
A) gaining voting rights for women.
B) women's equal access to employment and education.
C) rights of women in the Third World.
D) marginalization of black women.

Accepted Answer

The second-wave feminist movement in the 1960s and 1970s focused on equal access to employment and education for women. While the movement also addressed issues of reproductive rights, sexuality, and domestic violence, its central message was rooted in the idea that women should have the same opportunities as men in all spheres of life. The other options listed, such as gaining voting rights for women, rights of women in the Third World, and marginalization of black women, were important feminist issues in earlier or later periods, but not specifically associated with second-wave feminism.

Question 12

Why might LGBTQ rights groups emphasize that homosexuality has a genetic origin?
A) They want to emphasize the importance of difference.
B) They believe that sexuality is closely related to a person's relationship with his or her mother.
C) They believe that if sexual orientation is something we are born with, then discrimination against gays and lesbians is much less acceptable.
D) Gays and lesbians are predisposed to believe in science.

Accepted Answer

LGBTQ rights groups may emphasize that homosexuality has a genetic origin because they believe that it reduces the ability of individuals and societies to discriminate against LGBTQ individuals. If homosexuality is biological and not a choice, then discrimination against it is unjustified.

Question 13

The Intersex Society of North America recommends that "surgeries done to make the genitals look 'more normal' should not be performed until a child is mature enough to make an informed decision for herself or himself." Why is this advice necessary given that doctors would usually try to involve a patient in his or her treatment?
A) There are serious health risks associated with being born intersex that must always be addressed immediately.
B) So few people are born intersex that no one knows about them.
C) In our society, the prospect of an ambiguously sexed person seems so threatening that surgical procedures are performed long before a child is old enough to know what is happening.
D) Intersex is based on secondary, not primary, sex characteristics and these won't develop until later in life.

Accepted Answer

The advice from the Intersex Society of North America is necessary because in our society, the existence of individuals with ambiguous genitalia is often seen as threatening and requires immediate correction through surgery. This societal pressure has led to medical professionals frequently performing surgeries on intersex infants and young children without their consent or input. Therefore, it is important to wait until the child is mature enough to make an informed decision for themselves about any surgical interventions.

Question 14

A black woman is followed around the store by a white sales associate while shopping for clothes.Frustrated,she leaves the store and decides to go home.Her husband,on seeing her enter the house,asks,"What's for dinner?" What concept could we as sociologists use to understand her experiences,both in the store and at home?
A) gender inequality
B) intersectionality
C) second-wave feminism
D) feminization of poverty

Accepted Answer

Intersectionality is the concept that recognizes that social groups are interconnected and that individuals may experience oppression and discrimination based on multiple aspects of their identity, such as race and gender. In this case, the black woman's experience of being followed around the store may be a result of both her race and gender, and her frustration and decision to leave could be influenced by her intersectional experiences. Her husband's question about dinner is not relevant to the concept of intersectionality.

Question 15

Which of the following groups argues that men suffer discrimination as a result of feminism?
A) the Republican Party
B) the men's rights movement
C) third-wave feminists
D) gay and lesbian groups

Accepted Answer

The men's rights movement argues that men suffer discrimination as a result of feminism. The Republican Party and gay and lesbian groups do not necessarily take a stance on this issue, while third-wave feminists generally advocate for gender equality and do not view feminism as a source of discrimination against men.

Question 16

In the opening pages of The Feminine Mystique,Betty Friedan wrote about a problem that "lay buried,unspoken,for many years in the minds of American women." What was this problem?
A) Women didn't have the right to vote.
B) The media imposed unrealistic beauty standards upon women.
C) Women experienced dissatisfaction with traditional gender roles.
D) Employers actively discriminated against women based on their gender.

Accepted Answer

In the opening pages of The Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan wrote about the problem of women experiencing dissatisfaction with traditional gender roles. She referred to this problem as “the problem that has no name” and argued that many American women felt unfulfilled and trapped by their roles as homemakers and wives. This feeling was often unspoken and unacknowledged, but it was a significant problem that needed to be addressed.

Question 17

When women are more likely than men to live in poverty,it is often referred to as
A) the wages of sin.
B) the double standard.
C) the feminization of poverty.
D) third-wave feminism.

Accepted Answer

The correct term for this phenomenon is "feminization of poverty." This term refers to the disproportionate number of women who live in poverty compared to men. It is caused by a variety of factors, including wage discrimination, lack of access to education and job opportunities, and the burden of unpaid care work. The other answer choices are not relevant to this concept.

Question 18

Laura Miller's 1997 study of gender harassment in the military found that
A) men were more likely to be harassed by their fellow trainees, whereas women were more likely to be harassed by their drill sergeants.
B) men were more likely to be harassed by their drill sergeants, whereas women were more likely to be harassed by their fellow trainees.
C) women were most often harassed by their superior officers.
D) men were more likely to report being the object of unwanted gender harassment.

Accepted Answer

Laura Miller's 1997 study found that men were more likely to be harassed by their drill sergeants, while women were more likely to be harassed by their fellow trainees.

Question 19

In the "On The Job: Female Athletes and the Battle for Equal Pay" box feature,what primary reason is given for the gender pay gap in virtually all occupations?
A) misogyny
B) occupational segregation
C) homophobia
D) patriarchy

Accepted Answer

The primary reason given for the gender pay gap in virtually all occupations in the article is occupational segregation – the practice of steering women towards certain professions and men towards others, which tend to have different pay scales. The article notes that women tend to cluster in lower-paid jobs, such as teaching, nursing, and social work, while men dominate higher-paid fields like engineering, finance, and law. This contributes to the overall pay discrepancy between men and women.

Question 20

What criticism do third-wave feminists commonly level against the first two waves of feminism?
A) They marginalized the concerns of women of color, lesbians, and working-class women.
B) They included too many men.
C) They focused too much on jobs and the economy.
D) They compromised too much with men's rights groups.

Accepted Answer

Third-wave feminists argue that the first two waves of feminism did not adequately address the experiences and concerns of women of color, lesbians, and working-class women. They argue that the movements were too focused on white middle-class women's issues and did not account for the intersections of race, sexuality, and class in women's experiences.

Quiz 9: Constructing Gender and Sexuality

In The Mismeasure of Women,social psychologist Carol Tavris argues that there is nothing "universal and nonvarying . . .in the natures of men and women." If you agree with her,you would have to reject the concept of

With what issue is first-wave feminism MOST strongly associated?

What can be concluded regarding gendered occupations?

In the workplace,aggressive men are often described as "go-getters," but aggressive women are often described as "bitches." This is an example of

A five-year-old boy hurts himself while playing with his toys and immediately begins to cry.His father walks over to him and says,"Don't be a sissy; boys don't cry." This is an example of

What term was used by nineteenth-century explorers and missionaries to describe Native Americans who were neither male nor female but somehow both?

The names given to positions of power and authority,like "chairman" and "policeman," often emphasize the male gender.Why does this matter?

A same-sex couple holding hands or kissing in public may receive disapproving looks or even abusive comments from other people.This is an example of

Social movements that are organized around a belief in the social,political,and economic equality of the sexes are called

The second-wave feminist movement was associated with the issue of

Why might LGBTQ rights groups emphasize that homosexuality has a genetic origin?

Which of the following groups argues that men suffer discrimination as a result of feminism?

In the opening pages of The Feminine Mystique,Betty Friedan wrote about a problem that "lay buried,unspoken,for many years in the minds of American women." What was this problem?

When women are more likely than men to live in poverty,it is often referred to as

Laura Miller's 1997 study of gender harassment in the military found that

In the "On The Job: Female Athletes and the Battle for Equal Pay" box feature,what primary reason is given for the gender pay gap in virtually all occupations?

What criticism do third-wave feminists commonly level against the first two waves of feminism?