Sex and gender:
Sex: “a biological distinction based on male and female genitalia and chromosomal
and hormonal differences”
Gender: “about social and cultural roles, personality traits, and behaviours that are
deemed socially acceptable for men and women in relation to concepts of masculinity
and femininity”
Nature vs nurture:
Biological essentialism: the belief that the physical body defines the essence of
identity and determines personality characteristics, behaviour, and abilities.
o Biological essentialism naturalises dominant ideologies of gender,
heterosexuality, and patriarchy.
o Binary thinking: male or female ONLY
Social constructionism: sees identity as being constructed by external social forces
such as the media, family, education, religion, and expectations of community
members.
o People are socialised into certain gender characteristics.
o It is social pressures, not biology, that determine how people are gendered.
o “Gender is a kind of imitation for which there is no original”
Patriarchy:
A social structure in which the father or male figure is the leader and descent is
reckoned on the male line.
Masculine power dominates social, political, and economic institutions, thereby
oppressing women.
Patriarchal systems determine:
o Lineage: you bear your father’s name; this is historically determined
o The ways in which legal and political institutions have operated, historically.
misogyny – hatred of women and femininity
Paterfamilias:
In the households of the paterfamilias, women and children have the same status.
Inheritance: eldest son is the first in line, as opposed to the wife
Limitations on property ownership, inheritance, participation in public life as a
citizen, and access to education.
Feminism:
First wave feminism:
o Late eighteenth century, and peaked between 1880 and 1920.
o Emphasis was on attaining full citizenship, legal equity, and recognition that
women should have the same rights and opportunities enjoyed by other
citizens.
Second wave feminism:
o Late 1960s.
o Interrogation of patriarchy in the private and public spheres.
o Critique of sexist representations of women in the media, literature,
advertising, and everyday speech.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller anyiamgeorge19. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $9.50. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.