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Chapter 4: Gender in Theory

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    329264
    • Nora Karena, Heidi Esbensen, and Dana Pertermann
    • Open Oregon

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    • 4.1: Chapter Introduction
      This page examines women’s roles in sociology and the development of feminist theory across three waves, emphasizing the importance of equitable academic representation. It highlights the underrepresentation of women in senior roles and showcases the Sociologists for Women in Society as a model of feminist advocacy.
    • 4.2: Early Theoretical Perspectives
      This page outlines key sociological frameworks: structural functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism, each providing unique insights into social behavior. It emphasizes symbolic interactionism's focus on meaning in social interactions, as introduced by Herbert Blumer, while noting its limitations in addressing broader societal issues.
    • 4.3: Feminist Activism and Theory
      This page emphasizes the significance of diverse perspectives in sociology, focusing on marginalized groups like women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and People of the Global Majority. It reviews standpoint theory and the historical waves of feminism, highlighting intersections with civil rights movements.
    • 4.4: Contemporary Theoretical Perspectives
      This page examines the impact of French theorists on feminist thought, focusing on Simone de Beauvoir's views on gender as a social construct and the objectification of women. It highlights concepts like "abjection," post-structuralism, and queer theory, which challenge traditional notions of gender and advocate for inclusivity.
    • 4.5: Theorizing the Gender Wage Gap
      This page examines social and gender inequality, focusing on the 16% gender wage gap in 2022 and the theoretical perspectives surrounding it, including feminist and postcolonial theories. It discusses occupational segregation and emotional labor, particularly how intersecting factors like race exacerbate wage disparities, especially for Black and Hispanic women. The page critiques binary gender norms while introducing queer theory to challenge traditional notions of gender and sexuality.
    • 4.6: Conclusion
      This page discusses the sociology of gender, critiquing cultural narratives related to power and sexuality, and highlighting issues of social inequality. It covers the historical development of feminist theory in three waves and introduces contemporary theories like post-structuralism and queer theory for analyzing gender roles. Learning objectives include grasping early theories, the evolution of feminism, and examining the gender pay gap through differing theoretical perspectives.
    • 4.7: References
      This page provides an extensive collection of academic references on sociology, gender studies, and feminism, highlighting key themes such as caregiving, race-gender intersections, and feminist theory evolution. It features influential works from authors like Judith Butler and bell hooks, addressing topics like performativity and black feminist thought.

    This page titled Chapter 4: Gender in Theory is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Nora Karena, Heidi Esbensen, and Dana Pertermann (Open Oregon) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.