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8: Gender and Gender Inequality

  • Page ID
    2059
    • Anonymous
    • LibreTexts

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    Much progress has occured the past four decades in gender equality. Women have entered medicine, engineering, and other professions and careers in unprecedented numbers, no doubt dismaying the biology professor who thought them best suited as wives and mothers. Many men have begun to realize that “real men” do not necessarily have to enjoy fighting and other traditionally male behaviors and attitudes. Our society now has an awareness of rape and other violence against women that would astonish students of the 1970s. Still, gender roles and gender inequality persist and violence against women continues, with important consequences for both women and men and for society as a whole. To begin our discussion of gender and gender inequality, this chapter begins with a critical look at the concepts of sex and gender.

    • 8.1: Prelude to Gender and Gender Inequality
      This page addresses Rape Awareness Month at the University of Missouri-Columbia in September 2009, focusing on combatting sexual violence against new women students. It highlights empowering events like the Take Back the Night marches and contrasts historical and contemporary gender roles. Two stories from the early 1970s illustrate struggles with gender expectations—one woman pursuing medicine and a man grappling with masculinity.
    • 8.2: Understanding Sex and Gender
      This page examines the distinctions between sex and gender, with sex defined as biological and gender as a societal construct influenced by culture. It addresses gender identity, sexual orientation, aggression differences, and the cultural origins of gender roles. The text critiques biological determinism, emphasizing the influence of socialization through family, education, and media.
    • 8.3: Feminism and Sexism
      This page provides an overview of feminism and sexism, emphasizing their interconnectedness and evolution from the abolitionist movement to contemporary times. It highlights a decline in traditional gender roles and increased support for women’s equality, supported by survey data. Various types of feminism—liberal, socialist, radical, and multicultural—are defined, reflecting diverse strategies to address gender inequality.
    • 8.4: Gender Inequality
      This page addresses pervasive gender inequality in income and the workplace, examining the gender pay gap and discrimination against women and LGBTQ+ individuals. It highlights how institutional biases, workplace segregation, and the glass ceiling impede women's economic advancement, noting that women earn about 81.2% of what men do. The disparities extend to household labor, with women carrying a heavier burden.
    • 8.5: Violence Against Women- Rape and Pornography
      This page examines the high prevalence of rape and sexual assault, particularly affecting women, often perpetrated by acquaintances. It highlights the detrimental impact of cultural myths surrounding these crimes and stresses the need to challenge societal beliefs. Challenges in prosecuting rape cases are discussed, noting biases against women and linking the issue to male dominance and economic disparities.
    • 8.6: The Benefits and Costs of Being Male
      This page explores the dual nature of male experiences in a patriarchal society, detailing the privileges of reduced fears of violence and workplace discrimination, alongside disadvantages like higher violence rates and emotional challenges linked to traditional masculinity. It stresses the importance of tackling both cultural and structural causes of gender inequality, proposing policy measures to address these issues and encourage a shift in traditional gender roles.
    • 8.S: Gender and Gender Inequality (Summary)
      This page examines the differences between sex and gender, highlighting the debate on biological versus cultural explanations for gender roles. It discusses socialization's role in shaping these roles, the impact of feminism on gender equality, and ongoing issues such as wage gaps and sexual harassment. The text addresses the challenges faced by women of color and the violence against women, while also considering the privileges and disadvantages that men experience in a patriarchal society.

    Thumbnail: Man and woman sign. (Unsplash License; Juno Jo via Unsplash)


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