Topic 9. Gender

This week’s agenda

• Understand how the differences between women and men reflect biological factors and sociocultural influences.
• Identify social institutions where gender inequalities occur.
• Learn sociological theories of gender inequalities and some feminist theories about gender equality.
• Learn research on gender today.
• Discuss why gender-based violence persist. .

Required Reading

Textbook

• Section 11.1. Understanding gender and sex. In: Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Open Textbooks. https://doi.org/10.24926/8668.2401.
• Section 5.1. Social structure: The building blocs of social life. In: Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Open Textbooks. https://doi.org/10.24926/8668.2401.
• Section 5.3. Social interaction in everyday life. In: Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Open Textbooks. https://doi.org/10.24926/8668.2401.

Supplementary reading

Gender, Sexualization, and Rolling Stone by Mary Nell Trautner and Erin Hatton

Study Guide

Click here.

Class Resources 

Short Videos

Explained | Why Women Are Paid Less | FULL EPISODE | Netflix

How the pandemic is deepening gender inequality nationwide

Gender Inequality Just Met Its Match | The Daily Show Presents: Desi Lydic: Abroad

Globetrotting for Gender Equality | The Daily Show Presents: Desi Lydic: Abroad

The Daily Show’s Desi Lydic goes ‘Abroad’ exploring gender equality

Reading suggestions

ADD SOME NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

Group Discussion/Activity

Group Discussion/Activity 1: Gender Socialization

• Some reading suggestions
  • “The “New” Gender-Neutral Doll”
  • “Hacking Barbie”
• Ask students to visit clothing or toy stores and do some observations about gender-coded items. Ask them to make a list of items in three categories: boys, girls, and gender-neutral.
  • If it is not an available option, suggest them to visit an online store, like Toys R Us or Gap baby with group members.
• Make a group with 4-5 students and make a list of items and adjectives to describe those items. Ask them to explain how these items are categorized and why they came up with certain words to describe the items.

 Group Discussion/Activity 2:  Gender Identification Exercise

Original source: Dennis, Jeffery P. 2010. “Gender Identification Exercise.” Class Activity published in
TRAILS: Teaching Resources and Innovations Library for Sociology. Originally published
2005 in Sociological Concepts and Gender, edited by M. C. Stalp. Washington DC:
American Sociological Association. (http://trails.asanet.org)

 Group Discussion/Activity 3: Sex/Gender/Family Activities 

Activity – My Sociological Activation