|
 |
|
 |
Chapter 11: Sex and Gender |
Chapter eleven focuses on the social atmosphere of gender and
gender inequality. It is important to distinguish the term gender—used
to refer to nonbiological, culturally and socially produced
distinctions between men and women-from the term sex, which
is more properly restricted to the biological differences that
are relevant to reproduction. The debate of whether gender roles
are biologically or culturally defined is a longstanding sociological
controversy. Many factors influence the gender socialization
of children in our society—parents, peers, school, the
media. Socially-defined gender roles and expectations are present
from the very beginning of a person's life.
While gender roles are far more open today than ever before,
inequalities in society persist. One arena in which inequalities
linger is the workplace, where conflicts over comparable-worth,
gender bias, and sexual harassment are widespread. However,
progress has been made in reducing some forms of workplace
discrimination, such as reducing the wage gap between men
and women. Women have gained considerable ground in politics
too. Even so, society still has a long way to go to completely
eradicate the deeply-entrenched practices of gender stratification
and discrimination.
|
|
|
|
|
