Aims!! -look at identity with an in-depth look at gender identity -have a basic understanding of how gender identities are created and maintained - to look at gender stereotyping -male and female identities and the changes occurring to these identities in contemporary society (taken from OCR spec) How gender identity is constructed through the socialisation process -idea of nurture - learning your gender -learning of gender roles through social agencies e.g. media and family - gender socialisation sees that gender differences do not relate to biological differences but are culturally produced -idea is backed up by Functionalists who see both genders are learning sex roles. Functionalists argue these sex roles are guided by positive and negative sanctions which are socially applied within society -social agents contribute to the social order of society, as they help teach the socially normal ways for both genders to behave in order to maintain an equilibrium -the social construction of gender BUT THE PROCESS HAS BEEN CRITICISED! > individuals can reject the expected sex roles as they are only invited to follow them or the blending of gender roles will blur the expectations
Stereotypical assumptions about the nature of men and women MEN: -aggressive -powerful -breadwinner -professional job roles -play sport -active -emotionless -outdoors -do not do housework and not responsible for childcare WOMEN: -caring -gentle -take care of housework and childcare -lower status jobs -stay at home -emotional -submissive -are not good at hands on projects
Masculinity and Femininity Feminists (conflict theory)- concerned with female subordination in society, status of women, inequality of genders, differences of women within society, gender oppression, structural oppression Feminist perspectives: Liberal feminists, Cultural feminists, Radical feminists, Marxist feminists, Postmodern feminists Major theorist: Ann Oakley What is femininity? = the quality of being female e.g. attitudes roles and behaviours linked to female expectations.
Masculinity - Connell (2005) -masculinities are a critical part of gender order, women kept in subordination position to men which helps to maintain male power, collective social agreements in society > this all closely links to hi theory of hegemonic masculinity =the social dominance of men within society - this links to ideas such as power, pay, work, marriage roles etc. What is masculinity? =the qualities associated to being male.
PEDAGOGICAL IDEAS: -ask the pupils to explain what they think gender socialisation is? -go on to look at how different agents can influence gender identity - have a different section on each table, e.g. parents, media, schools and ask pupils to go around in groups to add to each agent, ideas around gender identity -create a list of words linked to both males and females and ask the pupils to identify which word links to which -look at gender stereotypical jobs and how we are socialised into seeing certain jobs as stereotypically male and female -list jobs and ask students to say which they believe are for men and for women -ask pupils to think about the effects of these stereotypes within work -then get the students to write a personal statement (the girls focusing on why they will be good at a male job and the boys why they would be good at a female job) -show the students both male and female magazines and ask them to identify how they reinforce gender identities -looking at what age gender identities take place - identify Disney characters and toys and how they reinforce gender identities - show part of a Disney film which highlights gender stereotypical roles > from this ask the students to explain in a paragraph how this may affect students watching these films and playing within the toys -following on from the Disney activity, ask pupils to think about how gender roles are reinforced in children's advertising - then show a variety of youtube clips and ask them to describe what makes them male and female and the effects of these -create a debate in the class with half of the group arguing that gender stereotypes are important and half arguing that they are harmful -homework task: try and find examples of gender neutral advertising -then create a poster advertising a product but in a gender neutral way > they should explain how they have made it gender neutral