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Sociology SOCL1016 MBBCH I Week 4
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Week 4 of SOCL1016 MBBCH 1 Notes for University of Witwatersrand
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Sociology Week 4Sex
Sex → biological differences which distinguish male and female bodies
- DNA, chromosomes and hormone types and levels
- Internal + external genitalia
- Primary + secondary sexual characteristics (breast + beard)
Intersex → refers to people whose biological differentiation as male or female is considered
ambiguous, indistinguishable and/or who exhibit primary and secondary sexual characteristics
of both males and females
Hermaphrodite → derogatory term for ‘intersex’
Transsexuals → have had/in the process of having a sex change (gender realignment).
Through surgery/hormone therapy
Gender
Gender → Social and cultural constructions that shape what it means to be men (boys) and
women (girls) in society
- Gender is assigned with various identities, roles, and responsibilities
- Gender intersects & is bisected by other identities: e.g., race & class. Thus, overlap
between different forms of social inequality
Identities
- boy/man & girl/woman
- Nonsexual, straight, gay/lesbian, bisexual, transgender (transsexual and transvestite),
gender nonbinary, etc.
- Sexuality and gender identity: SOGI
Roles and responsibilities
- Masculine and feminine roles
- Productive and reproductive (domestic) roles and responsibilities
How is gender constructed, re-produced and its implications?
1. Ideology → set of beliefs that dictate how gender relations ought to be
- Patriarchy:
Superiority and dominance of men over women and children.
Enforced by social structure (institutions, previous exclusion of women in workforce,
political and social life), in communities , cultural practices and in social relations.
, - Hetero-normativity:
taken for granted assumptions that gender relations are ‘naturally’ heterosexual and
should remain so.
Treating sexuality/behaviour that sits outside that definition as abnormal/wrong.
- Cissexism:
Assumptions that everyone’s chosen gender identity matches their sex at birth
2. Norms and Values → actual ideas and beliefs that specify expected behaviour of men
and women
Men = active, breadwinners, decision makers
Women = nurturer, carer, supporter, passive
3. Everyday practices → Which reinforce the gender relations (how teachers at school or
university or HCPs can sometimes treat boys/men and girls/women differently)
Effects of gender differences that affect access or control
- To life chances and over resources
- In power and/or decision making
- And in roles and responsibilities
Implications on everyone’s health status
- Men and women’s health are equally important
- All SOGI (sexuality and gender identity) groups health matters
Sexism → is the belief that there are psychological, behavioural, or intellectual differences
between women and men and that those differences make one group (typically men) superior
to the other.
Sexism is relative and is culturally and historically contested. However, its presence has very
real substantive effects.
Discrimination on the basis of sex produces differential access to life chances.
How do sex/gender-based inequality impact on life chances?
Women (statistically) predominate in rural areas & the poorest areas
Many women in rural areas depend on money sent by male relatives working in cities & mines
Customary law gives women few inheritance & property rights
Generally, women leave their financial security to men
However, women’s pensions support many families
There is often a glass ceiling effect on professional women
For some, there is a choice between career or childbearing & rearing
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