Sociology | Wiley | The “Weaker Sex,” D___ Name:
- It has often been said that “men rule the world.” Is that true in 2017? Why or why not? Think about this from a global perspective and then from a U.S. perspective.
- What would happen if women “ruled the world”? What, if anything, would be different about life on earth? Would you want to live in that kind of society?
Background: Sliders is an Americanscience fiction and fantasytelevision series which ran five seasons between 1995 and 2000. The show follows a group of people, called "Sliders", as they travel ("sliding") between different Earths in parallel universes via a vortex-like wormhole, hoping to return safely to their original “Earth Prime.” The vortex can only be opened at random intervals on each new world, monitored by a countdown clock on a portable timer that they carry; failure to open the vortex in time would strand the Sliders for 29.7 years in that universe. While waiting for the timer countdown, the group learns about the differences in the alternate Earth from their own, and often become unwillingly involved in events that they must resolve before they can safely leave via the vortex. The travelers have no control over what world they end up in, but continually look for means to find Earth Prime.
"The Weaker Sex" is the seventh episode of the science fiction television show Sliders. It originally aired on May 3, 1995. In the episode, the sliders land on a world where traditional gender roles are—in many ways—reversed.
- Describe the alternate universe the sliders find themselves in. What is good about the society? What is bad about the society?
- What happens to the group as they try to find jobs? What difficulties do the men face? How are the men treated? What does the woman (Wade) experience?
- Why are some members of the group reluctant to support Arturoin his bid for mayor? Why did he want to run?
- Describe Arturo’s experiences during his campaign.
- Describe Rembrandt’s relationship with the woman who has “record producer friends.”
Post-Viewing Questions:
- What was the purpose of this episode? What were the writers trying to show/argue?
- Based on the episode and some of the readings we’ve done on Gender Socialization, how does gender inequality and the related issue of gender stereotypingharm both sexes?
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