Inequalities of Gender and Age

Inequalities of Gender and Age

Sex and Gender

•sex: biological characteristics which distinguish males, females (primary, secondary sex characteristics)

–biologically the sexes differ in limited ways with neither one naturally superior

•gender: social characteristics considered proper for males and females (masculinity, femininity)

–global comparisons indicate great variation in definitions of masculinity and femininity

–cultural notion of male superiority is deeply rooted in society

•each society sets up barriers which result in unequal access to wealth, power, prestige (gender stratification)

•gender roles: attitudes and behaviors considered appropriate for males, females

–reinforced by family, peers, school, media (gender socialization)

Gender Inequality in the U.S.

•gender tracking in education

–socialization channels males, females into different educational paths

•housework/childrearing responsibilities: “women’s second shift”

–restrict labor force participation/advancement

•workplace

–labor force participation rate: 75% of men, 60% of women

•includes 2/3 of women with children under 6 years old

–concentrated in administrative support (clerical) and service occupations

•low-paying, high turnover, little opportunity for advancement

–unequal earnings: women earn 74% of men’s earnings

•reasons: kind of work, child care responsibilities, and gender discrimination (unequal pay for same work & “glass ceiling”)

•politics

–significant increase in female elected officials but still underrepresented

•reasons: underrepresented in law & business careers, lack supportive spouse, child care responsibilities, male resistance

Harassment and Violence

•sexual harassment

–structural problem, not individual or personal matter

–primarily men using positions of authority to force unwanted sexual activities on women

–not exclusively female problem

•date rape

–more common than “stranger” rape, but mostly unreported

–more likely to occur between couples who have known each other about a year, not relative strangers on first dates

•domestic violence

Costs of Sexism for Men

•psychological consequences

–traditional male role is stressful and demanding

•5 times more likely to commit suicide

•3 times more likely to suffer severe mental disorders

•14 times more likely to become alcoholics

•overwhelming majority of narcotics addicts

•disproportionately likely to suffer from all stress-related illnesses (ulcers, asthma, hypertension, heart disease, hypertension, etc.)

•commit 95% of violent crimes

–emotional insensitivity and isolation

•problems developing and maintaining intimate relationships

Inequalities of Aging

•social construction of aging

–attitudes about and definitions of aging differ from one social group to another

•ageism: prejudice (negative stereotypes) against people because of their age

–like any ideology, it is used to justify discrimination

–change in social meaning of aging over time

•positive > negative > little less negative/more positive in U.S. this century

“Graying” of America

•increasing proportion of older people in the population

–currently about 13% over 65 years old, by 2050 there will be over 20%

–increased life expectancy: 80 yr. for females, 74+ yr. for males

–“baby boom” cohort disproportionately large, “baby bust” cohort disproportionately small

–old age dependency ratio (working adults : elderly) now 4:1, soon 3:1, by 2030 it will be 2:1

•two age cohorts among the elderly

–“young old”: 65 -75 yr., autonomous, reasonable health and finances, couples

–“old old”: over 75 yr., dependent, declining health and finances, women

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