SOC101Y1 Study Guide - Hostile Work Environment, Compulsory Heterosexuality, Marshall Mcluhan
Document Summary
Sex refers to biological differences between males and females while gender refers to the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviour that we commonly associate with each sex. Although it is possible to trace the origins of masculine and feminine gender roles to biological differences between the sexes, most sociologists focus on the ways in which gender is socially constructed. Three major sociohistorical changes have led to the development of gender inequality: long distance warfare and conquest, plow agriculture, public and private spheres during early industrialization. Conscious sexual learning beings around adolescences in the context or firmly established gender identities. Although we receive little formal socialization regarding sexuality, sexual relationships tend to be male-dominated as a result of the chapter of gender socialization and men"s continuing dominant position in society. The social construction of gender and sexual scripts has defined standards of beauty that are nearly impossible for most women to achieve.
