Thinking about women : sociological perspectives on sex and gender

Bibliographic Information

Thinking about women : sociological perspectives on sex and gender

Margaret L. Andersen

Pearson/Allyn & Bacon, c2006

7th ed

Available at  / 1 libraries

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Note

Includes bibliographical references (p. 409-437) and indexes

Description and Table of Contents

Description

A comprehensive review of feminist scholarship in the social sciences, showing how gender operates in every aspect of society, and how the experiences of both men and women are created through social institutions.

Table of Contents

Preface. About the Author. I. INTRODUCTION. 1. Studying Women: Feminist Perspectives. Why Study Women? The Sociological Imagination. Defining Feminism. Women's Studies and the Inclusion of Women. The Significance of Gender, Race, and Class. The Growth of Men's Studies. A Sociological Framework for Thinking about Women. Chapter Summary and Themes. Key Terms. Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought. Internet Resources. Suggested Readings. II. GENDER, CULTURE, AND SEX. 2. The Social Construction of Gender. The Biological Basis of Sex Differences. Ambiguous Sex Identities. Nature/Nurture and Sexually Dimorphic Traits. Biological Determinism. The Difference Culture Makes. The Institutional Basis of Gender. Socialization and the Formation the Gender Identity. Race and Gender Identity. Lesbian and Gay Identity. Socialization across the Life Course. Infancy. Childhood. Schools. Adulthood and the Aging Process. Theoretical Perspectives on the Formation of Gender Identity. Identification Theory. Social Learning Theory. Cognitive Development Theory. Symbolic Interaction and "Doing Gender". Comparing Theoretical Perspectives. Limitations of the Socialization Perspective. Chapter Summary and Themes. Key Terms. Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought. Internet Resources. Suggested Readings. 3. Gender, Culture and the Media: The Social Construction of Knowledge. Gender, Language and Popular Culture. Gender and the Media. The Reflection Hypothesis. Role-Learning Theory. Organizational Theories of Gender Inequality. Capitalism and the Media. Postmodernist Feminist Theory. The Sociology of Knowledge. Marx and the Social Construction of Knowledge. Sexism as Ideology. Chapter Summary and Themes. Key Terms. Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought. Internet Resources. Suggested Readings. 4. Sexuality and Intimate Relationships. The Social Construction of Sexuality. The History of Sexuality in the United States. Contemporary Sexual Attitudes and Behavior. Race, Sexuality, and Power. Sexual Development over the Life Cycle. Menstruation. Menopause. Love and Intimate Relationships. Interracial Relationships. Friendship. Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Experiences. Chapter Summary and Themes. Key Terms. Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought. Internet Resources. Suggested Readings. III. GENDER AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS. 5. Gender, Work and the Economy. Historical Perspectives on Women's Work. The Family-Based Economy. The Family-Wage Economy. The Family-Consumer Economy. Ideology and the History of Women's Work. What is Work? Gender and Class Stratification. The Contemporary Status of Women. Labor Force Participation. Gender Segregation. Earnings. Promotions. Economic Restructuring. Poverty and Welfare. Work Environments. Tokenism. Sexual Harassment. Workplace Culture. Intersections of Family and Work. The Second Shift. Housework and Care Work. Policies for Gender Equity. Chapter Summary and Themes. Key Terms. Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought. Internet Resources. Suggested Readings. 6. Women and Families. Historical Perspectives on Modern Families. Feminist Perspectives on Families. The Social Construction of Families. Family Diversity. The Influence of Race, Class, and Gender. Linking Social Structure and Human Action. Ideology and the Family. The Diversity of Contemporary Families. Measuring Family Status. Divorce. Balancing Family and Work. Cohabitation. Gay and Lesbian Families. Mothers and Fathers. Race, Gender, and Families. Families and Social Problems. Family Violence. Teen Pregnancy. Child Care. Chapter Summary and Themes. Key Terms. Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought. Internet Resources. Suggested Readings. 7. Gender, Health, and Reproduction. The Social Structure of Health. Gender and Health. Race, Class and Health. Reproductive and Protective Legislation. Gender, Health, and Social Problems. Gender and the Body: Weight, Food, and Body Image. Substance Abuse: Alcohol, Drugs, Smoking. Women and AIDS. Disability. Health Insurance. The Politics of Reproduction. Birth Control. Abortion. Racism and Reproduction. The Politics of Birth: Pregnancy and Childbirth. New Reproductive Technologies. Gender and the Health Care System. Women as Health Care Workers. The Women's Health Movement. 8. Women and Religion. Sociological Perspectives on Religion. Religion and Social Control. Religion and the Emergence of Feminism in the United States. Women and Religiosity. Images of Women in Religion. Religious Texts as Interpretive Documents. Gender and Religious Beliefs. Women's Status in Religious Institutions. Gender and Religious Participation. Women as Clergy. Religion and Social Change. Race, Religion and Social Justice. Religion and Antifeminism. Feminism and the Religious Right in the United States. The Abortion Debate: A Conflict of World Views. Faith, Feminism, and Spirituality. Chapter Summary and Themes. Key Terms. Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought. Internet Resources. Suggested Readings. 9. Women, Crime, and Deviance. Sociological Perspectives on Crime and Deviance. Defining Deviance. Labeling and Social Deviance. Deviance, Power, and Social Conflict. Feminist Perspectives on Deviance. Women as Criminals. The Extent of Criminality among Women. Causes of Women's Crime. Defining Crime. Women as Victims of Crime. Rape. Causes of Rape. Women in the Criminal Justice System. Gender and the Courts. Women and Prison. Chapter Summary and Themes. Key Terms. Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought. Internet Resources. Suggested Readings. 10. Gender, Education, and Science. Women and the History of Education. Gender and Educational Success. Gender and Schooling. Academic Achievement: Is There A Gender Gap? Gender and the Curriculum. Class and Race Inequality. Women in Higher Education. Gender, Science, and Society. The Status of Women in Science. Science, Feminism, and the Social Construction of Knowledge. Chapter Summary and Themes. Key Terms. Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought. Internet Resources. Suggested Readings. 11. Women, Power, and Politics. Defining Power. Women and the State. Women and the Law. Women in Government. The Gender Gap. Do Women Make a Difference? Women and the Military. Lesbians and Gays in the Military. Feminism and Militarism. Rethinking the Political. The Women's Movement. American Feminism in the Nineteenth Century. Feminism and Civil Rights. The Second Wave of Feminism. Feminism for the Twenty-First Century. Chapter Summary and Themes. Key Terms. Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought. Internet Resources. Suggested Readings. IV. GENDER AND SOCIAL CHANGE: FRAMEWORKS OF FEMINISM. 12. Women and Social Reform: Liberal Feminism. Frameworks of Feminism. The Liberal Basis of Modern Feminism. Liberalism as a Mode of Social Thought. Early Liberal Feminists. Mary Wollstonecraft. Harriet Martineau. John Stuart Mill and Harriet Taylor Mill. The Critique of Liberal Feminism. Chapter Summary and Themes. Key Terms. Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought. Internet Resources. Suggested Readings. 13. Contemporary Frameworks in Feminist Theory. The Radical Origins of Feminist Theory: The Critique of Liberal Feminism. Historical Roots of Radical Feminisms. Socialist Feminism: The Importance of Class and Capitalism. Karl Marx and Historical Materialism. Class and Capitalism. Ideology and Consciousness. The Woman Question. The Socialist Feminist Critique of Marx. Radical Feminism: The Power of Patriarchy. The Sex/Gender System. Sexuality and the State. Intersections of Capitalism and Patriarchy. Comparing Liberal, Socialist, and Radical Feminism. Multiracial Feminism. Postmodernist Feminism. Queer Theory and Sexualities. Continuing Questions for Feminist Theory. Chapter Summary and Themes. Key Terms. Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought. Internet Resources. Suggested Readings. Glossary. Bibliography. Name Index. Subject Index.

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