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gender stratification
the unequal distribution of wealth, power, and privilege between men and women
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matriarchy
a form of social organization in which females dominate males
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patriarchy
a form of social organization in which males dominate females
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gender stratification: structural-functional theory
- macro-level
- Parsons described gender in terms of 2 complementary patterns of behavior: masculine and feminine
- helpful
- gender gives men and women distinctive roles and responsibilities that help society operate smoothly
- gender builds social unity as men and women come together to form families
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gender stratification: symbolic-interaction theory
- micro-level
- numerous sociologists have shown that gender is part of the reality that guides social interaction in everyday situations
- hard to say; gender is both helpful and harmful
- in everyday life, gender is one of the factors that help us relate to one another
- at the same time, gender shapes human behavior, placing men in control of social situations. Men tend to initiate most interactions, while women typically act in a more deferential manner
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gender stratification: social-conflict and intersection theories
- macro-level
- Engels described gender in terms of power of one sex over the other
- gender interacts with class, race, and ethnicity to create various levels of disadvantage
- harmful
- gender limits people's personal development
- gender divides society by giving power to men to control the lives of women
- intersection theory explains that minority women face multiple disadvantage
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