Thinking About Women: Sociological Perspectives on Sex and Gender

by Andersen, Margaret L.

• ISBN13: 9780205302260
• ISBN10: 0205302262
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-09-01
• Publisher: Pearson College Div

Summary

Thinking About Women: Sociological Perspectives on Sex and Gender, Seventh Edition, provides 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. The seventh edition introduces new discussions on numerous topics including gay marriage, welfare reform, women and the military, interracial dating and friendship, affirmative action, transgender identities, disability, and the global AIDS epidemic. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Margaret Andersen is the former editor of Gender & Society, the recipient of the Sociologists for Women in Society Feminist Lecturer Award, and a leading scholar and teacher

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
About the Author	xiv
PART I Introduction
Studying Women: Feminist Perspectives	1	(18)
The Sociological Imagination	4	(3)
Defining Feminism	7	(3)
Women's Studies and the Inclusion of Women	10	(6)
The Sociological Framework for Thinking About Women	16	(1)
Summary	16	(1)
Key Terms	17	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	18	(1)
Suggested Readings	18	(1)
PART II Gender, Sex, and Culture
The Social Construction of Gender	19	(32)
Sex, Gender, and Sexuality	20	(2)
The Institutional Basis of Gender	22	(2)
Sex Differences: Biology and Gender	24	(6)
Socialization and the Formation of Gender Identity	30	(5)
Socialization across the Life Course	35	(6)
Theoretical Perspectives on the Formation of Gender	41	(5)
Limitations of the Socialization Perspective	46	(2)
Summary	48	(1)
Key Terms	48	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	49	(1)
Suggested Readings	49	(2)
Gender and Culture: The Social Construction of Knowledge	51	(29)
Gender, Language, and Popular Culture	53	(3)
Gendered Images in the Media	56	(9)
The Sociology of Knowledge	65	(4)
Women and Educational Thought	69	(5)
Gender, Science, and Society	74	(4)
Summary	78	(1)
Key Terms	78	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	78	(1)
Suggested Readings	79	(1)
Sexuality and Intimate Relationships	80	(25)
The Social Construction of Sexuality	80	(1)
The History of Sexuality in the United States	81	(2)
Contemporary Sexual Attitudes and Behavior	83	(4)
Race, Sexuality, and Power	87	(1)
Sexual Development over the Life Cycle	88	(4)
Love and Intimate Relationships	92	(4)
Friendship	96	(1)
Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Experiences	97	(5)
Summary	102	(1)
Key Terms	103	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	103	(1)
Suggested Readings	104	(1)
PART III Gender and Social Institutions
Women, Work, and the Economy	105	(48)
Historical Perspectives on Women's Work	106	(8)
What Is Work?	114	(1)
Gender and Class Stratification	115	(2)
The Contemporary Status of Women	117	(19)
Poverty and Welfare	136	(3)
Work Environments for Women	139	(4)
Intersections of Family and Work	143	(5)
Policies for Gender Equity	148	(2)
Summary	150	(1)
Key Terms	151	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	151	(1)
Suggested Readings	151	(2)
Women and Families	153	(42)
Historical Perspectives on Modern Families	154	(4)
Feminist Perspectives on Families	158	(5)
Portraits of Contemporary Households	163	(11)
Race, Gender, and Families	174	(7)
Families and Social Problems	181	(11)
Summary	192	(1)
Key Terms	193	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	193	(1)
Suggested Readings	193	(2)
Women, Health, and Reproduction	195	(36)
The Social Structure of Health	196	(2)
Race, Class, and Health	198	(2)
Women, Work, and Health	200	(4)
Gender, Health, and Social Problems	204	(6)
The Politics of Reproduction: Birth Control, Abortion, and Childbirth	210	(14)
Women and the Health Care System	224	(3)
Summary	227	(1)
Key Terms	228	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	228	(1)
Suggested Readings	229	(2)
Women and Religion	231	(28)
Sociological Perspectives on Religion	232	(2)
Religion and Social Control	234	(2)
Religion and the Emergence of Feminism in the United States	236	(2)
Women and Religiosity	238	(5)
Women's Status in Religious Institutions	243	(4)
Religion, Racism, and Social Change	247	(2)
Religion as a Basis for Antifeminism	249	(3)
Faith, Feminism, and Spirituality	252	(3)
Summary	255	(2)
Key Terms	257	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	257	(1)
Suggested Readings	257	(2)
Women, Crime, and Deviance	259	(31)
Origins of Deviance Theory	261	(2)
Sociological Perspectives on Crime and Deviance	263	(6)
Women as Criminals	269	(5)
Women as Victims of Crime	274	(8)
Women in the Criminal Justice System	282	(5)
Summary	287	(1)
Key Terms	288	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	288	(1)
Suggested Readings	288	(2)
Women, Power, and Politics	290	(33)
Defining Power	291	(2)
Women and the State	293	(2)
Women and the Law	295	(2)
Women in Government	297	(6)
Women and the Military	303	(5)
Rethinking the Political	308	(2)
The Women's Movement	310	(10)
Summary	320	(1)
Key Terms	321	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	321	(1)
Suggested Readings	322	(1)
PART IV Feminist Theory and Social Change
Women and Social Reform: Liberal Feminism	323	(24)
Frameworks of Feminist Theory	324	(2)
The Liberal Basis of Modern Feminism	326	(1)
Liberalism as a Mode of Social Thought	327	(3)
An Enlightenment for Women?	330	(1)
Mary Wollstonecraft	331	(2)
Harriet Martineau	333	(2)
John Stuart Mill and Harriet Taylor Mill	335	(8)
The Critique of Liberalism	343	(1)
Summary	344	(1)
Key Terms	345	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	345	(1)
Suggested Readings	346	(1)
Radical Alternatives: Socialist and Radical Feminism	347	(29)
The Political Context of Radical Feminism	348	(2)
The Marxist Perspective	350	(7)
Socialist Feminism	357	(1)
Family and Economy in Capitalist Society	358	(4)
Radical Feminism	362	(3)
Intersections of Capitalism and Patriarchy	365	(6)
Comparing Liberal and Radical Feminism	371	(2)
Summary	373	(1)
Key Terms	374	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	374	(1)
Suggested Readings	374	(2)
Conclusion: New Directions in Feminist Theory	376	(13)
Feminist Epistemology	377	(3)
Feminism and Postmodernism	380	(5)
Feminism and the Analysis of Race, Class, and Gender	385	(2)
Key Terms	387	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	387	(1)
Suggested Readings	387	(2)
Glossary	389	(4)
Bibliography	393	(28)
Name Index	421	(8)
Subject Index	429