Thinking About Women: Sociological Perspectives On Sex And Gender

by Andersen, Margaret

• ISBN13: 9780205456475
• ISBN10: 0205456472
• Edition: 7th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

Thinking About Women: Sociological Perspectives on Sex and Gender 7th 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.

About the Author:

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.

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	xv
PART I Introduction
Studying Women: Feminist Perspectives	1	(20)
Why Study Women?	2	(4)
The Sociological Imagination	6	(3)
Defining Feminism	9	(2)
Women's Studies and the Inclusion of Women	11	(2)
The Growth of Men's Studies	13	(1)
The Significance of Gender, Race, and Class	14	(2)
A Sociological Framework for Thinking about Women	16	(5)
Chapter Summary and Themes	16	(1)
Key Terms	17	(1)
Discussion Questions/ Projects for Thought	18	(1)
Internet Resources	18	(1)
Suggested Readings	18	(3)
PART II Gender, Culture, and Sex
The Social Construction of Gender	21	(32)
Biology, Culture, and Society	21	(12)
The Biological Basis of Sex Identity	22	(1)
Ambiguous Sexual Identities	22	(2)
Nature/Nurture and Sexually Dimorphic Traits	24	(1)
Biological Determinism	25	(2)
The Difference Culture Makes	27	(3)
The Institutional Basis of Gender	30	(3)
Socialization and the Formation of Gender Identity	33	(4)
Sanctions and Expectations	33	(2)
Race and Gender Identity	35	(2)
Socialization across the Life Course	37	(6)
Infancy	37	(1)
Childhood Play and Games	38	(2)
Socialization and the Schools	40	(1)
Adult Socialization and the Aging Process	41	(2)
Theoretical Perspectives on the Formation of Gender	43	(10)
Identification Theory	43	(1)
Social Learning Theory	44	(1)
Cognitive-Development Theory	45	(1)
Symbolic Interaction and ``Doing Gender''	46	(1)
Comparing Theoretical Perspectives	47	(1)
Limitations of the Socialization Perspective	48	(1)
Chapter Summary and Themes	49	(2)
Key Terms	51	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	51	(1)
Internet Resources	51	(1)
Suggested Readings	52	(1)
Gender, Culture, and the Media: The Social Construction of Knowledge	53	(23)
Gender, Language, and Popular Culture	56	(3)
Gender and the Media	59	(9)
Content Analysis and the Media	59	(5)
Theories about the Media's Influence	64	(4)
The Sociology of Knowledge	68	(8)
Marx and the Social Construction of Knowledge	69	(2)
Sexism as Ideology	71	(1)
Chapter Summary and Themes	72	(1)
Key Terms	73	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	73	(1)
Internet Resources	73	(1)
Suggested Readings	74	(2)
Sexuality and Intimate Relationships	76	(28)
The Social Construction of Sexuality	77	(1)
The History of Sexuality in the United States	77	(2)
Contemporary Sexual Attitudes and Behavior	79	(5)
Race, Sexuality, and Power	84	(1)
Sexual Development over the Life Cycle	85	(3)
Menstruation	86	(1)
Menopause	87	(1)
Love and Intimate Relationships	88	(7)
Interracial Relationships	92	(1)
Friendship	93	(2)
Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Experiences	95	(9)
Chapter Summary and Themes	100	(1)
Key Terms	101	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	101	(1)
Internet Resources	101	(1)
Suggested Readings	102	(2)
PART III Gender and Social Institutions
Gender, Work, and the Economy	104	(49)
Historical Perspectives on Women's Work	105	(8)
The Family-Based Economy	106	(1)
The Family-Wage Economy	107	(2)
The Family-Consumer Economy	109	(1)
Ideology and the History of Women's Work	110	(3)
What Is Work?	113	(2)
Economic Restructuring, Class, and Gender Stratification	115	(4)
The Contemporary Status of Women	119	(17)
Labor Force Participation	119	(1)
Gender Segregation	120	(10)
Earnings	130	(4)
Promotions	134	(2)
Poverty and Welfare	136	(3)
Work Environments	139	(3)
Tokenism	139	(2)
Sexual Harassment	141	(1)
Workplace Culture	142	(1)
Intersections of Family and Work	142	(5)
The Second Shift	143	(1)
Housework and Care Work	143	(4)
Policies for Gender Equity	147	(6)
Chapter Summary and Themes	149	(1)
Key Terms	150	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	150	(1)
Internet Resources	151	(1)
Suggested Readings	151	(2)
Gender and Families	153	(44)
Historical Perspectives on Modern Families	155	(4)
Feminist Perspectives on Families	159	(6)
The Social Construction of Families	159	(2)
Family Diversity	161	(1)
The Influence of Class, Race, and Gender	162	(1)
Linking Social Structure and Human Action	163	(1)
The Family Ideal	164	(1)
The Diversity of Contemporary Families	165	(11)
Measuring Family Status	166	(1)
Divorce	167	(1)
Balancing Family and Work	168	(2)
Cohabitation	170	(1)
Gay and Lesbian Families	171	(2)
Motherhood	173	(2)
Fatherhood	175	(1)
Race, Gender, and Families	176	(6)
Families and Social Problems	182	(15)
Family Violence	182	(5)
Teen Pregnancy	187	(2)
Child Care	189	(4)
Chapter Summary and Themes	193	(1)
Key Terms	194	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	194	(1)
Internet Resources	195	(1)
Suggested Readings	195	(2)
Women, Health, and Reproduction	197	(35)
The Social Structure of Health	200	(5)
Gender and Health	200	(2)
Race, Class, and Health	202	(1)
Reproduction and Protective Legislation	203	(2)
Gender, Health, and Social Problems	205	(9)
Gender and the Body: Weight, Food, and Body Image	205	(4)
Substance Abuse: Alcohol, Drugs, and Smoking	209	(3)
Women and AIDS	212	(1)
Disability	213	(1)
Health Insurance	214	(1)
The Politics of Reproduction	214	(12)
Birth Control	215	(2)
Abortion	217	(1)
Racism and Reproduction	218	(1)
The Politics of Birth: Pregnancy and Childbirth	219	(6)
New Reproductive Technologies	225	(1)
Gender and the Health Care System	226	(6)
Women as Health Care Workers	226	(1)
The Women's Health Movement	226	(2)
Chapter Summary and Themes	228	(1)
Key Terms	229	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	229	(1)
Internet Resources	229	(1)
Suggested Readings	230	(2)
Women and Religion	232	(27)
Sociological Perspectives on Religion	234	(1)
Religion and Social Control	235	(2)
Religion and the Emergence of Feminism in the United States	237	(3)
Women and Religiosity	240	(4)
Images of Women in Religion	240	(1)
Religious Texts as Interpretive Documents	240	(2)
Gender and Religious Beliefs	242	(2)
Women's Status in Religious Institutions	244	(3)
Gender and Religious Participation	244	(2)
Women as Clergy	246	(1)
Religion and Social Change	247	(12)
Race, Religion and Social Justice	248	(1)
Religion and Antifeminism	249	(1)
Feminism and the Religious Right in the United States	250	(1)
The Abortion Debate: A Conflict of World Views	251	(1)
Faith, Feminism, and Spirituality	252	(4)
Chapter Summary and Themes	256	(1)
Key Terms	256	(1)
Discussion Questions/ Projects for Thought	257	(1)
Internet Resources	257	(1)
Suggested Readings	257	(2)
Women, Crime, and Deviance	259	(27)
Sociological Perspectives on Crime and Deviance	260	(7)
Early Traditions	261	(2)
Defining Deviance	263	(1)
Labeling and Social Deviance	264	(1)
Deviance, Power, and Social Conflict	264	(1)
Feminist Perspectives on Deviance	265	(2)
Women as Criminals	267	(4)
The Extent of Criminality among Women	267	(2)
Causes of Women's Crime	269	(2)
Defining Crime	271	(1)
Women as Victims of Crime	271	(8)
Rape	274	(2)
Causes of Rape	276	(3)
Women in the Criminal Justice System	279	(7)
Gender and the Courts	279	(1)
Women and Prison	280	(3)
Chapter Summary and Themes	283	(1)
Key Terms	283	(1)
Discussion Questions/ Projects for Thought	284	(1)
Internet Resources	284	(1)
Suggested Readings	284	(2)
Gender, Education, and Science	286	(29)
Women and the History of Education	288	(2)
Gender and Educational Success	290	(10)
Gender and Schooling	291	(4)
Academic Achievement: Is There a Gender Gap?	295	(2)
Gender and the Curriculum	297	(1)
Class and Race Inequality	298	(2)
Women in Higher Education	300	(4)
Gender, Science, and Society	304	(11)
The Status of Women in Science	304	(3)
Science, Feminism, and the Social Construction of Knowledge	307	(5)
Chapter Summary and Themes	312	(1)
Key Terms	313	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	313	(1)
Internet Resources	313	(1)
Suggested Readings	313	(2)
Women, Power, and Politics	315	(33)
Defining Power	317	(1)
Women and the State	318	(2)
Women and the Law	320	(3)
Women in Government	323	(5)
The Gender Gap	327	(1)
Do Women Make a Difference?	327	(1)
Women and the Military	328	(3)
Lesbians and Gays in the Military	330	(1)
Feminism and Militarism	331	(1)
Rethinking the Political	331	(2)
The Women's Movement	333	(15)
American Feminism in the Nineteenth Century	334	(3)
The Emergence of the Contemporary Women's Movement	337	(2)
Feminism and Civil Rights	339	(1)
The Second Wave of Feminism	340	(2)
Feminism for the Twenty-First Century: A Third Wave?	342	(2)
Chapter Summary and Themes	344	(1)
Key Terms	345	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	345	(1)
Internet Resources	346	(1)
Suggested Readings	346	(2)
PART IV Gender and Social Change: Frameworks of Feminism
Women and Social Reform, Liberal Feminism	348	(25)
Frameworks of Feminist Theory	350	(3)
The Liberal Basis of Modern Feminism	353	(1)
Liberalism as a Mode of Social Thought	354	(4)
Early Liberal Feminists	358	(10)
Mary Wollstonecraft	358	(2)
Harriet Martineau	360	(2)
John Stuart Mill and Harriet Taylor Mill	362	(6)
The Critique of Liberal Feminism	368	(5)
Chapter Summary and Themes	370	(1)
Key Terms	371	(1)
Discussion Questions/Projects for Thought	371	(1)
Internet Resources	372	(1)
Suggested Readings	372	(1)
Contemporary Frameworks in Feminist Theory	373	(31)
The Radical Origins of Feminist Theory: The Critique of Liberal Feminism	374	(1)
Historical Roots of Radical Feminism	375	(2)
Socialist Feminism: The Importance of Class and Capitalism	377	(9)
Karl Marx and Historical Materialism	377	(2)
Class and Capitalism	379	(1)
Ideology and Consciousness	380	(2)
The Woman Question	382	(1)
The Socialist Feminist Critique of Marx	383	(3)
Radical Feminism: The Power of Patriarchy	386	(4)
The Sex/Gender System	387	(1)
Sexuality and the State	387	(1)
Intersections of Capitalism and Patriarchy	388	(1)
Comparing Liberal, Socialist, and Radical Feminism	389	(1)
Multiracial Feminism	390	(3)
Postmodernist Feminism	393	(4)
Queer Theory and Sexualities	397	(2)
Continuing Questions for Feminist Theory	399	(5)
Chapter Summary and Themes	400	(1)
Key Terms	401	(1)
Discussion Questions/ Projects for Thought	401	(1)
Internet Resources	402	(1)
Suggested Readings	402	(2)
Glossary	404	(5)
Bibliography	409	(30)
Name Index	439	(10)
Subject Index	449