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Chapter 9: Sex and Gender

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Notes:

Sex: Biological and anatomical variances between males and females 

Sexuality: an individual’s experience and expression as a sexual being

Gender: the socially learned expectations and behaviors associated with being a man or woman

Binary: the belief that there are only two distinct and opposite categories

Gender nonconforming: an individual whose behavior and or gender expression do not conform to society’s norms for masculine and feminine

Masuclinity: traditional behavior and traits associated with men

Feminiity: traditional behaviors, and traits associated with women

Feminine-expressive role: providing care and emotional support

Masuline instrumental role: goal-oriented and providing financial support

INtersex: a person born with variations in male and female hormones, chromosomes, and/or sexual organs

Gender identity: an individuals inner sense

Genderqueer: a person whose gender expression and/or identity is neither masculine nor feminine. Genderqueer is sometimes uses synonymously with non-binary or gender fluid.

Cisgender: an individuals whose gender identity matches their sex at birth

Transgender: a person who identifies with a gender that is different from their biological sex

Gender norms: behaviors, or traits that society attributes to a particular sex

Gender roles: public expression of one’s gender identity

Sexism: prejudice, devaluation, and discrimination based on an individual’s sex

Second shift: the unpaid childcare and household responsibilities completed by women that are in addition to their paid work in the labor force

Gender stratification: the unequal access and distribution of wealth, power and privilege between women and men

Glass escalator: men in female dominated careers rise faster than women in male dominated careers

Glass ceiling: social and legal barriers designed to prevent minorities and women from advancing in the workplace

Sexual harassment: unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal and physical harassment of a sexual nature

Quid pro quo: express or implied demands by an employer or supervisor for sexual favors in exchange for some benefit such a promotion, raise or preferential treatment

Hostile environment: an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment due to unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature

Intersectionality: the overlap of personal and social identities that manifests as disadvantage and discrimination in people’s lives

Honor killing: the killing of a female family member for the perceived shame she has brought onto the family

Violence against women: any act that results in the mental, physical and/or sexual harm of a girl, teen or women

Microaggressions: words and deeds that negatively impact marginalized individuals, groups, or communities 

Microassaults: Derogatory comments or actions (hate speech, avoidance, negative representation)

Microinsults: snubs and hidden insults (entitlement and assumptions made by the heterosexual community)

Microinvaildations: an attempt to negate the feelings and experiences of others (diminishing a person’s gender or sexual orientation)

Homophobia: the fear of homosexuals, and homosexuality

Heterosexism: prejudice or discriminatory attitudes and behavior against homosexuals and homosexuality

Transgender: a person who identifies with a gender different from their biological sex

Sex reassignment: the process of having surgery and taking hormone medications to become the opposite sex

Feminism: a social movement that aims to establish equality between sexes

Men’s right movement: an effort to establish the employment, sexual and familiarity rights of men

Gay rights movement: individuals and organizations seeking to establish legal and social equality for members of LGBTQ+ community

Allies:someone who advocates and supports the push for equal rights

Feminists: a person who believes in the legal, political, social and economic equality between the sexes

Cult of domesticity: the glorification of White middle to upper-middle-class ideals that placed value on women for their sexual purity, morality, domestic abilities and submissiveness to men

Matrix of domination: the idea that oppression is multifaceted 

Queer theory: a perspective that emerged in the 1990s