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On Gender: Witt Ch.

12

1.What is meant by the social construction of gender? Provide a thorough response,
using sociological terms and situations.
The social construction of gender pertains to the process of building the status of a boy
or girl, woman or man as an individual. For example, the clothes one wears, the friends
they establish, the activities they partake, the careers/job they hold, and the income they
collect are factors that construct the difference between a woman and a man. As a
newborn it is to early to tell all of these things but with time their are gender expectations
that are predisposed ideas of what people expect from a male or female. Society rely on
the gender norms and indicators of what a male or female should be like, act, own, and
look like.
2.What is feminism? Discuss the first wave, second wave and third wave of feminism.
How do feminists address sexism, institutional discrimination and the glass ceiling?
Feminism is the belief in equality for woman socially, economically and
politically.The first wave granted women the right to vote when the 19th amendment. In
1848, a group of women gathered to start a feminist movement which led up to other
events where women stood up and fought for equality. The second wave started when
Betty Friedman wrote, The Feminine Mystique. In this book she described a problem
with no name, which women could not describe the problem but related to the feeling of
emptiness and unhappiness with their position in society. The women were not included
and had no significant role in society. Women were expected to be wives and take care of
their children. Furthermore, Friedans book provided awareness and inspired more and
more women to fight for opportunities and challenge the men. The third wave of
feminism encouraged a movement of all difference. Unlike, the 1st and 2nd movement
which pertained to equality of women the 3rd movement embraced diversity. Women
were now representing differences in gender, sex, race and status.
Feminists address sexism when women are limited to the type of jobs available to
them. Women have selective sex-typed jobs that are safe or accessible to them that are
considered women jobs. The following are considered women jobs: nurse, dental
hygienist, teacher, librarian and many other. Although, women have selective jobs
available they are under represented in the male workforce. Feminists would address
institutional discrimination by looking at the influences of the workforce and its
resources because institutions like the armed forces, government jobs and medical fields
are controlled by men. Therefore, it makes it difficult for women to attain these jobs
because men continue to hire other men because that is its normal way of operating. The
glass ceiling feminist would address is cut short with job opportunities, financial rewards,


promotions, and set boundaries that women arent qualified to achieve because of their
race, ethnicity, or sex.
3.What occupations are men likely to perform? What occupations are women likely to
perform? (See pages 303-306). Compare their (men & women) earnings. Who is likely to
earn more? What accounts for wage gaps between men and women? Can such gaps be
corrected?
Men are most likely to perform jobs outside of their home. Men jobs, are considered
firefighters, police officers, lawyers, dentists, etc. On the other hand, women most
naturally become a housewife. Which represents the man going off to work and the
women to stay home and take care of their children. Women that do get into the
workforce are most likely to become teachers, nurses, tellers, nurses etc. According to the
book, Soc 2013 by Witt, women makes less then you average man even when
comparing the same job/careers. Statistics say that in 2010, women made $36,931 and
men made $47,715 working full-time. Thats a $10,000 difference. When comparing the
median income for men and women in a small fragments, the average man makes a dollar
and the women makes 77 cents. The reasons for the gaps between men and women are
one, because women focus on low paying jobs, only four jobs earn more income then
men, and women make less then men in the same jobs. I dont think the gaps can be
corrected certain careers will favor more women then men and vice versa by the choice
each gender makes which affects the statistics and the opportunities that open up sex-
typed jobs.
4.What is the second shift? Explain. Culturally, is it possible to equalize the second
shift? If so, how? For more insight into women in the workplace, check out this video
about women in the workplace.
The second shift refers to the double work that women have to do when juggling the
work outside the home and the work at home which only a few men have to do. It is
possible to equalize the second shift by providing the resources to help women with
childcare and flexible family policies.

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