Willy Mendoza

Professor Mozzini
Sociology 1
27 July 2016
On Gender: Witt Ch. 12
1. Social construction of gender refers to the expected meaning genders are supposed to
play within a community. Society creates these roles based off an individuals gender
which gets interpreted as ideal or appropriate within that society. Gender indicates the act
of differentiating between male or female, in terms of social and traditional differences
such as masculinity and femininity rather that biological means.
2. Feminism is portrayed as the activism of womens rights; a form of encouragement to
equality through political, social and economic means compared to men. Each wave of
feminism identifies different features of the same feminist disputes. The first wave took
place in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century dealing with womens suffrage
movements. During this wave, women fought for equality in means of political power.
The second wave happening right after World War II dealt with womens liberation
movement. This wave focused on women in the workplace, the role in family and
reproductive rights. The third wave is the present wave in which women are still fighting
for equal pay in the workplace, reproductive rights and an end to violence against
women. Sexism is seen as the idea of customary gender role categorizes as well as the
inequality between men and women. Institutional discrimination refers to the inequality
of an individual and/or a group of those individuals with the same objectives. Glass
ceiling refers to the invisible barrier that prevents women or other minorities from

enhancing in their occupation. Feminists address these three things with social
movements such as campaigning, striking, etc.
3. Men are more likely to perform occupations such as doctors, lawyers, etc. Such
occupations that require higher levels of education. Women are more likely to perform
occupations such as teachers, nurses, etc. Such occupations require less years of
education. Comparing men and womens earnings, even the same occupation, men tend
to get higher amounts of earnings, even if it appears to be a few cents. There is not a clear
explanation to why men have this form of supremacy over women, although a reason
could be because men are considered the dominant sex. The government should become
more involved in concerns like this. Until the idea of men being the dominant sex and
this idea of masculinity over femininity ends, society will continue the same way.
4. The second shift refers to the double or extra liability women have other than their daily
occupation. Some examples would be cleaning up at home, making dinner, taking care of
the children, etc. I think it is possible to equalize the second shift. The household and
families require equal amount of input from both spouses; therefore, both should provide
equally amount of work.