Exam 9: Gender Inequality
In a short paragraph discuss Talcott Parsons's view of the family. Do you agree with his analysis? Why or why not? Please explain.
To answer this question, students must first present Parsons's perspective on the family, then discuss the criticisms. In Parsons's view, the family operates most efficiently with a clear-cut sexual division of labor in which females act in expressive roles, providing care and security to children and offering them emotional support, and men perform instrumental roles-namely, being the breadwinner in the family. This complementary division of labor, springing from a biological distinction between the sexes, would ensure the solidarity of the family. Feminists argue that women are not prevented from pursuing occupations on the basis of any biological features; rather, humans are socialized into roles that are culturally expected of them. Also, there is no basis to the belief that the expressive female is necessary for the smooth operation of the family; rather, it is a role that is promoted largely for the convenience of men. In addition, cross-cultural and historical studies show that the degree to which societies differentiate tasks as exclusively male or female can vary greatly across time and place. Thus, gender inequalities do not seem to be fixed or static.
A sociological perspective that emphasizes the centrality of gender in analyzing the social world and particularly the uniqueness of women is known as:
A
Karen made an unwanted sexual advance on her date Sarah, persisting even though it was clear that Sarah was resistant. How would sociologists characterize this interaction?
C
Which of the following statements best explains the role of biology in describing the behavior patterns of men and women?
Why did Columbia University student Emma Sulkowicz carry her mattress around with her across campus?
Which of the following is an example of aggression that is consistent with female gender role socialization? 

How do gender, marital status, and parental status interact in time spent doing housework? Answer in two to five sentences.
Researchers have found that boys are responded to positively when they act in masculine ways, but when they act in feminine ways, they are either admonished or ignored. This finding provides the most support for which approach to gender?
What is a criticism of the functionalist approach to the family expressed by sociologist Talcott Parsons?
Some critics argue that women are not fit to be in leadership positions because of their gender. Which perspective are these critics exemplifying?
Answer the following questions in a short paragraph. In what ways are boys and girls treated differently at school? What are some consequences of this differential treatment?
How does the idea of "doing gender" differ from biological essentialism?
Which feminist would most likely advocate for the overthrowing of the patriarchal order?
Which perspective argues that gender inequality is the result of male domination in all aspects of social and economic life?
According to your textbook, why are sociologists interested in understanding gender from an intersectional perspective?
Which of the following is an example of quid pro quo sexual harassment?
Using the !Kung of the Kalahari Desert, the bacha posh in Afghanistan, and the nádleehí in Navajo culture as support, discuss in a short paragraph how gender can be seen as a social construction.
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