Deck 10: Gender Inequality

Question 1

Variations in gender roles found in the many different societies studied by social scientists demonstrate that:

A) gender roles are biologically determined
B) gender roles are so unique that they only make sense within a society, not across societies
C) gender roles are culturally determined
D) gender roles are essentially the same everywhere with only minor variations

Answer 1

C

Question 2

When a boy chooses an outfit to wear for the day and considers the context and the response he will receive (a baseball game, for example, or a band concert), he is:

A) making up gender roles as he goes
B) simply making a practical decision that has nothing to do with sex or gender
C) doing gender
D) following innate biological "rules" that define gender

Answer 2

C

Question 3

According to the text, what does biological sex refer to?

A) one's social roles
B) one's gender
C) the psychological, social, and cultural differences between males and females
D) the anatomical differences distinguishing males from females

Answer 3

D

Question 4

One idea shared by all schools of feminist thought is:

A) that women have an unequal position in society
B) that inequality is caused by capitalism
C) a belief that the roots of gender inequality are biological
D) that gender inequality is caused by unequal access to civil rights

Question 5

A transgender person ________________, whereas a cisgender person ________________.

A) is born with both male and female genitalia; is born with either male or female genitalia
B) is always non-cis; may or may not be non-cis
C) may physically transition from woman to man or vice versa; expresses the gender that corresponds with their sex at birth
D) may not be intersex; may or may not be intersex

Question 6

What is the key difference between the terms sex and gender?

A) Sex is a verb, while gender is a noun.
B) Sex refers to biological traits, while gender refers to social traits.
C) Sex refers to men, while gender refers to women.
D) Sex refers to aggressive behavior, while gender refers to expressive behavior.

Question 7

Suki is a socialist feminist, so she joins an activist cause to:

A) introduce anti-domestic violence legislation into her state legislative process
B) found a women's-only economic and residential collective
C) work with interested women and men to fight class oppression
D) reject romance and marriage between men and women because this is "sleeping with the enemy"

Question 8

A growing number of sociologists have argued that:

A) only gender is socially constructed while sex is clearly biological
B) only sex is socially constructed while gender is clearly biological
C) both gender and sex are socially constructed
D) both gender and sex are biologically determined

Question 9

Despite feminist critique, Dr. Tofler writes a book that updates and extends Bowlby's theory of women's roles. Tofler's thesis is that in the twenty-first century, it is important for women to prioritize the role of mother over their working role because:

A) women concentrating on domestic responsibilities is practical and convenient
B) a clear domestic role for women is logical and efficient
C) women are biologically wired for expressive roles such as mother
D) without proper attachment to the mother, a child may be improperly socialized

Question 10

A corporate executive raises the question "Why are women employees underrepresented in the tech department?" Which explanation expresses biological determinism?

A) "Women prefer flexible careers so they can care for children and aging parents."
B) "Girls haven't been encouraged enough toward tech in elementary school."
C) "Women's brains don't process technological information as well as men's."
D) "The tech department has a reputation for allowing sexual harassment against women."

Question 11

If an anthropologist today were to use Margaret Mead's early 20^th century New Guinea research to predict the future of gender roles in the United States, what would the anthropologist predict?

A) over time, societies stabilize into traditional gender roles (men in the public sphere, women in the private sphere)
B) gender roles have a tendency toward conflict, so we can expect long-term political and social disagreement about gender, transgender, and sexuality norms and laws
C) because gender roles are not universal, what unfolds in the United States will depend on its particular context
D) the future will be more individualized, with individuals deciding for themselves their sex and gender labels and roles

Question 12

According to functionalist sociologist Talcott Parsons, the family is most efficient when it operates with a clear sexual division of labor, with the males being the breadwinners and females providing care and security as well as emotional support. In this arrangement, women take what Parsons termed the:

A) expressive role
B) instrumental role
C) wife and mother role
D) second role

Question 13

A sociologist observes a group of adults at a concert, collecting data on aggressive behavior. His observations are consistent with previous sociological research. He observes women:

A) slapping and fist-fighting, but only after consuming a lot of alcohol
B) yelling insults and curse words
C) eye-rolling, gossiping, and bad-mouthing their friends
D) minimizing and covering over their male companions' aggression

Question 14

Gender socialization begins:

A) at birth
B) around age 2 or 3
C) when a child starts school
D) at puberty

Question 15

Sociologists develop theories to explain why, in nearly all societies:

A) men dominate women
B) aggression is abhorred, yet no one can stop it
C) there is movement toward gender equality, but it is very slow
D) feminist movements have tried to draw attention to female subordination

Question 16

Which concept do scholars use to refer to the biological differences between men and women?

A) sex
B) gender
C) nature
D) sexuality

Question 17

Boundaries between the genders are often blurred. The nádleehí refers to ______________, whereas intersex refers to _____________.

A) a male-bodied person with a feminine nature; a person with both male and female physical characteristics
B) someone who is socialized to believe he or she is female; someone who chooses which gender he or she wishes to be
C) a person born male but living socially as a woman; a person born female but living socially as a man
D) someone who is assigned a gender at birth on the basis of society's need; someone who makes a gender choice based on individual need

Question 18

The examination of gender inequalities in terms of social and cultural attitudes and the argument that gradual reform of existing social institutions is the best way to avoid these inequalities stem from:

A) liberal feminism
B) radical feminism
C) black feminism
D) postmodern feminism

Question 19

What is the message that !Kung children learn about aggression?

A) Aggressive behavior is not tolerated in their society by either gender.
B) Mothers may be physically aggressive but only in response to male violence.
C) Fathers may be physically aggressive but not mothers.
D) Fathers or mothers may be aggressive but only toward children of the same sex as themselves.

Question 20

Which of the following television characters expresses hegemonic masculinity?

A) an easygoing father who isn't very intelligent or motivated
B) a superhero character who uses physical strength and self-reliance to save the day
C) an intelligent young man who solves crimes by working as part of a team
D) a transgender man who overcomes adversity

Question 21

How might a liberal feminist interpret the fact that the 2015 pay gap between men and women is less than the 1979 pay gap?

A) This indicates a trajectory of positive change, though it certainly should be more rapid.
B) The slowness of positive change suggests that existing political and economic institutions are broken beyond repair.
C) As long as men dominate the top level of corporations, the pay gap will never close.
D) This chart is not very meaningful because it does not break data down by race and social class.

Question 22

After five years in the same job, you receive a nice promotion. As you leave your first meeting with your new boss, he smiles and suggests that to really cement your position, you should go out on a "date" with him this evening. You have been subjected to:

A) quid pro quo sexual harassment
B) pro bono sexual harassment
C) employment-based violence
D) the gender treatment gap

Question 23

How has women's participation in the paid labor force changed during the past 50 years?

A) It has gone up and down with no clear pattern.
B) Participation has dropped steadily.
C) The presence of women in the paid labor force has risen steadily, with a slight drop since 2009.
D) It actually dropped for the first 25 years but rose for the past 25.

Question 24

A sociologist notices an upward trend in women-owned businesses in the United States but, based on previous research, predicts that these businesses will be:

A) taken over by men within several years
B) smaller than men-owned businesses
C) larger than men-owned businesses
D) more inclusive of women in top leadership

Question 25

Which statement demonstrates the principles of transnational feminism?

A) Global processes, including colonialism and racism, shape gender relations.
B) The category "woman" is essentialist, denying the broad variety of standpoints that shape experience.
C) Women's rights will improve through existing political and social institutions.
D) True equality is impossible in a society with a fundamentally flawed economy such as capitalism.

Question 26

As a result of differential treatment in schools, girls are socialized to be:

A) quiet
B) inquisitive
C) active problem solvers
D) feminine

Question 27

Mislabeling of behavioral problems in school, according to sociologists, may have resulted in the placement in special education programs of dramatically higher numbers of:

A) girls
B) boys
C) transgender children
D) intersex children

Question 28

A Wall Street investment banking firm is seeking good candidates to fill a newly created position in upper management. Among the criteria are that the individual must have had at least 15 years of experience and an advanced degree. One factor that may affect the chances of a woman being hired into this position might be:

A) the glass ceiling
B) the glass escalator
C) women tend to be less educated than men
D) a predominance of female managers in the company

Question 29

Despite the fact that men earn more than women in most instances, __________________ is true of all jobs that are "typed" as female jobs.

A) higher pay for both men and women
B) lower pay for both men and women
C) higher pay for women than men
D) the same pay for both women and men

Question 30

Unwanted or repeated sexual advances, remarks, or behavior that is offensive to the recipient and causes discomfort or interference with job performance is defined as:

A) gender typing
B) sexual harassment
C) quid pro quo
D) misogynistic attitude

Question 31

When sociologists refer to the "second shift" for working women, they mean the:

A) shift of women workers from industrial jobs to service jobs
B) sexism, harassment, and discrimination that they face at work
C) fact that most women found it more acceptable to work from 5:00 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. rather than the first shift from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
D) burden of housework that awaits a woman when she returns home from work

Question 32

In the United States, a commonly held assumption about women and work is that women:

A) have a more global perspective on economic issues than men do
B) have natural leadership skills that are best displayed in emergency situations
C) are naturally more capable than men in executive situations that require quick responses
D) are naturally better in support positions in office settings than in managerial positions

Question 33

Which of the following generally describes the attitudes of both women and men?

A) Both men and women recognize that a woman's career is equally important as a woman's child-care responsibilities.
B) Both men and women are socialized to believe that a man's career is more important than a woman's.
C) Although men may believe that their careers are more important than a woman's, women do not believe this assertion.
D) Women believe that a man's career is more important than a woman's, but men do not accept this difference.

Question 34

Teachers often show a bias against girls in the classroom by:

A) punishing girls more often for their misbehavior than boys, whose bad behaviors are more generally tolerated
B) being more likely to call on girls for answers, which often causes embarrassment for the girls
C) being more likely to label girls rather than boys as having learning disabilities
D) providing girls with the correct answers but helping boys solve the problems

Question 35

The "glass ceiling" prevents women from improving their salaries and positions. At the same time, men who enter a field that is usually dominated by women find that they encounter:

A) misogyny
B) the same glass ceiling
C) a significant comparable worth problem
D) the glass escalator

Question 36

Since the 1950s, women's participation in the labor force has risen more or less continuously, and now women:

A) have replaced men as the primary breadwinners in most families
B) earn more than men
C) earn just as much as men
D) outnumber men in the labor force

Question 37

Which woman has been gender typed?

A) Emily is sexually harassed daily at her job.
B) Jona applies for a teacher position and is steered toward the teacher's aide role instead.
C) Jessica's boss asks her whether she is going to have a baby soon and quit her job.
D) Anne's boss encourages her to apply for an upper-management position.

Question 38

Which of the following has been offered as a sociological explanation for the gap between women's and men's work in the home?

A) Women do most of the housework in exchange for economic support from men.
B) Women generally enjoy doing housework, whereas men generally do not.
C) Men do not have the ability to be primary caregivers.
D) Women are biologically predisposed to doing housework because of their superior organizational skills.

Question 39

The type of feminism most likely to reject the statement that "sisterhood is universal" would be:

A) liberal
B) socialist
C) postmodern
D) radical

Question 40

Sexual harassment in the workplace involves unwanted sexual advances, remarks, and behavior that are offensive to the recipient and that:

A) damage the recipient's health such that professional health care is sought
B) interfere with job performance
C) involve men harming women
D) are observed and documented by other employees

Question 41

The Centers for Disease Control reports that one in five women worldwide will be a victim of rape or attempted rape. In the United States, the rate is about one in:

A) a thousand
B) a hundred
C) five
D) two

Question 42

The gender pay gap has narrowed so considerably that men and women now earn the same amount of money for the same type of work.

Question 43

The idea that people who invest more in their schooling, on-the-job training, and work experience are paid more is known as ________ theory.

A) gender typing
B) sex segregation
C) comparable worth
D) human capital

Question 44

Is it fair to say that gender inequality is at play in college major choices even though students freely choose their majors? Why or why not?

Question 45

The World Health Organization concluded that _____________ is the most prevalent type of violence against women.

A) rape by stranger
B) rape as a weapon of war
C) abuse from an intimate partner
D) childhood sexual abuse

Question 46

How are black feminism and transnational feminism similar? How are they different?

Question 47

Of the 132 countries that belong to the United Nations, only _______ are headed by women.

A) 0
B) 1
C) 17
D) 50

Question 48

If the United States were to implement paid parental leave policies similar to Sweden's, how would this likely influence gender equity?

A) Men would be required to take parental leave, which would encourage equity in child care and housework.
B) Strong state support for parental leave would positively influence women to return to the workforce without reduced pay or success and influence men to participate more in housework.
C) State support for parental leave would encourage underemployed and unemployed workers to take the jobs temporarily vacated by parents, which would strengthen equity for everyone.
D) Swedish policies may increase equity for a time in the United States, but the contexts are different, so the gender pay gap would likely rebound in the United States.

Question 49

Despite the decreasing gender gap in pay, men still earn substantially more than women.

Question 50

According to the human capital theory, which of the following is a reason why women earn, on average, less than men?

A) Employers are less likely to invest in their female employees because they believe the women's careers will be interrupted by things such as child rearing.
B) Employers recognize that women require more breaks during the workday and must lower or dock their pay.
C) Money is less important to women than it is to men, so employers pay them less than men.
D) Employers are less likely to invest in their female employees because women do not work as hard as men.

Question 51

Why is rape used as a weapon of war more often when the future existence of the state is threatened?

A) War is chaotic, and this situation is extremely chaotic.
B) Perpetrators feel uncertain, and they act violently.
C) Rape dehumanizes people and can promote ethnic cleansing.
D) Perpetrators think they won't be punished if the state doesn't exist in the future.

Question 52

Today, despite family obligations, a majority of women of all educational levels work outside the home during their child-rearing years.

Question 53

What would intersectionality contribute to a study of gender role socialization? Explain and then give a brief example.

Question 54

On a sociological level, how does gender inequality negatively affect men?

A) Men are more likely to commit crimes and more likely to commit suicide.
B) Men self-report higher degrees of happiness and self-fulfillment.
C) Men enjoy social power and prestige.
D) Men are almost equally at risk of experiencing the glass ceiling.

Question 55

Across the globe, women are more likely to hold seats in national legislatures when:

A) women's rights are a strong cultural value
B) liberal feminism is an active social movement
C) men's movements are politically active
D) women forgo postsecondary schooling to pursue a political career

Question 56

Central to human capital theory and a source of criticism of that same theory by feminist sociologists is the idea that:

A) childhood socialization into traditional gender roles may limit the extent to which women freely choose their occupations
B) women may be prevented from entering certain occupations due to discrimination by "gatekeepers" on the job
C) the difference in power between men and women in society limits women from redefining their occupations as skilled
D) women's primary allegiance is to home and family

Question 57

What is one commonality between cisgender, transgender, and intersex? What is one distinctive feature of each concept?

Question 58

What is one key difference between liberal feminism and radical feminism?

Question 59

Human capital theorists reason that women choose occupations that are easy to move in and out of while still providing a decent income because women:

A) are more indecisive than men
B) do not have the ability to commit to a strong career trajectory
C) do not suffer from a wage penalty when they reenter the workforce
D) have primary allegiance to home and family

Question 60

Some political offices are considered good for women or for men, but others are considered "men's work" due to:

A) the amount of time the politician spends in the spotlight
B) the likelihood that the office will be won by a Democrat
C) how far from home the political office is
D) how close to home the political office is

Question 61

Choose three strands of feminism: liberal, radical, socialist, black, transnationalist, and postmodern. Briefly define how feminists in the three strands define the problem of gender inequality and the solution. Which of these three do you find more compelling, and why?

Question 62

Briefly describe the social role of the bacha posh in Afghanistan or the Navajo nàdleehì (two-spirit). How could this example from another culture influence our understanding of gender in the United States?

Question 63

What are some of the processes that produce gender typing? What are the effects of gender typing on occupational segregation?

Question 64

Propose an intervention that would reduce violence against women. Explain how your intervention is built on sociological research described in the chapter.

Question 65

If sex refers to biological differences, why do sociologists see sex, like gender, as socially constructed?

Question 66

How does gender inequality affect men? Offer two examples, and explain why gender privilege results in negative outcomes.

Question 67

What are similarities and differences between the "glass ceiling" and the "glass escalator"? What do these concepts have to do with gender inequality in the workplace?