Deck 7: Gender

Question 1

The expectation that women in western countries should remove body hair because it is 'unfeminine' points to the fact that

A)females with facial and body hair are an anomaly.
B)expectations about appropriate amount and distribution of body hair for males and females are socially created.
C)effective depilatory creams are hard to find.
D)natural differences between males and females that are rooted in biology.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

To achieve the ideal foot length of 1-15 cm, Chinese girls from the 10th to the mid-20th centuries endured foot binding.The practice involved breaking the four smallest toes on each foot and binding them toward the heels so the feet could no longer grow.This situation suggests that

A)gender ideals do not exist in reality, but that does not stop people from trying to achieve them.
B)Chinese women (more than women of other nationalities) will do anything to achieve an ideal.
C)gender ideals are realistic standards that women can meet.
D)gender ideals are biologically based realities.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

A person's sex is determined first and foremost on the basis of

A)distribution of facial and body hair.
B)secondary sex characteristics.
C)primary sex characteristics.
D)social expectations.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

__________ are physical traits not essential to reproduction.

A)Primary sex characteristics
B)Secondary sex characteristics
C)Chromosomal sex characteristics
D)Genders

Question 5

The organising of social life around the male-female distinction is

A)gender polarisation.
B)gender response.
C)hormonal segregation.
D)biological imperative.

Question 6

Sandra Bem wrote that a person's sex is connected to 'virtually every aspect of human experience, including modes of dress, social roles, and even ways of expressing emotion and experiencing sexual desire.' Bem was writing about

A)primary sex characteristics.
B)gender polarisation.
C)genetic and chromosomal sex.
D)the intersexed.

Question 7

________ determines a baby's sex.

A)Predestination
B)Chance
C)The male biological parent
D)The female biological parent

Question 8

__________ are considered secondary sex characteristics.

A)Reproductive organs
B)Facial and body hair
C)Chromosomes
D)Quality of voice

Question 9

We know from cases of ______ that a person's primary sex characteristics may not match his or her sex chromosomes.

A)homosexuals
B)female athletes who have 'failed' sex tests
C)the gender polarised
D)male weightlifters

Question 10

When sociologists study gender, they are interested in all but one of the following:

A)The processes by which people learn behaviours and appearances expected of someone of their sex.
B)People who defy expectations for someone of their sex.
C)The reactions of others when people do not appear or behave appropriately based on their sex.
D)The natural sex differences between males and females.

Question 11

Breast development, quality of voice, and skeletal form are considered

A)primary sex characteristics.
B)secondary sex characteristics.
C)gender characteristics.
D)reproductive characteristics.

Question 12

The fact that women in the United States conform to norms specifying that women have hairless bodies suggests that

A)most women are hairless.
B)women who do not conform are defective females.
C)many seemingly biological differences between men and women are socially constructed.
D)women are biologically distinct from men.

Question 13

______________ is the physical, behavioural, and mental or emotional traits believed to be characteristic of males.

A)A secondary sex characteristic
B)Gender
C)Masculinity
D)A primary sex characteristic

Question 14

______________ is the physical, behavioural and mental or emotional traits believed to be characteristic of females.

A)A secondary sex characteristic
B)Gender
C)Femininity
D)A primary sex characteristic

Question 15

South African runner Caster Semenya was required to submit to sex-determination testing in order to compete in the 2009 international track and field world championships in Berlin.The test

A)determined that Semenya was a man trying to pass as female.
B)determined that she possessed special advantages over other females competitors.
C)proved that she was female.
D)took several weeks to complete and involved a medical examination and reports from a variety of medical specialists and an expert on gender.

Question 16

To achieve the ideal waistline of 45 cm, women have worn corsets and even had their lower ribs removed.This situation suggests that

A)gender ideals do not exist in reality, but that does not stop people from trying to achieve them.
B)Chinese women (more than other nationalities of women) will do anything to achieve an ideal.
C)gender ideals are realistic standards that women can meet.
D)gender ideals are biologically based realities.

Question 17

Sociologists define __________ as social distinctions based on culturally conceived and learned ideas about appropriate behaviour and appearances for males and for females.

A)sex
B)gender
C)sexuality
D)primary sex characteristics

Question 18

Which one of the following statements is false regarding people's reactions to gender ideals of masculinity and femininity?

A)People can resist gender ideals even as they use them to evaluate themselves and others.
B)People can resist gender ideals even while conforming.
C)Most people find ways to subvert gender ideals through deception, secret agreements with others, impression management, or outright challenges.
D)For the most part, human beings passively accept gender ideals regarding masculinity and femininity.

Question 19

Anatomical sex is not a clear-cut category because intersexed people exist.These are people

A)with some mixture of male and female anatomy.
B)who are bisexual in orientation.
C)who are professed homosexuals.
D)who are trapped in the body of a sex they do not want to be.

Question 20

From a sociological point of view, sex is __________ and gender is __________.

A)a biological distinction; a social distinction.
B)a socially constructed phenomenon; a feminist creation.
C)a classification scheme; a continuum.
D)a socially constructed phenomenon; a biological construction.

Question 21

Which university major listed below is the most female-dominated?

A)library science
B)parks and recreation
C)theological studies
D)psychology

Question 22

Sexual orientation is __________ of emotional, romantic and/or sexual attractions to men, women or both sexes.

A)any feelings
B)fleeting feelings
C)intense feelings
D)an enduring pattern

Question 23

An estimated ____________ per cent of girls between the ages of 3 and 11 in the United States have Barbie dolls.

A)20
B)40
C)70
D)95

Question 24

Gender expectations are learned and culturally imposed through all but which one of the following social mechanisms?

A)Socialisation
B)Situational constraints
C)Commercialisation of gender ideals
D)Commercialisation of gender identity

Question 25

Research suggests that early childhood teachers are more accepting of girls' cross-gender behaviours and explorations than they are of such behaviours from boys.Apparently, teachers believe that boys who behave like 'sissies' are at greater risk of becoming homosexual and psychologically ill-adjusted than are girls who behave like 'tomboys'.The practice speaks to which one of the following dynamics?

A)The dynamics of socialisation
B)Innate differences between boys and girls
C)Biologically based differences between boys and girls
D)Gender neutral approaches to education

Question 26

Which one of the following learned body language characteristics applies to females?

A)Sitting or standing with legs positioned away from the body
B)Hands in pockets
C)Hold arms and hands close to their body
D)Direct gaze

Question 27

When child development specialist Beverly Fagot studied children in play groups at age 12 months and then at age 24 months, she found

A)significant sex differences between the interaction styles of 12-month-old boys and girls.
B)no significant sex differences between the interaction styles of 24-month-old boys and girls.
C)that teacher interactions with toddlers reinforced gender-appropriate communication styles for girls and boys.
D)that teachers responded positively toward girls when they behaved assertively and positively toward boys when they communicated in gentle ways.

Question 28

Which statement best reflects the 'socialisation perspective' of gender differences?

A)A person's position in the social structure can channel his or her behaviour in a stereotypical male or female direction.
B)There is a close correspondence between primary sex characteristics and athletic ability.
C)An undetermined but significant portion of male-female differences are products of the ways in which males and females are treated.
D)Differences between men and women can be traced to their daily work experiences.

Question 29

Which one of the following learned body language characteristics applies to males?

A)Sitting or standing with legs positioned away from the body
B)Affiliative facial expression
C)Sitting with legs crossed at the ankles
D)Lowered gaze and constricted body

Question 30

A parent who gets his daughter's ears pierced shortly after her birth because he believes it gives her a feminine identity and appearance is

A)engaging in commodification.
B)homophobic.
C)guilty of misogyny.
D)acting as an agent of socialisation.

Question 31

Mbali is a four-year old girl who has two best friends, Nathan and Julia.Mbali's parents refer to Nathan as Mbali's 'boyfriend' while referring to Julia as Mbali's 'friend'.By doing this Mbali's parents

A)teach her the sexual scripts developed by the homosexual community.
B)send the message that the sexual scripts associated with heterosexuality are the norm.
C)demonstrate their openness to gender diversity.
D)show that sexual orientation is not all that important..

Question 32

Sexual scripts are sex-appropriate responses and behaviours that guide responses in sexual situations.Sexual scripts

A)come naturally.
B)apply to theatrical presentations.
C)are learned.
D)apply only to heterosexual encounters.

Question 33

An primary school learner is asked, 'How would your life be different if you were a member of the opposite sex?' He replies, 'I would have to shave my whole body.' His response implies that he thinks in terms of

A)feminist principles.
B)gender polarisation.
C)a biological model of sex differences.
D)gender convergence

Question 34

When boys and girls are asked how their lives would be different if they were the opposite sex, the responses show that

A)girls believed their lives would change in negative ways if they were boys.
B)boys envisioned themselves as being less restricted in what they could do if they became girls.
C)boys and girls have internalised culturally conceived and learned ideas about sex-appropriate behaviours and appearances.
D)they reflected the natural divisions between the sexes.

Question 35

Barbie dolls have been marketed since 1959, with the purpose of inspiring little girls 'to think about what they want to be when they grow up'.This is an example of the way children's toys

A)are used to instill sexual scripts.
B)figure into the socialisation process.
C)are marketed across genders.
D)reflect natural gender differences.

Question 36

University students choosing majors are influenced by gender ideals if they ask, even subconsciously,

A)'Would my parent approve of this subject?'
B)'Will this subject lead to a high paying job?'
C)'Are the professors who teach the classes feminists?'
D)'What is the "sex" of this major?'

Question 37

Which of the following statements is false about sexual orientation?

A)It includes three distinct categories: lesbian/gay, heterosexual and bi-sexual.
B)It falls along a continuum, with its end points being exclusive attraction to same sex or other sex.
C)A one-time encounter is not an indicator of sexuality.
D)Gender identity and sexual orientation are one and the same concepts.

Question 38

__________ includes all the ways people experience and express themselves as sexual beings.

A)Gender roles
B)Sexual scripts
C)Sexuality
D)Sexual orientation

Question 39

Which university major listed below is the most male-dominated?

A)computer and information science
B)library science
C)mathematics
D)psychology

Question 40

A university student is asked, 'How would your life be different if you were a member of the opposite sex?' He replies, 'I would not have to appear to be in control of every situation'.His response suggests that

A)men can feel constrained by their gender roles.
B)his life would change in negative ways.
C)women are naturally flighty.
D)he would be more conscious of his physical appearance.

Question 41

Which one of the following countries allows openly gay men and lesbians to serve in the military?

A)Italy
B)Saudi Arabia
C)Mexico
D)North Korea

Question 42

The statement 'The different social and physical demands and skills required of men and women when performing their various jobs help them to channel their abilities in sex-appropriate directions' emphasises which one of the following factors?

A)Socialisation
B)Structural constraints
C)Sexism
D)Feminism

Question 43

A way in which marketers convince people to buy products is to play on their insecurities about whether they meet or maintain (as they age) appearances that conform to gender ideals.This strategy applies to

A)selective marketing.
B)gender-schematic marketing.
C)the commercialisation of gender ideals.
D)gender polarisation.

Question 44

The statement 'Ideas linking primary sex characteristics with behaviour and ability perpetuate gender differences and inequality' emphasises which of one the following factors?

A)Socialisation
B)Structural constraints
C)Sexism
D)Feminism

Question 45

Men choose or are pushed into specialties and fields that emphasise decision making and control and that pertain to machines and 'masculine' products and services.This practice is an example of

A)a structural constraint.
B)ideology.
C)selective perception.
D)ethgender.

Question 46

Sexism revolves around four notions.Which one of the following is not one of those notions?

A)People can be classified into two distinct categories: male and female.
B)There is a close correspondence between a person's reproductive anatomy and other characteristics, such as personality, intelligence and athletic ability.
C)Reproductive organs explain social and other inequalities.
D)Secondary sex characteristics are ultimately social constructions.

Question 47

Norms governing male body language suggest all but which one of the following?

A)Dominance
B)Power
C)Vulnerability
D)High status

Question 48

Which one of the following occupations is not among the 10 leading occupations of employed women?

A)Primary school teachers
B)Secretaries
C)Child care workers
D)Chief executive officers

Question 49

Norms governing female body language suggest all but which one of the following?

A)Submissiveness
B)Subordination
C)Vulnerability
D)High status

Question 50

_________ is/are the established and customary rules, policies, and day-to-day practices that affect a person's life chances.

A)Structural constraints
B)Ideologies
C)Selective perceptions
D)Ethgender

Question 51

The statement 'Occupations deemed appropriate for one sex or the other channel behaviour in stereotypically male and female directions' emphasises which one of the following factors?

A)Socialisation
B)Structural constraints
C)Sexism
D)Feminism

Question 52

In their discussion of male-female relationships, Jabu and Mbali come to the conclusion that men are prisoners of their hormones and simply not capable of forming meaningful relationships.Their argument is grounded in

A)socialisation theory.
B)an understanding of situational constraints.
C)the scientific method.
D)sexist ideology.

Question 53

The belief that one sex - and by extension, one gender - is superior to another and that this superiority justifies inequalities between sexes is known as

A)structuralism.
B)sexism.
C)feminism.
D)gender bias.

Question 54

________________ is the process of introducing products into the market by using advertising and sales campaigns that promise consumers they will achieve gender ideals if they buy them.

A)Selective marketing
B)Gender-schematic marketing
C)The commercialisation of gender ideals
D)Gender polarisation

Question 55

The statement 'Norms governing body language are learned' emphasises which one of the following factors?

A)Socialisation
B)Structural constraints
C)Sexism
D)Feminism

Question 56

Women choose or are pushed into specialties and fields that require them to work with young children, involve supervising other women, or that are otherwise considered feminine.This practice is an example of

A)a structural constraint.
B)ideology.
C)selective perception.
D)ethgender.

Question 57

If we take a long view of women's wages (a 15-year period), we find that the average woman earns _______ per cent of what men do during that same time period.

A)38
B)50
C)65
D)82

Question 58

The female market is saturated with products.Thus, marketers must search for a new market, which is directed at men.The problem for marketers is how to sell men's products that have been traditionally viewed as feminine.One strategy is to

A)promote female products as better than male products.
B)advertise the feminising qualities of the product.
C)'masculinise' feminine products.
D)sell gender-neutral products.

Question 59

____________________ push men and women into jobs that correspond with society's ideals regarding sex-appropriate work.

A)Structural constraints
B)Commercialisation of gender ideals
C)Sexist bosses
D)Selective perceptions

Question 60

Which statement would sociologists focused on structural constraints use to explain gender differences?

A)A person's position in a social structure can channel behaviour in sex-appropriate directions.
B)Children's toys figure prominently in the socialisation process.
C)There is a close correspondence between primary sex characteristics and athletic capability.
D)Gender inequalities have a physical basis.

Question 61

Many women buy shoes that are too narrow and wear high heels in spite of foot, back, and neck pain.

Question 62

Even attractive men and women fall short (or will eventually fall short) of gender ideals.

Question 63

Sociologists argue that all differences between males and females are socially induced.

Question 64

_______________seek to give attention to women (and men) whose accomplishments are not recognised relative to the other gender.

A)Sexists
B)Structuralists
C)Feminists
D)Socialists

Question 65

Anatomical sex is not a clear-cut category.

Question 66

From a sociological point of view, ______ is a perspective that advocates equality between men and women.

A)sexism
B)structuralism
C)feminism
D)socialism

Question 67

In which of the following areas of life are men, as a group, most likely to be disadvantaged relative to women?

A)Income
B)Life expectancy
C)Career opportunities
D)Occupational status

Question 68

Sex and gender mean essentially the same thing and are interchangeable terms.

Question 69

Which age group of women has the lowest income gap with men?

A)16-24 years of age
B)25-34 years of age
C)35-44 years of age
D)45-54 years of age

Question 70

Possible explanations for the income differences between men and women include all but one of the following.

A)Women are disproportionately employed in lower-paying, lower-status occupations.
B)Women leave the labour market to care for children and elderly parents and then re-enter it.
C)Women underestimate their worth to employers and ask for less than their male counterparts.
D)Men's earnings are largely viewed as supplemental to women's.

Question 71

Only females work to achieve gender ideals.

Question 72

Women living in the United States are asked, 'Do you consider yourself a feminist?' ____ in four women answer yes.

A)One
B)Two
C)Three
D)Four

Question 73

Women who work in male-dominated occupations can encounter a barrier that prevents them from rising past a certain level in an organisation.This barrier is known as the

A)glass lift.
B)glass ceiling.
C)glass escalator.
D)glass wall.

Question 74

'Judges in courtrooms; priests, rabbis, and mullahs; leaders and members of unions and clubs are most likely males who make policies and decisions that affect the lives of women and girls.' This statement is describing dynamics associated with the

A)subordination of women.
B)natural division of the sexes.
C)feminist movement.
D)developing world.

Question 75

Boys responding to the question 'how would your life be different if you were the opposite sex?' generally believed that their lives would change in negative ways if they became girls.

Question 76

The biological father's contribution of an X or a Y chromosome determines the baby's sex.

Question 77

The interconnections among socially constructed categories of sex, gender, race, class, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, age, and other statuses is known as

A)social standing.
B)intersectionality.
C)sexuality.
D)sectionism.

Question 78

The concept of intersectionality helps us to see all but one of the following:

A)No social category is homogeneous.
B)A person may be dominant or subordinate but not both.
C)The categories to which some belong place them in a complex system of domination and subordination.
D)The effects of the categories a person occupies cannot simply be added together to obtain some grand total.

Question 79

Men who work in female-dominated occupations can encounter an invisible upward movement that puts them in positions of power.This is known as the

A)glass ceiling.
B)glass lift.
C)glass escalator.
D)glass staircase.

Question 80

Sociologists take a ______ perspective when they emphasise in their research and teaching such themes as a right to bodily integrity and autonomy, access to safe contraceptives, the right to choose and freedom from sexual harassment.

A)sexist
B)structuralist
C)feminist
D)socialist