Deck 5: Inequality: Men and Masculinities

Question 1

Which of the following is true of hegemonic masculinity?

A)It is the combination of traits and attributes found in powerful men like CEOs and football stars.
B)It is an impossible ideal that functions to justify and naturalize gender inequality.
C)By approximating it,men feel most comfortable in their masculinity.
D)Men who are automatically excluded from the top of the masculine hierarchy (by virtue of their race,class,immigration status,or some other disadvantage)automatically reject it.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

How does a modified patriarchy differ from an actual patriarchy?

A)In a modified patriarchy,there is gender egalitarianism and femininity is conflated with power.
B)In a modified patriarchy,there is gender egalitarianism and masculinity is conflated with power.
C)In a modified patriarchy,only men have legal rights and privileges.
D)In a modified patriarchy,only women have legal rights and privileges.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

According to hegemonic masculinity,who would be considered the "real man" in our collective imagination?

A)a man who exudes strength,sensitivity,and power
B)a man who exudes intellect,sensitivity,and power
C)a man who exudes strength,charm,and power
D)a man who exudes intellect,sensitivity,and charm

Answer 3

C

Question 4

According to the authors of your textbook,why might men who rank low in the masculine hierarchy still defend hegemonic masculinity?

A)because being a girl is bad,but being a girly man (or boy)is worse
B)because they value hypermasculinity
C)because it assures them that they're superior to women
D)because they want to exert power over others if they possibly can

Question 5

Sociologist Michael Messner described how in his youth he bullied a nonathletic boy while participating in sports himself.This is an example of

A)emasculation.
B)patriarchal bargains.
C)precarious masculinity.
D)subordination.

Question 6

A recent study found that professors demonstrated bias against female candidates and in favor of male candidates when hiring for a science lab manager position.This type of bias is best described as

A)sexism.
B)androcentrism.
C)patriarchy.
D)subordination.

Question 7

Which of the following describes a system in which power is symbolically,but not legally,linked to men?

A)patriarchy
B)brotherhood
C)modified patriarchy
D)hierarchy of masculinity

Question 8

One group of gay men in college formed a fraternity that allowed heterosexual men to be members but excluded gay women from its activities.The chapter describes this incident in order to demonstrate that

A)men usually see benefits from membership in the category "men."
B)men's gender is more salient than women's gender.
C)men who are gay really are not different from other men.
D)gay men are more likely to make patriarchal bargains than heterosexual men.

Question 9

Which of the following changes accompanied the transition of cheerleading from a masculine activity to a feminine one?

A)Cheerleading gained in popularity and became a desirable pursuit.
B)The type of skills cheerleading required changed,so that this activity came to demand much more athleticism than in the past.
C)The traits associated with the ideal character of a cheerleader changed from valiant to cute.
D)Cheerleading was viewed much more seriously and less likely to be trivialized.

Question 10

At Clear Horizons High School,last year was the first year they had more female musicians than male musicians in the jazz orchestra.Although Luis had dreamed of playing in the orchestra,he has decided he no longer wants to audition.What is Luis demonstrating?

A)compensatory masculinity
B)exculpatory chauvinism
C)hegemonic masculinity
D)male flight

Question 11

According to the hierarchy of masculinity,which man is at the top of the hierarchy?

A)a well-educated,tall,affluent,white,heterosexual,able-bodied,fit,Christian,nonimmigrant man
B)a well-educated,tall,affluent,nonwhite,heterosexual,able-bodied,fit,Christian,nonimmigrant man
C)a blue-collar,tall,strong,white,heterosexual,able-bodied,fit,Christian,nonimmigrant man
D)a blue-collar,tall,strong,nonwhite,heterosexual,able-bodied,fit,Christian,nonimmigrant man

Question 12

What is hypermasculinity?

A)a deviant type of masculinity rejected by society
B)a natural form of masculinity that acknowledges men's inherent violence and power
C)an idealized notion of masculinity,which focuses only on its positive strengths
D)extreme levels of conformity to the most aggressive,least empathetic rules governing masculinity

Question 13

Studies on language processes in our brain have demonstrated that the words "human," "individual," and "person" tend to conjure up cognitive images of men,not men and women.This finding reflects the cultural idea that

A)men's gender is more salient than women's gender.Women's gender is invisible.
B)men are "marked" as individuals,while women are seen as having a neutral personality.
C)women are thought of as kids rather than adults.
D)most people see men as people and women as distinct and modified.

Question 14

In the United States,the typical bathroom symbol indicating a men's room is the same as the generic symbol for person (in crosswalk lights,for instance).This is an example of

A)the symbolic marginalization of women.
B)the salience of men's,but not women's,gender.
C)the important role patriarchy plays in our daily lives.
D)the enactment of democratic brotherhood.

Question 15

Hegemony can best be described as

A)persistent patterns of social interaction that stand out as very unequal.
B)widely shared beliefs that make inequality seem inevitable or natural.
C)widely endorsed behavioral rules that people would be afraid to violate.
D)rule by force.

Question 16

Miriam is living in a/an __________ society in which both men and women tend to avoid feminine traits and acts.

A)androcentric
B)modified patriarchal
C)patriarchal
D)sexist

Question 17

What is sexism?

A)the granting of higher status,respect,value,reward,and power to the masculine compared to the feminine
B)the placing of women into positions that make them subservient to or dependent on men
C)the legal control of female and younger male family members by select adult men
D)the favoring of male-bodied over female-bodied people,both ideologically and in practice

Question 18

Professor Smith has a chemistry lab that is staffed by graduate student research assistants.He expects his female research assistants to schedule all lab meetings and take notes during the meetings.Professor Smith is engaging in

A)androcentrism.
B)patriarchy.
C)sexism.
D)subordination.

Question 19

Richard highly values masculine traits.He has a daughter who is very athletic and strong while he has a son who is very interested in poetry and nature.Richard favors his daughter in all of his interactions.__________ may explain why Richard favors his daughter over his son.

A)Androcentrism
B)Subordination
C)Patriarchy
D)Sexism

Question 20

Why do men make patriarchal bargains?

A)Patriarchal bargains are strategies that allow men to be both feminine and masculine.
B)Patriarchal bargains protect men from the fear of emasculation.
C)Patriarchal bargains protect men from subordination by other men.
D)Patriarchal bargains allow some men to claim a higher status than women and some other men.

Question 21

What are some ways in which power is symbolically linked to masculinity in our society? Discuss three original examples in which power is conflated with masculine traits or performances.

Question 22

Sociologists Douglas Schrock and Michael Schwalbe say that "the effort to signify a masculine self . . . can be toxic." What do they mean by that? Provide at least three examples from the chapter in the development of your answer.

Question 23

How do men's other social identities intersect with their gender?

A)Now that there is formal gender equality,gender identity is no longer relevant in terms of placement in social hierarchies.
B)Regardless of their class,race,or sexual orientation,men always have more power and privileges than women.
C)Men's disadvantages from other social identities can significantly outweigh their gender advantage.
D)Some men do not have to do masculinity due to their other social identities.

Question 24

__________ suggests that manhood is more difficult to earn,and easier to lose,than womanhood.

A)Compensatory masculinity
B)Hypermasculinity
C)Precarious masculinity
D)Toxic masculinity

Question 25

Sociologist Gwen Sharp suggests that "masculinity is [constructed as] so fragile that apparently even the slightest brush with the feminine destroys it." First,explain this statement,and then evaluate the statement.Do you agree or disagree? Make sure to explain your reasoning.

Question 26

In a psychology experiment,two groups of men are invited to watch films.The first group watches a romantic comedy while the second group watches an action film.After the screening,dinner is served to each group.There is a choice of steak or salad,and the men who watched the romantic comedy were twice as likely to choose a steak.What type of masculinity were these men enacting?

A)compensatory masculinity
B)hypermasculinity
C)precarious masculinity
D)toxic masculinity

Question 27

According to researcher Michael Kaufman,"Within each group,men usually have privileges and power relative to the women in that group,but in society as a whole,things are not always so straightforward." Explain this statement and provide at least two examples to support your explanation.Show how the examples you choose illustrate the complex workings of privileges and power to which Kaufman refers.

Question 28

What is hegemonic masculinity? What makes it unattainable in practice? If it can't be real,what social purposes does this idea serve? Why would men uphold it,even at the price of their own subordination?

Question 29

First,define the term "hybrid masculinities." Then,evaluate whether you think hybrid masculinities can lead to a more gender-equal society.Make sure to explain your reasoning.

Question 30

In the Smith household,Linda is responsible for doing all the laundry because Martin once washed red and white clothes together,which turned the white items pink.Martin and Linda explain this arrangement to friends by noting that he doesn't understand how to do laundry as well as she does,so it only makes sense for her to complete the task.__________ best explains why Martin no longer does laundry.

A)Exculpatory chauvinism
B)Hypermasculinity
C)Patriarchal bargain
D)Precarious masculinity

Question 31

Mary believes that hybrid masculinities will lead to a more gender-equal society.Is Mary right to be so optimistic?

A)yes,because hybrid masculinities challenge the underlying unequal relationships between men and women
B)yes,because hybrid masculinities have been used to place women at the top of gender hierarchies
C)no,because there are very few,if any,men who enact hybrid masculinities
D)no,because hybrid masculinities are largely symbolic and do not seek to alter the underlying relationships between men and women