Deck 7: Gender Inequality

Question 1

Which term matches the following definition: "an internalized sense of being a man or a woman"?

A) It is a person's biological sex.
B) It is a person's sexual identity.
C) It is a person's self-concept.
D) It is a person's gender identity.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Mark identifies as a feminist and believes that women are disadvantaged in the public sphere. He is very involved with rally groups aimed at pressuring the government to fund more subsidized daycare centres. Which feminist perspective has Mark adopted?

A) multiracial feminist
B) socialist feminist
C) radical feminist
D) liberal feminist

Answer 2

B

Question 3

What are social roles?

A) They are the ways people behave that violate social norms.
B) They are behaviours defined by people's sex, biology, and genetics.
C) They are roles distinctly and solely defined by gender stereotypes.
D) They are behaviours expected of people in particular social positions.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

According to the text, which of the following is listed as a dimension of inequality?

A) power
B) intelligence
C) egalitarianism
D) equality

Question 5

Broverman et al. (1972) report that images of masculinity and femininity were often polarized, emphasizing opposites. Which of the following was a trait associated with women?

A) Women are very competitive.
B) Women are very illogical.
C) Women are very independent.
D) Women are very aggressive.

Question 6

According to sociologists, which of the following statements explains the fact that women in our culture, on average, have long hair, wear makeup, wear skirts, and adorn themselves with jewellery?

A) These things naturally make women more attractive to men.
B) Most women are mindful of what it is to appear feminine in our culture.
C) Innate tendencies produce natural differences in appearance.
D) These differences are socially constructed notions of femininity.

Question 7

Ana is a stay-at-home mother and is very embarrassed in social settings when the inevitable "What do you do?" question arises. What reason could be given to explain her distress?

A) Ana has forgotten how to socialize with adults.
B) Ana is feeling guilty for enjoying herself while the children are at home with a babysitter.
C) Ana knows that her job as a stay-at-home mom is awarded little prestige by society.
D) Ana is more comfortable asking questions then answering them.

Question 8

A high-school class is debating social inequality, and a female student declares herself a feminist and states, "The root of inequality between men and women is male domination." Which feminist perspective does this statement echo?

A) radical feminism
B) liberal feminism
C) multiracial feminism
D) socialist feminism

Question 9

A young woman becomes emotionally distraught upon being told the family pet has died. She gets teary-eyed and her boyfriend defends her emotionality to his teasing male friends as "part of being a woman." Which of the following terms best characterizes his statement?

A) male chivalry
B) gender socialization
C) gender stereotyping
D) polar opposites

Question 10

Mathew came home stressed and exhausted after a long day at the office. His wife cooked him dinner and helped him reduce his stress so he could get a good night's sleep. The next morning he was ready to face the day. What feminist theory could use this example as the basis to argue women's unequal position in our society?

A) Marxist feminism
B) liberal feminism
C) conservative feminism
D) democratic feminism

Question 11

What view of society is reflected in the statement, "Women should be home raising the children"?

A) a humanist view
B) a patriarchal view
C) a domestic view
D) a womanist view

Question 12

A young woman working at a minimum-wage job has trouble paying her rent, and sells some of her possessions; later her power is shut off, and eventually she gets evicted and lives on the street. What component of her life is the core of her disadvantage?

A) resource deprivation
B) social inequality
C) material well-being
D) worker exploitation

Question 13

When Anita was born, her parents looked at her and said, "There is the face of a future prime minister." Fifty years ago people may have been surprised by that statement. Today, however, the fact that a baby girl might be considered a future leader of the country reflects a development in our society. What is it?

A) increasing gendered optimism
B) changing gender roles
C) changing professional profiles
D) increasing political feminism

Question 14

Gail, a female public school teacher, has the same experience and credentials as a male counterpart and the two compete for a principal's job. The male teacher gets the job, and Gail notices that most of the schools in her district have male principals, whereas most of the school board's employees are female. According to sociologists, what does this indicate?

A) prejudice
B) systemic discrimination
C) sexism
D) gender inequalities

Question 15

When measuring social inequality between groups, one must take into account the asymmetrical distribution of one of the following factors. Which one is it?

A) prestige
B) numbers
C) ethnicity
D) intelligence

Question 16

The television show "The Simpsons" features Lisa (the intelligent and well-behaved daughter) and Bart (the naughty and playful son) as children of Marge the homemaker and Homer the breadwinner. What is this television show reinforcing?

A) traditional family values
B) gender equity
C) biological determinism
D) gender-based stereotypes

Question 17

What term is used to refer to the cause and nature of women's disadvantages and subordination in society?

A) socialism
B) feminism
C) patriarchy
D) liberalism

Question 18

A stylish feminist on a blind date is told that she is very feminine and delicate, and her date couldn't imagine her in a male-dominated occupation. On their next date, he is humbled when she shows up in her police uniform, and she tells him, "It's those kinds of misconceptions that keep women down." What kind of feminist is the policewoman?

A) radical feminist
B) Marxist feminist
C) multiracial feminist
D) liberal feminist

Question 19

According to the text, which of the following is an important source of material well-being?

A) work-related earnings/wealth
B) prestige or social standing
C) being in line for an inheritance
D) power or control of others

Question 20

Many magazine photographs and advertisements show teenage girls grooming themselves-such as putting on makeup, trying on half a dozen outfits-and generally worrying about their appearance, but very few show teenage boys doing these things. What term is given to this depiction of female and male behaviour?

A) role expectations
B) gender stereotypes
C) primary sex characteristics
D) biological values

Question 21

Which of the following is an activity that women spend less time doing than men?

A) eldercare
B) watching TV
C) housecare
D) childcare

Question 22

According to the text, which of the following is an explanation of gender inequality in earnings for women?

A) It is a result of our society's higher valuation of men and men's roles.
B) There are differences in the types of work performed by each gender.
C) Earnings reflect the productivity of male versus female workers.
D) It reflects biological determinants such as muscle mass, height, and weight.

Question 23

Sara is an excellent mother because she knows how to comfort her children when they are in distress using hugs, smiles, and stories to distract them from whatever problem made them cry in the first place. However, she receives no rewards or accolades for her efforts. Why does this situation exist in our society?

A) Her actions are seen as a biological trait.
B) Her skills are recognized as valuable only in certain spheres.
C) Her family duties do not deserve recognition.
D) She became a mother, so she chose this life.

Question 24

Prior to World War II, many school districts banned women from teaching if they were married. But in the years following the war, school districts eliminated their policies restricting the employment of married women teachers. What would explain this reversal of policy?

A) School boards came to believe that married women were better teachers than single women.
B) The government enacted antidiscrimination legislation.
C) The baby boom following the war necessitated a greater need for teachers due to the increased number of students.
D) School boards took the view that "spinster" school teachers were highly likely to be lesbians.

Question 25

Milena just started a new job at a prestigious law firm as lead council of the immigration division. However, her family still expects her to come home and fix dinner every night. With all of the success that the women's movement has achieved, which of the following explains this situation?

A) Women still have to meet their mothering responsibilities.
B) The double day is the price women have to pay for liberation.
C) The right to paid work does not mean liberation from unpaid work.
D) Women will always put their children's needs first.

Question 26

Which phrase describes the greater amount of time women spend doing unpaid work?

A) double employment
B) extra duty day
C) the double day
D) double jeopardy

Question 27

Which term is often used to describe the concentration of men in some occupations and women in others?

A) sex typing of men and women
B) sex segregation of occupations
C) sex labelling of men and women
D) sex-based, work reservations

Question 28

In a traditional division of labour, with the separation of the public sphere for men and the private sphere for women, what can be concluded about the roles of women?

A) They are not widely noticed and are unpaid.
B) They are highly valued and widely recognized.
C) They require little effort, skill, or energy.
D) They are done in the presence of others.

Question 29

Which of the following terms refers to an occupational structure where men and women are numerically concentrated in different occupations?

A) sex segregated
B) nonstandardized
C) sexually standardized
D) sex typed

Question 30

Which of the following do women working full-time at paid work still spend more time on than men?

A) commuting
B) recreating
C) volunteering
D) housework

Question 31

Yvonne decided to work outside the home just after World War II ended. Which of the following factors did NOT play a role in her ability to be accepted into the workforce?

A) the reduction of the preferred source of labour
B) the rise of a new service-based economy
C) the level of education of women
D) the desire to minimize wage costs

Question 32

For women who are members of minority groups and foreign-born women, inequality issues also include gender, race, and immigrant status-something that has been referred to as a "matrix of domination." Which concept are these concerns are consistent with?

A) total discrimination
B) Aboriginal exploitation
C) multiracial feminism
D) visible minority feminism

Question 33

If Janine stays home to raise her children and her husband works, Janine will have limited power outside the home. What is the primary reason behind this situation?

A) Housework has value only in the private sphere.
B) Power is located only in the public sphere.
C) As a mother, she lets her husband speak on her behalf.
D) Economic dependency reduces her power.

Question 34

Judith is a 45-year old-woman with three teenaged children and an ailing 75-year-old mother. Her days are filled with her full-time job, and chauffeuring her mom to doctor appointments and the grocery store and her kids to sports activities and social functions. Consequently, she is experiencing insomnia, chronic fatigue, and a number of other health issues. Which of the following most aptly explains Judith's situation?

A) Judith is a member of the boomerang generation.
B) Judith has failed to set proper boundaries for herself.
C) Judith is a member of the sandwich generation.
D) Judith is experiencing a midlife crisis.

Question 35

A female junior executive in a company, working closely with a male vice-president, receives a quid-pro-quo proposition: you do sexual favours for me and I'll see to it that one day you get my job. Which term best identifies this woman's experience?

A) workplace harassment
B) sexual discrimination
C) sexual harassment
D) abuse of authority

Question 36

In which of the following occupations does the predominance of women exemplify sex typing?

A) blue-collar work
B) caregiver jobs
C) self-employment
D) supervisory positions

Question 37

According to the text, which of the following is a factor relating to sexual harassment?

A) It involves equalizing the balance of power between men and women.
B) It is usually employed women making sexual overtures toward men.
C) It results from a general societal belief that men are superior to women.
D) It has become more accepted in society based on biological differences.

Question 38

According to the text, which of the following factors has affected the labour force participation rate of Canadian women?

A) There is less demand for service workers.
B) There is a rising number of out-of-wedlock single mothers.
C) There is an economic need for increased family income.
D) There is a rising rate of female fertility.

Question 39

Consider the gendered experience of social stratification. For example, a lower-class black woman, a member of the working poor, experiences racial taunts and harassment at work. According to sociologists, what is the term that most aptly describes her position?

A) taunts with prejudice
B) multiple discrimination
C) racial discrimination
D) matrix of domination

Question 40

According to the text, which of the following has been a factor in female workforce participation?

A) More men were attending postsecondary schools which opened up positions for women in the workforce.
B) After World War II, women's paid labour became a needed source of family income.
C) Female labour force participation rates for women with very young children declined.
D) Female workers, as part of the war effort, changed the perception and expectations of women.

Question 41

According to the text, which of the following is considered an employment ghetto for women?

A) part-time work
B) home work/housekeeping
C) self-employment
D) service sector jobs

Question 42

Zelda is a doctor, but she is often mistaken for a nurse by patients in the hospital. This makes her angry, because such an assumption not only ignores her education, but also ties her to feminist problems still being fought against today. Which of the following is the assumption tied to?

A) Women's professions are still sex typed.
B) Women can't be doctors.
C) Women are mothers first, and their careers come second.
D) Women lack the intelligence to be doctors.

Question 43

Justin has recently graduated with a PhD in sociology and has spent the past several months looking for an academic position. He has managed to secure teaching employment in sociology classes on three different university campuses. According to the text, what is Justin's employment situation called?

A) non-standard
B) flexible labour
C) standard
D) independent contract

Question 44

In addition to looking after her two young children and working full time, every evening Olimpia has to stop by her father's apartment to make him dinner, clean, and make sure he takes his medication. What group in our society is Olimpia part of?

A) the caretaking generation
B) the sandwich generation
C) the working generation
D) the senior generation

Question 45

According to the text, which of the following is NOT true in regards to nonstandard work?

A) Nonstandard jobs generally provide greater pay, benefits and job security.
B) Women in the labour force are much more likely than men to be nonstandard workers.
C) Nonstandard work is becoming more common, especially among younger people.
D) Nonstandard employment implies a marginalized workforce.

Question 46

Danielle and her twin brother both graduated the same year. One got a job as a secretary and the other as a mechanic. The entire family assumed that Danielle was the secretary and her brother was the mechanic. What is the sociological term for the assumptions made in this situation?

A) occupational hierarchy
B) presumptive gender
C) sex typing
D) sex casting

Question 47

A young mother works all day as a schoolteacher, and comes home to assume the bulk of chores related to child care and housework, with occasional help from her husband. What term is used by sociologists to describe this woman's workday?

A) double shift
B) woman's work
C) double day
D) domestic overtime

Question 48

A competent female lawyer is passed over for a promotion that is given to an underperforming male. She notices that most of the law firm's senior partners are male, despite the fact that 30 percent of the firm's lawyers are women. What term do sociologists use to describe this circumstance?

A) only boys allowed
B) men only syndrome
C) glass ceiling effect
D) old boys' network

Question 49

What does standard work include?

A) full-time work
B) part-time work
C) multiple job holding
D) self-employment

Question 50

Which term describes the invisible barriers women face to attaining high-level organizational roles?

A) mommy-track syndrome
B) invisible sexism
C) skill-evaluation bias
D) glass-ceiling effect

Question 51

Which of the following do most sociologists believe is reflected in the gender gap in earnings?

A) It reflects a process of self-selection by women to aspire to jobs that feature lower pay.
B) It reflects a lack of initiative by women to work in traditionally male-dominated jobs.
C) It reflects lower productivity levels by women resulting from less skills and education.
D) It reflects the existence of discrimination and the devaluation of work performed by women.

Question 52

According to the text, which of the following accounts for why women earn less than men?

A) Skills in jobs where women predominate are undervalued.
B) Women are included in male-dominated networks.
C) Unions have valued the interests of their female workers.
D) Many women are primary income earners for their families.

Question 53

A father is advising his teenaged daughter as to which kind of career path to seek, with the following "appropriate" recommendations: nurse, teacher, social worker. What is this father doing by framing these as appropriate occupations for his daughter?

A) feminine typing
B) sex typing
C) female typing
D) gender typing

Question 54

Sarah Mitchell has worked for the ABC Corporation for more than 20 years. She has continuously received glowing work reviews and for the past 10 years has been the manager of the accounting department. When a new VP of finance was selected last week, ABC executives announced that John Martin, a 12-year employee from the public relations department, was given the position. In view of this, what was Sally Jones a victim of?

A) the double shift
B) sexual harassment
C) the glass ceiling
D) sexual discrimination

Question 55

What is the alternate term for sex labelling?

A) sex segregation
B) occupational bias
C) sex stereotyping
D) sex typing

Question 56

According to the text, which of the following is an alternate term for the concept of nonstandard work?

A) permanent employment
B) precarious employment
C) commissioned employment
D) full-time employment

Question 57

Fernanda could not find a job, so she set up her own cleaning business. She has eight clients who call on her; some call regularly, others only call occasionally. She has little security and no benefits, but she is happy that she has at least some work. What kind of employment situation does she have?

A) creative work
B) nonstandard work
C) anti-welfare employment
D) earnings employment

Question 58

Jason met with his high school guidance counsellor to discuss what courses he should be taking in order to be accepted into the nursing program at university. His counsellor told him that if he wanted to go into the medical profession he should be a doctor. What is the sociological term for the assumptions made in this statement?

A) job segregation
B) sex segregation
C) occupational patriarchy
D) opportunistic patriarchy

Question 59

A woman who is a nurse has three daughters, and her daughters are, respectively, a social worker, a schoolteacher, and a hair-salon manager. Which term from the text best identifies the type of work performed by all four women?

A) sex-based occupations
B) gender-typed occupations
C) female-dominated occupations
D) sex-segregated occupations

Question 60

According to the text, overall, what is concluded about nonstandard work?

A) It generally provides less job security, lower pay, and fewer fringe benefits.
B) It employs more men because there are, overall, more men in the workforce.
C) It is largely composed of under-the-table activity and a bartering economy.
D) It is becoming less common as more conscientious employers hire full-time workers.

Question 61

For many years, Jocelyn has been a member of Canada's Royal Canadian Mounted Police, where there are many more males than females. When a deputy commissioner position became open, she applied and was awarded the job, even though there were many other equally qualified male applicants. What kind of practice does this represent?

A) gender equity
B) affirmative action
C) gender balance
D) job equity

Question 62

According to the text, what explains the wage gap between men and women?

A) Women are genetically endowed with less physical strength.
B) Women have less interest in occupations that pay more.
C) Women are discriminated against, and their work is devalued.
D) Women have lower levels of educational attainment.

Question 63

Which of the following has been the only woman to hold the office of prime minister in Canada?

A) Belinda Stronach
B) Condoleezza Rice
C) Kim Campbell
D) Agnes Macphail

Question 64

After graduating from university, Mary took a job at a daycare centre, while her friend Paul took a job as a landscaper. Mary was shocked at how much more Paul was paid, given their similar education level. According to the text, what is one explanation for this pay difference in our society?

A) Women encounter the glass ceiling immediately after university.
B) Men are better at negotiating a high salary.
C) Paul needed more skills and this was reflected in his salary.
D) The skill set commonly associated with women (e.g., nurturing) is undervalued.

Question 65

Which of the following groups was given the right to vote in 1960?

A) visible minority women
B) registered, reserve Indians
C) Inuit men and women
D) landed immigrants

Question 66

According to the text, which of the following has a limiting effect on women's groups in politics?

A) a reliance on a consensus-building approach
B) a lack of diversity between women's groups
C) a reliance on private funding sources
D) an inability of women to mobilize politically

Question 67

In Canada today, what proportion of women vote in elections, compared to men?

A) a lower proportion of women vote than men
B) approximately the same proportion as men
C) about seven women vote for every three men
D) a higher proportion of women vote than men

Question 68

According to the text, which of the following stands as an explanation of the underrepresentation of women in Canadian politics?

A) Women's child-rearing responsibilities keep them at home rather than in politics.
B) There are fiscal advantages for political women with wealthy husbands to support them.
C) Political parties control gender composition through the nomination process.
D) The culture of politics is supportive to the participation of women.

Question 69

According to McCormack, in political matters, women are most likely to focus on which of the following?

A) moral and community-based social/political issues
B) issues pertaining to the acquisition or exercise of power
C) policies that reduce their isolation because of home-based work
D) trivial issues because of their political naiveté

Question 70

Which of the following were the last to be given the right to vote in Canada?

A) male and female Inuit and registered Indians living on reserves
B) people documented to be mentally challenged or insane
C) women who were British subjects and served in the military
D) people of Chinese, East Indian, and Japanese ancestry

Question 71

According to the text, what was the focus of the women's movement immediately after women were granted the right to vote?

A) legislation addressing spousal and child abuse
B) addressing the rights of Aboriginal and visible minority women
C) gender equality in employment opportunities and earnings
D) improving the quality of life for women and children in the home

Question 72

A busy, profit-focused accounting firm interviews many qualified female accountants; however, senior managers favour hiring males, as they are less likely to be absent from work for things such as child-care issues. What term is best applied to this kind of hiring practice?

A) statistical discrimination
B) gender discrimination
C) sexual discrimination
D) familial discrimination

Question 73

By which of the following actions do the media fail to evaluate women's political competence fairly?

A) by emphasizing women's records of community involvement
B) by recognizing women's past political activities/contributions
C) by using the term feminist as a negative personal characteristic
D) by associating female politicians with broad social issues/concerns

Question 74

What trend is evident in the ratio of Canadian women's earnings to Canadian men's earnings?

A) The ratio measure shows no emerging trend.
B) The ratio difference has been improving.
C) The ratio has remained about the same.
D) The ratio difference has been worsening.

Question 75

According to the text, which of the following is NOT a criticism launched against the Employment Equity Act of 1995?

A) The act covers only public service, federally regulated employers and companies with 100 or more employees that are doing business with the government.
B) Failure to comply with the legislation carries very light penalties.
C) Public service workers cannot access the court system to obtain settlements in pay-equity cases.
D) Employment equity puts an unfair burden on taxpayers.

Question 76

According to the text, which of the following is a justification used for paying women less than men?

A) Women are paid according to how many children they have, or for being single moms.
B) Women are paid less on the basis of special gendered skill requirements.
C) Women are paid less on the assumption they already have a male breadwinner at home.
D) Women are considered unsuitable in emerging service sector jobs due to lack of education.

Question 77

A female politician was dating a man 10 years younger than her, and the media portrayed her as a "sex-starved cougar on the prowl." A male politician was photographed with his date, who was 12 years younger than him, and no similar comment was made about his sex life. In this example, the media contributed to which explanation for the underrepresentation of women in politics?

A) They were acting as gatekeepers of political culture.
B) They were reinforcing sex-role stereotypes of who should participate in political culture.
C) They were creating hostility toward women in political culture.
D) They were belittling the skills necessary to participate in political culture.

Question 78

Alyssa is very proud of the fact that her great-grandmother took part in a social movement that resulted in women being granted the right to vote in Canada. Which social movement is Alyssa referring to?

A) the suffrage movement
B) the temperance movement
C) the emancipation movement
D) the civil rights movement

Question 79

In the Correctional Service of Canada, male correctional officers make up the bulk of membership on institutional emergency response teams. However, female correctional officers still get the same compensation as males. What principle is reflected in this division of labour at the same time as overall parity in pay for the classification of correctional officers?

A) equal opportunity employment
B) gender-blind division of labour
C) pay equity regardless of function
D) equal pay for work of equal value

Question 80

In 2008 women earned, on average, about 65 cents for every dollar earned by men. Henry argues that the lower wages of women is due to their lower educational attainment and the numerous labour-force interruptions due to their maternity leaves. In essence, what is Henry saying?

A) Women's lower earnings are a reflection of their productivity.
B) Women's lower wages are a result of their concentration in occupations that are low paying.
C) The gender earnings gap reflects the general devaluation of "women's work."
D) Employers statistically discriminate against women.