Lecture 4: Masculinity and Femininity (Gender Systems)

1. SC2220: Gender StudiesLecture 4: Masculinity and Femininity Eric C. Thompson Semester 2, 2010/2011

2. Where We Have Been… History of Gender Studies From the study of women to theories of gender Sex/Gender Distinction Gender is built on sex differences but not determined by them. Becoming Male or Female Gender socialization; paths to learning gender.

3. Where We Are Going… Gender Systems Gender as systems of beliefs and behaviors Gender in Popular Culture Gender in Social Relations Gender and Power Gender and Work Gender, Here and Now Gender in Singapore

4. Today’s Lecture… Part 1: Where do gender systems come from? Part 2: “Unpacking” the gender system. Part 3: Examples Effects of Gender Systems Changing Gender Systems over Time

5. PART 1: Where do Gender Systems come from?How do we go about producing Systems of Gender and Sexuality?The Cultural Process . .General Concepts ofMasculinity and Femininity

6. Dress Clothes Sari Pretty Business

7. Clothes Sari Business

8. Clothes Sari Business

9. Tell that to these guys…

10. Difference and Distinction are essential to Meaning Mapping things onto a gendered structure gives them meaning.

11. Dress Sari Pretty

12. A Three Gender System

13. Gender versus Sexuality Gender and Sexuality are very closely related, but not the same. “Gay” and “Straight” – refers to sexuality (sexual practices) Pondan, Katoey, Berdache, Man, Woman, etc. are “gender” identities (a broader category that mere sexual practices). Example of “Katoey” gender. See: Oetomo (1995) in Supplemental Readings

14. Gender Systems at Play Gender systems (cultural beliefs) provide us a basis for knowing how to behave. This enables and empowers us to act (as gendered individuals) in society. It can also be constraining and limiting (for example, Billy Tipton, who had to go to great length to overcome gender constraints). Gender is also a source of pleasure, amusement and play in all cultures.

15. PART 2: “Unpacking” Gender SystemsHow do we go about understanding gender systems?What are the elements and processes that make up gender systems?

16. Gender Is Not Primarily Identity Gender is systems of beliefs and practices. It is not something we are but something we think and do. We come to think of gender as identity as a result of regular reinforcement of these beliefs and enacting these practices. Masculinity and Femininity are “Structures of Appropriate Behavior” (see: The Gender Tango); they are socially constructed in relationship to each other.

17. “Doing Gender” Gender is something we do (a performance) not something we are (an identity). West and Zimmerman 1987 – “Doing Gender” Judith Butler 1990 – Gender Trouble Masculinity and Femininity are beliefs and guidelines for appropriate behavior – they are beliefs that guide us in doing gender. Because gender is something we do all the time, everyday, we experience it as identity – as something we “are” rather than something we “do”.

18. “Unpacking the Gender System”(Ridgeway and Correll 2004) Gender is a System of: Gender Beliefs Institutionalized Social Practices “Unpacking” the Gender System means Critically* examining these Beliefs and Practices *”Critical” Social and Cultural theory does not mean “criticizing” or bashing; it means carefully and reflectively examining.

19. Hegemonic Gender Beliefs Cultural Beliefs – beliefs that are shared by two or more people. Hegemonic Gender Beliefs A belief is hegemonic when everyone in society must act in relationship to it – whether they believe it or not. Hegemonic Masculinity (from Connell). Alternative (Nonhegemonic) Gender Beliefs Many alternative beliefs may exist in a society Different beliefs may be hegemonic in different groups or different contexts.

20. Hegemonic Masculinity(Connell and Messerschmidt 2005) Not necessarily “normal” (in the statistical sense)… but “normative” (it sets the standard – it is the way a man should be). Not a fixed idea; differs over time and from place to place. Plurality and Hierarchy of Masculinities. The power of Hegemonic Masculinity requires men (and women) to act in relation to the set of beliefs that are “hegemonic” Adoption, complicity, privilege, defense of status-quo Resistance, alternative masculinities, “passing”

21. Hegemonic Femininity? Hegemonic Femininity vs. “Emphasized Femininity” Debate over whether forms of femininity can be called “hegemonic” (because femininity is more often than not culturally devalued compared to masculinity). Can we assume that masculinity is always hegemonic (powerful) and femininity “emphasized” (subordinate)? As with Hegemonic Masculinity; “Emphasized” or “Hegemonic” Femininity is normative – it sets standards in relation to which everyone in society must act.

22. Cultural Operations Sex Categorization Categorization by sex/gender is a First Order Cultural Operation; before any interaction with other people we place them in abstract gendered categories (man, woman; boy, girl). Gender as Background Identity Gender is something “always there” but often implicit (and taken-for-granted) Effective Salience Gender comes into effect in certain social contexts (but not always, in all situations).

23. Rules for Acting in Society Gender systems guide our behavior; they give us a blueprint for: How we ourselves should act. How we should act toward others. How we evaluate others. How we evaluate ourselves.

24. Beliefs and their Effects Will changes in Gender Beliefs change Social Practices (inequality, discrimination)? Do changes in Gender Beliefs follow rather than lead Social Change (changes in practice)? Answer: We don’t know… (but we have some ideas; and the answer is probably both, in different cases.)

25. PART 3: Examples (Case Studies) of Gender Systems…A. Effects of Gender SystemsB. Changing Gender Systems over Time

26. Gender Beliefs and Evaluation One example where there seems to be good evidence for the effect of Gender Beliefs… Peoples skills are evaluated differently, based on whether they are men or women. Many studies have shown that resumes (e.g. in applying for jobs or schools) with a MALE NAME are judged more favorably than the same resume with a FEMALE NAME. There is also evidence that men are negatively evaluated when performing traditionally female tasks (e.g. domestic work, childcare).

27. Product Evaluation Products are evaluated more highly when portrayed as produced by men than when portrayed as produced by women. If the products are “masculine” (engineering, military) then the effect is very strong. If the products are “feminine” (domestic and childcare products) then the effect disappears or slightly favors women.

28. Men in Crisis in Russia In the 1990s, Russia experienced severe economic crisis. Unemployment among men was high. Although men were available to help with domestic work, women actively excluded them from housework by controlling the domestic sphere. Men were doubly marginalized: in the economy outside the home (through unemployment) and in the domestic sphere. S. Ashwin “Men in Crisis in Russia: The Role of Domestic Marginalization,” Gender and Society (2004)

29. Transitions Through Time and Space Masculinity and Femininity are constructed differently in different times and places. “Where Have all the Trans-Gender Ritual Specialist Gone?” (Peletz 2006) Hollywood Images of Masculinity in the Late 20th Century (More on this in Lecture 6)

30. Examples of Transgender Ritual Specialists (Peletz 2006) Pre-Colonial Southeast Asia: Widespread Evidence of “Trans-Gender” Ritual Specialists Sida-Sida (Peninsular Malay) Bissu (Bugis) Basir and Balian (Ngaju Dayak) Hau Bralin (Khmer Initiation Ritual) Acault (Burma) As well as others…

31. “Where Have All the Trans-Gender Ritual Specialist Gone?” Contemporary Southeast Asia: Apparently less “Tolerant” Attitudes; Marginalization of Trans-Gender Individuals (But still many examples) Pondan, Mak Andam (Malaysia) Banci (Indonesia) Khateoy (Thailand) Bakla, Bantut (Philippines) Why? Modernity? Bureaucratic Rationality? Religion (esp. Spread of Islam and Christianity)? Capitalism? Westernization? Transition from “Gender Pluralism” to “Gender Dualism”