SOCI 1F90 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Emma Watson, Gender Equality, Feminist Theory
11 May 2015
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Document Summary
The feminist theory is massive, not just with sociologists. Emma watson un speech: feminism not man-hating, they want equal political, economic and social rights as men. Men don"t have the benefit of equality either. Biological approach to gender: biological basis to gender behaviors, evidence: hunting and gathering societies women spend so much of their time being pregnant and taking care of the children. The male partner would go out and collect the food: because of the care-giving need, they are home bound. Testosterone wins because it gives assertiveness and other traits that make a good leader. Limits to biological explanations: empirically flawed: speculative, out of date, inaccurate depiction of women"s lives (no written records on hunting-gathering societies) Inconclusive: links between hormones and behaviors, social context influences hormones. (hormones don"t cause behavior; certain behaviors/social circumstances produce a hormonal reaction. Not all women devote themselves to having kids. Biology can"t explain why there is gender inequality.
