SOC 2104 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Hegemonic Masculinity, Masculinity, Invisibility

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 2104
• Professor: Adolphine Y.Aggor- Boateng

Document Summary

"interplanetary" theory of gender difference: men and women are "opposites" who exhibit complete and universal gender difference. Most arguments about gender difference begin with biology. Sex differences: anatomical, hormonal, chemical, and physical differences between men and women. Most social and behavioural scientists differentiate between "sex" and "gender" Gender: meaning attached to those differences within a culture. Until the 1970s, studies of social life focused only on class and race. Last 30 years has seen an increasing study of women, gender, and now men and masculinity. Privilege of invisibility: "power is often invisible to those who have it" Only one version of masculinity operating in a culture is "culturally honoured" or hegemonic; other masculinities are organized under it (hierarchically) Emphasizes competition among men for power and dominance. According to connell, there is no "hegemonic" version of femininity. Exaggerated ideal of feminity: "emphasized feminity" stressing empathy and nurturance. Many differences we observe between men and women are deceptive distinctions, not gender differences.