1) Gender is defined by sociologists as the social and cultural differences between masculinity and femininity rather than the biological differences between sexes. 2) From birth, individuals are socialized into gender through practices like dressing, naming, toys/books given which prepare individuals for different roles in society based on their gender. 3) While legislation has promoted more equality, sociologists argue that gender inequality still exists in areas like the workplace where women are more likely to be in lower level jobs and face barriers to promotion.

1. Year 11 Sociology
Social Stratification

2.  By the end of these lessons you should:
 Know the difference between sex and gender
 Be able to explain how sociologists define
gender
 Understand the inequalities based on gender

4. • Biological differences
• If a person is considered to be male or
female
• Based on role in reproduction
• Fixed and ascribed at birth
• Usually fixed throughout your life
Different social practices and
expectations that are linked to
masculinity or femininity.

6. • Does it start here?
• How do we dress babies?
• Do we use different language for girls
and boys?
• From birth we make girls and boys
different.
• We give them different types of names.
• We dress them differently.
Sociologists call this • As babies get older we give girls and
primary boys different toys and books.
socialisation.
• This is called socialisation and
sociologists argue that it is highly
gendered.
• This means that girls and boys, even
from a young age are prepared to do
different things in society.

7. What contribution do these
agencies of secondary socialisation
make?

8. Sociologists argue that the differences between men and
women are socially constructed – they are created by the
society not by biology.
This can change over…
Time
Place
Culture
Complete gender in everyday life and cross-cultural differences
in gender on page 289.
Homework preparation:
Bring in old magazines and newspapers for Friday.

10. Many changes have taken place over the past 40
years...
This is due partly to the introduction of legislation.
1970 – Equal Pay Act
Men and women must be paid the same wage
when doing the same work.
1975 – Sex discrimination Act
This made it unlawful for men and
women to be treated differently at
work or school because of their sex.

11. Li (2008)
Women are more likely to achieve
good education, jobs and higher
salaries.
Holmes (2009)
Society is still organised in a way
that benefits men more than
women. Because…
Society is mainly controlled by
men who have power – workplace
and politics
Men have a bigger share of
rewards such as power and status.

12. Despite legislation there is still
inequality in the work place.

15. When men and women work in the same occupation , women are
more likely to be in the lower or middle level jobs.
Men tend to be at a higher grade.
The Glass Ceiling
IT is argued that women are held
back in their careers, the glass
ceiling is like an invisible barrier to
their promotion.

16. Many women are employed in low status and low paid jobs so they
earn significantly less than men.
Women have worse pay than men with similar education levels and
age. Li (2008)

17. Sex discrimination within the workplace.
Women’s triple shift – many women bear the burden of
working the triple shift – paid work, housework and
emotional work. So women may be held back from
promotion at work. Dunscombe and Marsden (1995)
Childcare provision – Britain has an inadequate and
expensive childcare system for the under 5s. This may
prevent women with young children from participating in
paid employment or staying in employment long enough to
progress their careers.

18. In pairs create a collage to show how both femininity and
masculinity are shown in the mass media.
Describe one way in which the social position of women in Britain
has changed over the last 50 years and explain the consequences of
this change. (5 marks)
Explain what sociologists mean by life chances. (4 marks)
Identify two barriers to social mobility that individuals might face.
(2 marks)