Lecture 4: Gender Systems

1. SC2220: Gender Studies Gender Systems Dr. Eric C. Thompson

5. CULTURAL SYSTEMS SOCIAL SYSTEMS BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS DIAGRAM 1: Human Systems, General Integration Each system has some relationship to the other systems.

7. CULTURAL SYSTEMS SOCIAL SYSTEMS BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS DIAGRAM 2: Human Systems, Analytically Distinct Researchers usually study these systems independently – Study one at a time. They make them ‘analytically’ distinct.

8. BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS Socio-Cultural SYSTEMS DIAGRAM 3: Socio-cultural, Socio-biological Social scientists often study the social and cultural as one system. Biology is marginal in social science (usually).

9. BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS Socio-Cultural SYSTEMS DIAGRAM 4: Socio-economic Class Systems Example 1: Socio-Economic Systems. Studies of class systems or socio-economic status rarely if ever touch on biology. There is no evidence (or logic) to suggest that differences among economic systems can be “explained” by biology (genetics).

10. BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS Socio-Cultural SYSTEMS DIAGRAM 5: Racial Identity Systems Example 2: Racial Identity Systems. Race is an interpretation of biology – using the way people look to classify them. But “race” (group genetic inheritance) has no substantial effect on socio-cultural systems.

11. BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS Socio-Cultural SYSTEMS DIAGRAM 6: Gender Systems Example 3: Gender Systems. Interaction between socio-cultural systems and biological systems with respect to gender and sex appears to be more substantial that for Class and Race. (But this does not mean biology “explains” gender systems.)

13. Gender Systems: Interrelated Beliefs and Practices