Sociology of gender an introduction to theory and research

Includes bibliographical references (p. 245-264) and index.

Machine generated contents note: Chapter 1: Introduction to the Sociology of Gender. -- 1. Chapter Objectives. -- 2. Introduction. -- 3. Sociological Vantage Points. -- 4. A Brief History of the Sociological Study of Gender. -- 5. Defining Gender. -- 6. Three Frameworks for Understanding Gender. -- 7. Gender Matters. -- 8. Who is to Blame?: Understanding Gender Inequality. -- 9. Chapter Summary. -- 10. For Further Reading. -- 11. Key Terms. -- 12. Critical Thinking Questions. -- PART I: CONCEPTUAL APPROACHES. -- Chapter 2: The Gendered Person. -- 1. Chapter Objectives. -- 2. Sex Differences in Traits, Abilities, or Behavioral Dispositions. -- 3. The Origins of Sex Differences. -- 4. Sex Differences and Social Policy: The Case of Mathematics Aptitude. -- 5. Sex Differences and Gender Inequality. -- 6. Chapter Summary. -- 7. For Further Reading. -- 8. Key Terms. -- 9. Critical Thinking Questions. -- Chapter 3: The Gendered Person. -- 1. Chapter Objectives. -- 2. Interactionist Views of Gender. -- 3. Gendered Organizations/Gendered Institutions. -- 4. Toward a Multilayered Conception of Gender. -- 5. Chapter Summary. -- 6. For Further Reading. -- 7. Key Terms. -- 8. Critical Thinking Questions. -- PART II: GENDER IN CONTEXT. -- Chapter 4: Work and Family as Gendered Institutions. -- 1. Chapter Objectives. -- 2. The Division of Labor. -- 3. Gender, Work, and Family in the Industrial Age. -- 4. A Half-Century of Gender Change: Work, Education, and Gender Egalitarian Beliefs. -- 5. Changes in Gender, Family, and Caregiving. -- 6. Gender, Work, and Family: The Roles of Social Policy and the State. -- 7. Gender, Work, and Family in the 21st Century: Looking Ahead. -- 8. Chapter Summary. -- 9. For Further Reading. -- 10. Key Terms. -- 11. Critical Thinking Questions -- Chapter 5: Gender, Childhood, and Family Life. -- 1. Chapter Objectives. -- 2. Parents' Preferences for Children's Sex. -- 3. "Is it a Boy or a Girl?" Gender Construction in Families. -- 4. Childhood and the Importance of Same-Gender Peers. -- 5. Gender Socialization Reconsidered. -- 6. The Household Division of Labor and the Family. -- 7. Marriage, Families, and Their Consequences for Women and Men. -- 8. Chapter Summary. -- 9. For Further Reading. -- 10. Key Terms. -- 11. Critical Thinking Questions. -- Chapter 6: Gendered Jobs and Gendered Workers. -- 1. Chapter Objectives. -- 2. The Sex Segregation of Jobs and Occupations. -- 3. Gendered Jobs, Occupations, and Hierarchies. -- 4. The Gender Pay Gap. -- 5. The Work-Life Challenge. -- 6. Chapter Summary. -- 7. For Further Reading. -- 8. Key Terms. -- 9. Critical Thinking Questions. -- PART III: EPILOGUE. -- Chapter 7: Deconstructing Gender Differences and Inequalities. -- 1. Chapter Objectives. -- 2. Gender Distinctions and Inequalities. -- 3. The Reproduction of Gender Inequality. -- 4. Challenging Gender Inequality. -- 5. Making Gender Matter Less. -- 6. Chapter Summary. -- 7. For Further Reading. -- 8. Key Terms. -- 9. Critical Thinking Questions.

"Featuring extensive revisions and updates, the Second Edition of The Sociology of Gender: An Introduction to Theory and Research presents an introductory overview of gender theory and research, and continues to offer a unique and compelling approach to one of the most important topics in the field of sociology. Features extensive revisions and updates, and incorporates recent cross-national research on gender Expands and develops frameworks introduced in first edition Treats gender as a multilevel system operating at the individual, interactional, and institutional levels Stresses conceptual and theoretical issues in the sociology of gender Offers an accessible yet intellectually sophisticated approach to current gender theory and research Includes pedagogical features designed to encourage critical thinking and debate "--

"Featuring extensive revisions and updates, the new Second Edition of The Sociology of Gender presents an introductory overview of gender theory and research, and continues to offer a unique and compelling approach to one of the most important topics in the field of sociology. Drawing from recent and ongoing research in the field, gender scholar Amy Wharton develops and expands upon theoretical approaches to gender from her acclaimed first edition. These approaches emphasize how gender can be viewed through different "lenses," and how each one generates a particular way of thinking about gender and its role in social life. Wharton shows how individualist approaches view gender as part of the person; interactional approaches focus on the ways that gender emerges through social interaction; and institutional views emphasize how gender is built into organizations, social structures, and institutional arrangements. The book deftly summarizes and examines these three frameworks to facilitate an understanding of gender's contested meanings and vast areas of research. Also addressed is the importance of analyzing gender in relation to other kinds of distinctions, such as those based on race, social class, or sexual orientation. The newest research findings by key scholars are also discussed, and excerpts from contemporary scholarship and public debate allow for comparative analysis of different areas of study. The Sociology of Gender: An Introduction to Theory and Research, Second Edition, offers the most up-to-date and accessible overview of this prominent subfield of sociological enquiry available today"--