Sociology Pop Culture to Social Structure 3rd Edition By Brym – Test Bank

Sociology Pop Culture to Social Structure 3rd Edition By Brym – Test Bank

Chapter 9 – Sexuality and Gender

Questions included in web quizzing are marked in bold

Student Learning Objectives

After reading Chapter 9, students should be able to:

1. Distinguish biologically determined sex from socially determined gender.

2. Appreciate that gender is shaped largely by the way parents raise children, teachers interact with pupils, and the mass media portray ideal body images.

3. Identify the social forces pushing people toward heterosexuality.

4. Recognize that the social distinction between men and women serves as an important basis of inequality in the family and the workplace.

5. Explain how male aggression against women is rooted in gender inequality.

6. Outline social policies that could lower the level of inequality between women and men.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to the text, babies born with ambiguous genitals are called _____.

1. hermaphrodites or intersexed
2. transsexuals
3. bisexuals
4. homosexuals
5. asexuals

ANS: a TYPE: factual PG: 199 SOURCE: modified LO: 1

2. Your _____ depends on whether you were born with distinct male or female genitals and a genetic program that released either male or female hormones to stimulate the development of your reproductive system.

1. self
2. gender
3. sex
4. gender identity
5. gender role

ANS: c TYPE: factual PG: 200 SOURCE: pickup LO: 1

3. The feelings, attitudes, and behaviors typically associated with being male or female are termed one’s _____.

1. hormones
2. gender
3. sex
4. gender identity
5. gender role

ANS: b TYPE: factual PG: 200 SOURCE: modified LO: 1

4. Your identification with, or sense of belonging to, a particular sex – biologically, psychologically, and socially is called _____.

1. hormones
2. gender
3. sex
4. gender identity
5. gender role

ANS: d TYPE: factual PG: 200 SOURCE: pickup LO: 1

5. When you behave according to widely shared expectations about how males or females are supposed to act, you are adopting a _____.

1. stigma
2. gender
3. sex
4. gender identity
5. gender role

ANS: e TYPE: factual PG: 200 SOURCE: pickup LO: 1

6. Research shows that babies first develop a vague sense of being a boy or a girl at about the age of _____.

1. six months
2. one year old
3. two years old
4. three years old
5. five years old

ANS: b TYPE: factual PG: 200 SOURCE: pickup LO: 1

7. Research shows that children develop a complete awareness of gender identity between the ages of _____.

1. 0 and 1
2. 1 and 5
3. 2 and 3
4. 4 and 6
5. 12 and 13

ANS: c TYPE: factual PG: 200 SOURCE: modified LO: 1

8. If Timothy thinks of himself as a boy, he has formed a _____

1. heterosexuality
2. gender
3. sex
4. gender identity
5. gender role

ANS: d TYPE: applied PG: 200 SOURCE: pickup LO: 1

9. Although Dr. John Money claimed that the sexual reassignment of baby Bruce was successful, in reality it was not. According to Brym and Lie, one reason for the lack of success was

1. the inescapable influence of biology.
2. the lack of support for the sex reassignment from baby Bruce’s parents.
3. the surgery occurred after baby Bruce had learned a male gender identity.
4. the treatment baby Bruce received was incorrect.
5. improper socialization by the parents.

ANS: c TYPE: factual PG: 200 SOURCE: modifie LO: 1

10. According to some researchers, if gender reassignment occurs before the age of _____ it is usually successful.

1. 6 months
2. 1 year
3. 18 months
4. 3 years
5. 5 years

ANS: c TYPE: factual PG: 200 SOURCE: modified LO: 1

11. The main lesson Brym and Lie draw from the story of baby Bruce is that

1. biology is destiny.
2. biology establishes most of gender identity and society helps a little.
3. sex is organized around biological factors.
4. gender identity does not exist.
5. social learning of gender begins very early in life.

ANS: e TYPE: conceptual PG: 201 SOURCE: pickup LO: 1

12. Scholars who see gender differences as a reflection of naturally evolved dispositions are approaching gender from which theoretical position?

1. essentialism
2. social constructionism
3. functionalism
4. symbolic interactionism
5. conflict theory

ANS: a TYPE: conceptual PG: 201 SOURCE: pickup LO: 2

13. Scholars who see gender differences as a reflection of the different social positions occupied by men and women are approaching gender from which position?

1. essentialism
2. social constructionism
3. functionalism
4. symbolic interactionism
5. conflict theory

ANS: b TYPE: conceptual PG: 201 SOURCE: pickup LO: 2

14. Which theoretical perspective is most likely to take an essentialist view of gender?

1. sociobiology and evolutionary psychology
2. social constructionism
3. feminist theory
4. symbolic interactionism
5. conflict theory

ANS: a TYPE: conceptual PG: 201 SOURCE: modified LO: 1

15. The sociological perspective that is most compatible with essentialism in regards to gender is _____.

1. functionalism
2. conflict theory
3. symbolic interactionism
4. feminist theory
5. cultural relativism

ANS: a TYPE: conceptual PG: 201 SOURCE: modified LO: 1, 2

16. From a social constructionist perspective, gender is “constructed” by what two features of social life?

1. social structure and culture
2. social deviance and social conformity
3. functional and dysfunction
4. sex and gender
5. conflict and cooperation

ANS: a TYPE: conceptual PG: 201 SOURCE: modified LO: 2

17. Because Freud believed that differences in male and female anatomy account for the development of distinct masculine and feminine gender roles, his ideas can be considered _____.

1. essentialist
2. social constructionist
3. functionalist
4. symbolic interactionist
5. cooperative

ANS: a TYPE: factual PG: 201 SOURCE: modified LO: 1, 2

18. Which type of theorist believes that all humans instinctively try to ensure their genes are passed on to future generations?

1. conflict theorists
2. sociobiologists
3. feminist theorists
4. sociologists
5. symbolic interactionists

ANS: b TYPE: factual PG: 201 SOURCE: pickup LO: 2

19. The view that a woman has a bigger investment than a man in ensuring the survival of their offspring because a woman can only give birth to a maximum of about 20 children, is associated with which theory?

1. feminism
2. conflict theory
3. constructionism
4. evolutionary psychology
5. symbolic interactionism

ANS: d TYPE: factual PG: 201 SOURCE: modified LO: 1

20. According to evolutionary psychology, men evolve competitive and aggressive dispositions because

1. these enable them to defend their offspring.
2. it prepares men for warfare.
3. it enables men to compete with other men for sexual access to women.
4. women are attracted to aggression.
5. it is their defense mechanism against bonding.

ANS: c TYPE: conceptual PG: 201 SOURCE: modified LO: 2

21. The functionalist perspective supports essentialism because it

1. sees gender inequality as a dysfunction that grows out of class conflict.
2. women and men’s separate gender roles as complementary and functional for society.
3. argues women can be as aggressive as men when faced with threats and competition.
4. views gender roles as biologically determined and unchanging.
5. acknowledges that many single women and lower-income married women have always had to fill the role of breadwinner.

ANS: b TYPE: conceptual PG: 201 SOURCE: new LO: 2

22. Which of the following is not one of the main criticisms against essentialist arguments about gender?

1. Essentialism ignores the historical and cultural variability of gender and sexuality.
2. Essentialism tends to generalize from the average, ignoring variations within groups.
3. There is no direct evidence that supports the major claims of essentialism.
4. Essentialism supports functionalism, which is not a valid approach to gender
5. The essentialist explanation of gender differences ignores the role of power.

ANS: d TYPE: factual PG: 202 SOURCE: pickup LO: 1

23. Women’s tendency to stress the “good provider” role in selecting male partners, and men’s tendency to stress domestic skills in their female partners

1. are the norm is all groups and societies.
2. decrease in societies with high levels of gender inequality.
3. decrease in societies with low levels of gender inequality.
4. are not observed in industrial societies.
5. increase in societies where women hold positions of political power.

ANS: c TYPE: factual PG: 202 SOURCE: pickup LO: 1

24. Situations involving competition and threat increase the production of the hormone testosterone in women, causing them to act more aggressively. This is evidence that:

1. aggressiveness is partly role related
2. aggression is natural in all situations
3. women should not assume roles that involve too much competition
4. gender inequality is a cultural universal
5. men should share responsibilities for defense with women.

ANS: a TYPE: factual PG: 202 SOURCE: pickup LO: 1

25. Conflict theorists, beginning with Friedrich Engels, have argued that male domination originates

1. in the womb
2. with biological differences
3. in class inequality
4. through the process of natural selection
5. in the process of negotiating identity

ANS: c TYPE: factual PG: 203 SOURCE: pickup LO: 1

26. Conflict and feminist theorists agree that

1. male domination originated with industrial capitalism.
2. communist and socialist societies have low levels of male domination.
3. differences between men and women result from men’s greater power.
4. symbolic interactionism and functionalism offer better explanations of male domination.
5. gender inequality is functional for society.

ANS: c TYPE: factual PG: 203 SOURCE: modified LO: 1

27. The view that apparently natural or innate features of life (e.g. gender) are sustained by social processes that are culturally and historically variable is called _____.

1. evolutionism
2. social constructionism
3. essentialism
4. social feminism
5. sociobiology

ANS: b TYPE: factual PG: 203 SOURCE: pickup LO: 2

28. Which theoretical perspective is not associated with the concept of social constructionism?

1. symbolic interactionism
2. feminist theory
3. conflict theory
4. social learning theories
5. functionalism

ANS: d TYPE: factual PG: 203 SOURCE: new LO: 2

29. According to Brym and Lie, when girls play with Barbie dolls they are being socialized to desire

1. being slim, shapely, and to exist mainly to please men.
2. to be totally independent
3. to be smart and independent.
4. to be mechanically oriented.
5. few material possessions.

ANS: a TYPE: applied PG: 204 SOURCE: modified LO: 3

30. Which of these statements about research findings related to parental attitudes toward gender is false?

1. today’s parents have fewer gender-stereotyped perceptions of newborns than in the past
2. parents still attribute different characteristics to male and female children
3. both parents tend to stress compliance in girls
4. parents encourage competitive play among boys
5. fathers are more likely than mothers to encourage competitive behavior in their daughters.

ANS: e TYPE: factual PG: 204 SOURCE: modified LO: 2

31. When it comes to the way that children play,

1. boys and girls are equally likely to be involved in competitive and aggressive sports
2. toys for boys and girls are designed to develop the same types of skills.
3. boys may not be concerned about whether or not toys are gender appropriate, unless they are told a toy is for girls.
4. gender roles are determined for both boys and girls by their toys and by parents.
5. gender roles are a given.

ANS: c TYPE: factual PG: 205 SOURCE: modified LO: 2

32. Differences in gender socialization have had all of these effects on the development of boys and girls, except

1. diminished creativity and ability to follow directions.
2. heightened development of verbal and emotional skills among girls.
3. increased concern with winning among boys.
4. boys are more likely to create hierarchies among themselves
5. girls are more concerned with physical attractiveness

ANS: a TYPE: factual PG: 205 SOURCE: modified LO: 2

33. Research on school children by sociologist Barrie Thorne indicates that

1. children are actively engaged in constructing their gender roles.
2. children passively respond to adult demands.
3. gender boundaries are exceptionally rigid among children.
4. boys and girls are fully committed to gendered activities at school and at home.
5. boys and girls are unable to cooperate until they are in their late teens.

ANS: a TYPE: factual PG: 205 SOURCE: modified LO: 2

34. Thorne found that contests, chasing games, and other activities often involved self-segregation of boys and girls. She also reported many cases of boys and girls _____.

1. fighting
2. hurting each other
3. avoiding each other
4. playing together
5. playing alone

ANS: d TYPE: factual PG: 205 SOURCE: modified LO: 2

35. _____ refers to boys playing stereotypically “girls” games and girls playing stereotypically “boys” games.

1. Gender ideology
2. Boundary crossing
3. Gender identity
4. Gendered game play
5. Corner crossing

ANS: b TYPE: factual PG: 205 SOURCE: pickup LO: 2

36. In Thorne’s research on a fourth-and fifth-grade American classroom she noted that activities requiring cooperation such as a group radio show or an art project

1. heightened attention to gender.
2. required putting the students into same-sex groups.
3. created more conflict between boys and girls.
4. lessened attention to gender.
5. made gender roles more distinct.

ANS: d TYPE: factual PG: 205 SOURCE: modified LO: 2

37. In Thorne’s research on a fourth-and fifth-grade American classroom she noted that boys and girls interacted with each other more easily

1. in less public and crowded settings.
2. in more public settings.
3. when they were at school.
4. when they were away from their own neighborhoods.
5. when they were being closely watched .

ANS: a TYPE: factual PG: 205 SOURCE: modified LO: 2

38. Barrie Thorne’s research on a fourth-and fifth-grade American classroom doesnotlead to which of these conclusions?

1. Children are actively engaged in the process of constructing gender roles.
2. Adults play little role in the construction of gender roles for children.
3. Children are not merely passive recipients of adult demands.
4. School children often segregate themselves by gender.
5. Boundaries between boys and girls are sometimes fluid and sometimes rigid.

ANS: b TYPE: conceptual PG: 206 SOURCE: modified LO: 2

39. What should we not conclude from Barrie Thorne’s research on a fourth-and fifth-grade American classroom?

1. Children are actively engaged in the process of constructing gender roles.
2. Children are merely passive recipients of adult demands.
3. School children do segregate themselves by gender.
4. Boundaries between boys and girls are sometimes fluid and sometimes rigid.
5. The social context impacts gender roles for children.

ANS: b TYPE: conceptual PG: 206 SOURCE: modified LO: 2

40. Most research comparing co-ed and same-sex schools doesnot indicate that

1. same-sex schools reinforce more rigid gender roles for girls.
2. girls do much better in same-sex schools.
3. in same-sex schools girls focus more on academic excellence and less on attractiveness.
4. girls in same-sex schools have greater self-esteem and self-confidence.
5. same-sex schools provide more same-sex role models for girls.

ANS: a TYPE: factual PG: 206 SOURCE: modified LO: 2

41. What is the term for sets of interrelated ideas about what constitutes appropriate masculine roles, feminine roles, and behavior?

1. gender identity
2. gender ideology
3. gender
4. gender roles
5. gender attribution

ANS: b TYPE: factual PG: 206 SOURCE: modified LO: 2

42. What is the primary effect of the mass media’s depiction of gender?

1. They reinforce the normality of traditional gender roles.
2. They provide opportunities for alternative sexualities.
3. They establish information on resisting gender ideologies.
4. They create opportunities for children and adults to express themselves.
5. They help girls and women feel positive about their bodies.

ANS: a TYPE: applied PG: 206 SOURCE: modified LO: 2

43. The two occupations with the highest percentage of women in 2010 were _____.

1. bookkeepers and accountants
2. customer service representatives and retail salespersons
3. secretaries and receptionists
4. lawyers and pharmacists
5. elementary school teachers and managers of sales workers

ANS: c TYPE: factual PG: 207 SOURCE: modified LO: 2

44. Which of the highest earning occupations in 2010 were at least fifty percent female?

1. chief executives
2. judges and magistrates
3. lawyers
4. pharmacists
5. none of them

ANS: e TYPE: factual PG: 207 SOURCE: modified LO: 2

45. Which of the following statements is false regarding the research on body ideals for men and women?

1. throughout the world men prefer women to be thinner than women thought men preferred
2. although both men and women express dissatisfaction with their bodies, women are much more likely to want to lose weight
3. although women throughout the world are dissatisfied with their bodies, North and South American women are more so
4. one fourth of women and one sixth of men would be willing to give up three years of their life to achieve their desired weight
5. North and South American men have more negative attitudes toward heavier women than do other men

ANS: a TYPE: factual PG: 209 SOURCE: new LO: 2

46. By playing with dolls and baking sets, girls tend to learn that social interaction is centered around all of these, except

1. maintaining cordial relationships
2. avoiding conflict
3. looking out for oneself
4. resolving differences of opinion
5. using negotiation to solve problems

ANS: c TYPE: applied PG: 210 SOURCE: modified LO: 2

47. Sociologists have found that by playing with dolls and baking sets girls learn that differences of opinion

1. are resolved using negotiations.
2. are resolved through conflict.
3. should be avoided at all costs.
4. should be emphasized in order to learn more from the experience.
5. are an opportunity to be the boss.

ANS: a TYPE: applied PG: 210 SOURCE: modified LO: 2

48. Women’s gender role socialization can work against them in the workplace because

1. in business there is little room for negotiation.
2. co-workers do not appreciate their bossiness.
3. they can seem indecisive when trying to preserve consensus.
4. it leaves them unable to function in the workplace.
5. employment is not an appropriate place in which to practice caring.

ANS: c TYPE: applied PG: 210 SOURCE: new LO: 4

49. A social barrier that makes it difficult for female managers to rise to the top level of management is known as a _____.

1. sexist office
2. glass escalator
3. glass ceiling
4. women’s wall
5. gender barricade

ANS: c TYPE: factual PG: 210 SOURCE: pickup LO: 4

50. The sociological term for people who resist conventional gender roles, and who blur widely accepted gender roles is _____.

1. transsexuals
2. transgendered
3. transvestites
4. cross dressers
5. intersex

ANS: b TYPE: factual PG: 210 SOURCE: modified LO: 3

51. Timothy always believed that he should be a girl. If he has sexual reassignment surgery, takes estrogen, and begins to live as Tina, he would be considered _____.

1. transsexual
2. homosexual
3. transvestite
4. cross dresser
5. intersex

ANS: a TYPE: applied PG: 210 SOURCE: modified LO: 3

52. Which of these meanings does not apply to the term “transgendered” ?

1. people who believe that they were born into the wrong body
2. people who are born with ambiguous genitalia
3. people who resist conventional gender roles
4. people who blur widely accepted gender roles in a number of ways
5. people who want to alter their gender appearance with hormones and/or surgery

ANS: b TYPE: conceptual PG: 210 SOURCE: modified LO: 3

53. How prevalent is being transsexual?

1. about 1 in every 1000 people
2. about 1 in every 5000 people
3. about 1 in every 10,000 people
4. about 1 in every 20,000 people
5. about 1 in every 30,000 people

ANS: e TYPE: factual PG: 210 SOURCE: pickup LO: 3

54. The term for people who prefer sexual partners of both sexes is _____.

1. transsexuals
2. homosexuals
3. transvestites
4. cross dressers
5. bisexuals

ANS: e TYPE: factual PG: 210 SOURCE: pickup LO: 3

55. Why do some people develop homosexual orientations?

1. The cause is genetic.
2. We do not have a good understanding of why some develop a homosexual orientation.
3. Sexual orientation is caused by hormones.
4. Experiences during childhood cause one to become homosexual.
5. Sexual orientation is always a choice.

ANS: b TYPE: factual PG: 212 SOURCE: modified LO: 3

56. According to the American Psychological Association, sexual orientation “emerges for most people in early adolescence without any prior sexual experience.” This means that sexual orientation

1. appears to be a choice.
2. does not appear to be a choice.
3. is completely flexible.
4. is changeable.
5. is a constructed identity.

ANS: b TYPE: factual PG: 212 SOURCE: modified LO: 3

57. What are sociologists interested in concerning homosexuality?

1. whether or not it is forbidden in the Bible
2. what the origin of homosexuality in a given individual is
3. the psychological make-up of homosexuals
4. how it is socially constructed, expressed and repressed
5. whether it is psychological or biological

ANS: d TYPE: conceptual PG: 212 SOURCE: modified LO: 3