 Gender – refers to socially learned behavior and expectations that

distinguish between masculinity and femininity.

 Functionalism Perspective – emphasizes the disconnectedness of society

by focusing on how each part influences and is influenced by other parts

 Conflict Perspective – argues that society is a struggle for dominance

among social groups (like women versus men) that compete for scarce
resources.

 Symbolic Interactionist – aims to understand human behavior by analyzing

the critical role of symbols in human interaction.

 Gender identity – defined as a personal conception of oneself as male or

female (or rarely, both or neither)

 Gender role – refers to the outward expression of gender identity based on

cultural and social expectations

 Gender development – means the maturation of gender identity.

 Gender – as the term is used by many researchers, refers to perceptions

about the differences among males and females

 Sexuality – is the quality or state of being sexual.

 Family – primary agent of the child’s socialization.

 Socialization – is the process by which people learn the characteristics of

their group-the knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, and actions
thoughtappropriate for them.

 Homogamy – is the tendency to choose to marry someone similar in age,

education, religion, social class, and race

 Heterogamy – refers to the tendency of people to marry others not likev

themselves on the same characteristics

 Monogamy – permits a man to take only one spouse at a time

 Polygyny – is a plural marriage wherein a man can marry to two or more

women at the same time

 Patriarchal family – is one which the authority is vested on the oldest male
in the family, often the father

 Matriarchal Family – is one which the authority is vested on the mother’s

kin
 Egalitarian family – is one which the husband and wife exercise a more or
less equal amount of authority

 Motherhood – woman’s obligation to dedicate her life unselfishly to the

raising of her children and to be constantly on call for her child’s need

 Fatherhood – father’s obligation in raising his family

 Househusbands – men who give up their breadwinning roles to take on

primarily responsibilities for household tasks and child care

 Mothers and the Single-Parent Household – the single mothers who take
the sole responsibility in raising the children as a result of separation,
annulment, and divorce

 Fathers and the Single-Parent Household the single fathers who take the
sole responsibility in raising the children as a result of separation,
annulment, and divorce

 Gay and Lesbian Families and Relationships children raised by

homosexuals are apparently recognized and accepted

 Education - “the aggregate of all the processes by which a person develops

abilities, attitudes and other forms of behavior of practical values in the
society in which s/he lives; the social process by which people are subjected
to the influence of selected and controlled environment (especially that of
the school), so that they may obtain social competence and optimum
individual development” (Good, 1973)
 Hormones play a huge role in gender differences. Biological aspects
create a critical interplay with the gender roles pursued by an individual

 Biological make up may play a major part on an individuals gender

identity, however, psycho social and societal factors still influence an
individual’s view of himself/herself

 Gender roles are both cultural and personal. It maybe derived from the
environment directly affecting the individual, however the personal
experiences of the person plays a crucial part in one’s gender role discovery.