Soc Science

GENDER AND SOCIETY
OVERVIEW
The course will discuss the sociological contexts of sex, sexuality and gender. The course intends
to examine the various factors that affect the way people view behaviors based on gender
categorization. Additionally, an examination of sociological studies of gender interactions would
be conducted in order to enlighten the students about the impact of such social factors in their
gendered behavior.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
1. Identify how gender is constructed as a “social fact”
2. Explain the value of sociological methods for analyzing gendered interactions and,
3. Apply a “sociological imagination” to your day-to-day observations on sex and gender in
society.
4. Analyze the influence of gender in politics.

Guide 2 What is social science?
- Sociology is the study of society.
- Group behavior is the focused of the study.
- Sociologists believe that individual behavior is influenced by
the different basic institutions of society; family, church,
schools, government, mass media.
● As a Social Science
It employs the scientific method (identifying problems, formulating hypothesis or theories,
gathering of data, observation, analysis of data, conclusion)
Sociological Methods:
● Interview
● Survey
● Case study
● Observation
● Participatory observation
The sociological imagination, a concept established by C.

Wright Mills (1916-1962) provides a framework for
understanding our social world that far surpasses any
common sense notion we might derive from our limited
social experiences.
Mills stated: “Neither the life of an individual nor the history
of a society can be understood without understanding
both.”
The sociological imagination is making the connection

between personal challenges and larger social issues. Mills
identified “troubles” (personal challenges) and “issues”
(larger social challenges), also known as biography, and
history, respectively.
Mills’ sociological imagination allows individuals to see the
relationships between events in their personal lives
(biography), and events in their society (history). In other
words, this mindset provides the ability for individuals to
realize the relationship between their personal experiences
and the larger society in which they live their lives.
Personal troubles are private problems experienced within
the character of the individual and the range of their
immediate relation to others.
Mills identified that we function in our personal lives as
actors and actresses who make choices about our friends,
family, groups, work, school, and other issues within our
control.
Sociologists are more concerned about public issues rather
than personal trouble/psychological problems of individuals.
Examples: PLMar Graduates, Divorce, Rape, Murder,
Abortion
Sociological Theories:
1. Structural-Functionalism (Emile Durkheim, Herbert Spencer, August Comte, Robert
Merton, Talcot Parsons)
Society is like an organism with different parts.
2. Conflict Perspective (Karl Marx)
Society is viewed as having structures with conflicts.
3. Symbolic Interactionism (Max Weber, Charles Cooley, Herbert Mead, Peter Berger)
Symbols have varied social meanings. Reality is socially constructed. Symbols have shared
meanings.
A Study Conducted by Emile Durkheim about Suicide

Research about suicide: personal trouble or public issue?
Sociological factors:
1. Gender: male or female
2. Economic status: poor or rich
3. Marital status: married or single
4. Country: Third world or First World Countries
5. Religiosity: Believers or non-believers
6. Level of Intelligence: High IQ or Average/below average IQ
Sample Sociological Researches:

1. Since U.S. has the highest divorce rate in the world, marriage must be losing popularity in
the said nation.
2. A person is more likely to be murdered by a stranger than by a loved one.
3. Armed robbery is more dangerous to the victim than an unarmed robbery.
Filipino Men and Women During Conversation
According to the study conducted by Tannen (2013), men and
women have different conversational behaviors.
men -report-talk
women- rapport talk

Graded Recitation 1 (Next Meeting)
● Search for any research conducted by a sociologist about gender.
● Summarize the research by explaining the problem, methodology, and
conclusion.
● What have you learned from the study?

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GENDER AND SOCIETY

categorization. Additionally, an examination of sociological studies of gender interactions would

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

1. Identify how gender is constructed as a “social fact”

3. Apply a “sociological imagination” to your day-to-day observations on sex and gender in

4. Analyze the influence of gender in politics.

The sociological imagination, a concept established by C.

The sociological imagination is making the connection

A Study Conducted by Emile Durkheim about Suicide

Sample Sociological Researches:

Filipino Men and Women During Conversation

According to the study conducted by Tannen (2013), men and

women have different conversational behaviors.

women- rapport talk

● Summarize the research by explaining the problem, methodology, and

● What have you learned from the study?

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