Holding it Together pt.1
What sociological mechanism allows the myth of meritocracy to persist, according to Holding It Together?
Cultural narratives that normalize inequality as the result of individual failure
What is patriarchy
A system of oppression that harms everyone
in a workplace qualified women are consistently overlooked for promotions. This is an example of?
Glass Ceiling
What is the Supermom myth according to Calarco?
The belief that mothers are the only individuals who can protect children from all types of harm, and that failure to do so indicates personal failure.
According to Calarco, how does the Mars/Venus myth affect expectations of men and women in caregiving?
It justifies unequal burdens by claiming women are naturally better caregivers
When heterosexuality is the norm/standard by which all individuals in our society adhere to
Heteronormativity
A type of discrimination that is explicitly/implicitly part of structures, processes and procedures of organizations
Institutional Discrimination
Define the Union of Care
A collective framework that brings together paid and unpaid caregivers to advocate for better conditions, policies, pay, and protection. It reframes care as a collective responsibility.
According to Holding It Together, what role did women (especially mothers) play in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic?
They absorbed many of the burdens created by inadequate government support systems
What concept does this situation illustrate? A family where parents encourage their daughter to play with dolls and wear dresses
Gender socialization
What is the primary reason often cited for the gender wage gap in the workplace?
Occupational Segregation
According to Calarco, how does neoliberal ideology shape the public perception of social welfare programs and those who use them?
It encourages the idea that needing assistance reflects personal failure or poor choices.
How does Calarco argue that the Mars/Venus myth upholds structural inequality?
By masking how social systems rely on unpaid female labor.
The system that legitimizes men's dominant position in society and justifies the subordination of the common male population and women, and other marginalized ways of being a man
Hegemonic Masculinity
Which concept (that comes from our gendered socialization) can help explain this 2022 statistic about women's participation in STEM:
"A substantial gender gap in engineering (16% women) and computer occupations (26% women) also contributes to women's overall underrepresentation in STEM"
Self-fulfilling Prophecy
In the context of care work (childcare, eldercare, etc.), how does Calarco argue neoliberalism has affected the pay, status, and conditions of caregiving industries and caregivers?
It has exerted downward pressure on wages and working conditions by treating care work as something everyone should manage individually or informally, reducing institutional supports.
According to Calarco, what role do women play in maintaining the illusion of a strong social safety net in the U.S., particularly in light of the myth of meritocracy?
Women's unpaid and underpaid caregiving labor fills gaps left by weak government safety programs, so society appears to manage without an expansive net.
The factors (4) of gender constructionism
History, Biology, Social Structures, and Socialization
Explain both the biological essentialist and the constructionist explanation on the statement "men tend to gamble more than women"
Gender Essentialist: men "hard wired" to be risk takers; it is something biological; inherent to masculinity
Gender Constructionist: men have more economic power historically than women, allows them to have greater opportunity for gambling; risk-taking as an expression of hegemonic masculinity
Calarco argues that neoliberalism shapes early gender socialization in ways that set up long-term expectations. Explain this process.
Girls are socialized from early childhood to see caregiving as a duty and moral virtue, reinforcing the idea that they should fill informal safety nets. Boys are less pressured.