THE GENDER SYSTEM AND INTERACTION

• DOI: 10.1146/annurev.soc.25.1.191
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T11:48:40Z
• Authors: Cecilia L. Ridgeway; Lynn Smith-Lovin
• Keywords: Gender Inequality; Gender Relations

▪ Abstract The gender system includes processes that both define males and females as different in socially significant ways justify inequality on the basis of difference. Gender is from other forms social men women interact extensively within families households role relations. This high rate contact between raises important questions about how interaction creates experiences confirm, or potentially could undermine, beliefs difference underlie system. Any theory must accommodate three basic findings research interaction. (a). People perceive differences to be pervasive (b). Studies among peers with equal power status show few behavior. (c). Most interactions occur structural context roles relationships are unequal. These create very real effects, which often confounded gender. Beliefs combine structurally unequal perpetuate beliefs, leading recreate everyday Only peer not driven by cultural general competence status- power-advantaged over likely undermine