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Introduction to Women Studies
Part 1
Patriarchy: This is a social organization system where the man or father is considered the leader.
In this case, the family depends on the man for financial and decision-making roles. In terms of
governance, the leadership is assumed by a group of men (Grana, 2010).
The myth of meritocracy: This is a system that argues that people progress because of abilities
and talent. The system disregards privileges and wealth as cause of success. The myth of
meritocracy want people to use education, become successful and be rewarded for such
achievements (Liu, 2011). For example, myth of meritocracy allows the educated to assume
leadership roles.
Prejudice: This refers to an assumed opinion that is not factual or based on reason. Prejudice
involves making judgment and subsequent actions that cause harm or injury that is unlawful
(Fiske, 1989). For example, having the opinion that a black and does not deserve fair treatment is
unlawfully injurious.
Sexism: This refers to attitudes and stereotypes tendencies that result in gender discrimination
(Swim & Campbell, 2003). In this case, a person is judged, discriminated, and devalued in basis
of sex especially in the employment and political platforms. For example, women have been
victims of sexism because they are judged as weak by chauvinistic men.
Matrix of domination: The concept refers to experiences of oppression harnessed through a
sociological paradigm with core elements of race, class, religion, age, and sexuality (Allan,
2013). The lived experiences and challenges related to one social factor like race is overlapped or
connected to another domination such as gender.
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Part 2
Question 1
Indeed, gender is beyond the biological or natural element. In fact, gender is assigned at
birth but the same has social implications. According to Ferber & Nelson (2009), the perspective
that gender is a result of social construction is true considering that sex involves a societal
transformation of the biological aspect into a social activity. For example, the biological sexuality
is translated as a sexual activity once human needs are met from a sexual encounter. Also, the
clear distinction between sex and gender renders the latter a social construct. In this context, sex
remains a biological state that is assigned at birth. For example, the reproductive organs makes
one a man or female. On the contrary, gender is described as a state of sexuality that an
individual choses to be recognized with irrespective of his or her sex. In this regard, a male born
