Edwin Schur’s book on “Labeling women deviant: gender, stigma and social control” argues women are more quickly and strongly labeled for their behavior if it is deviant than men. Think of derogatory terms that apply to men and women in society. Compare and contrast the normative expectations for women and men in society? Based on the list of expected behaviors, think of positive and negative labels. What sort of reaction would happen to both men and women if each of these were violated? Add power into the argument; is their power gain or power loss through these terms?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers will be fairly open, as students can go just about anywhere with these. Labels are everywhere. The goal is to get the student thinking and to provide a few examples of terms and/or ways in which labels can be consequential. Also, to mention power and in what ways power is used in condescending or dehumanizing ways.

Consider topics such as the objectification of women in dominant magazines (wearing sexy lingerie, heels, etc.). A majority of magazines have women in the open, wearing gendered clothing (heels, lots of make up, big hair, etc). If a magazine were to print a woman who was not as done up (outfit, hair, and makeup) and was placed in her natural state, chances are the magazine would make less money (or at least that is what marketers would argue.

Many women are still in the work force; however, women are held far more accountable than men if allegations of a child being neglected come about, despite both being parents. She is considered a bad mother, maybe assumed to be out partying or “whoring” around and neglecting her child. Consider the labels on the Casey Anthony trial.

Often these terms are emphasized in a degrading way. To dehumanize and condescend, the individual subjects to such terms.