Briefly outline the thoughts of sociological theorists in explaining how women became a minority group

Question

What will be an ideal response

Answer 1

Some theorists point to the social consequences of the biology of reproduction to explain gender inequality. They suggest that the physical limitations imposed on women because of childbirth led to men assuming tasks that allowed them to become dominant. They did so by gaining control of weapons, accumulating material possessions and new knowledge, and acquiring prestige. Other theorists have provided different explanations. Marvin Harris suggested that because most men are physically stronger than women, and hand-to-hand combat was necessary in tribal groups, men became warriors and women became the reward that enticed them to do battle. Frederick Engels proposed that male dominance developed with the origin of private property. Gerda Lerner suggested that male dominance may have had different origins in different places.