Chapter+10+Gender+Stratification

Gender stratification – the unequal distribution of wealth, power, and privilege between men and women Although she didn’t love Prince Humperdinck, Buttercup marries him. This shows gender stratification; she has to marry him because he has more power as a male. He also has more wealth and privilege then she does by having control of the country.

Gender roles (sex roles) – attitudes and activities that a society links to each sex In society, people link men to bravery, support and power. Westley is a good example of this link. He shows his bravery by going off to the seas in an attempt to find money so that he can support Buttercup. He also demonstrates his bravery by following Buttercup after she has been kidnapped and defeating Inigo, Fezzik, and Vizzini.

Intersection theory – analysis of the interplay of race, class, and gender, which often results in multiple dimensions of disadvantage Although Buttercup is the same race as the other characters in the movie, she still has multiple dimensions of disadvantage. One disadvantage is that she is a woman. Another disadvantage is that she is a part of the lower class until she becomes princess. Because of those disadvantages, she has to marry Prince Humperdinck although she doesn’t love him.

gender: the personal traits and social positions that members of society attach to being female or male This society attached traits such as kindness and beauty to females. It attached strength an superiority to males. It was deemed odd if the opposite gender had traits from the other gender.

patriarchy: a form of social organization in which males dominate females The movie portrays males as dominate over females. The females were not really allowed to choose their husband, but instead the male chose their bride such as when Prince Humperdinck chose Buttercup to be his bride. He had complete control over her and she wasn’t allowed to deny his proposal because Westley was not there to fight for her.

sexism: the belief that one sex is innately superior to the other Prince Humperdinck often displays this characteristic by thinking his is superior over Buttercup. She is a just a pawn in his scheme to gain more land. He does not think of her as an equal or even as a human being. The society is also ruled by a male, not a female.