SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER 

Pauli Murray

The three anchors (keep coming back to these)

1) Judith Butler

Big idea: Gender isn’t something we are, it’s something we do — repeatedly, socially, under pressure.

You don’t need the jargon. Just: gender is learned, rehearsed, rewarded, and punished.

2) Raewyn Connell

Big idea: There isn’t one masculinity or femininity — there are many, organized by power.

This is gold for talking about men without bashing them.

3) Erving Goffman (one of your favourites, quietly essential)

Big idea: Gender is performed in everyday life — posture, clothes, voice, humour, expectations.

Perfect for radio because it’s observable, funny, and human.

A gentle, kind opening (you can paraphrase this on air)

“Gender is one of those things we all think we understand — until we actually look at it.

Sociology doesn’t ask us to pick sides. It asks us to notice patterns.

And once you notice them… you can’t un-notice them.

That’s not about being right. It’s about being a little more awake — and maybe a little nicer.”

The 12 sections (with intersections + music)

1) What is gender, anyway?

Intersection: Identity, language, everyday life

Sociology: Butler + Goffman

Song: People Are Strange

Sets curiosity without judgement.

2) Gender ≠ sex (and why that matters)

Intersection: Biology, medicine, education

Sociology: Butler (light touch)

Song: Rebel Rebel

Playful, non-threatening, perfect tone.

3) Doing gender (how we learn the rules)

Intersection: Childhood, school, toys, clothing

Sociology: Goffman

Song: Man! I Feel Like a Woman!

Joyful rule-breaking with a wink.

4) Family: who does what — and why

Intersection: Family, work, care

Sociology: Connell

Song: Papa Don’t Preach

Family, authority, and gender expectations collide.

5) Masculinities (plural, not singular)

Intersection: Violence, health, friendship

Sociology: Connell

Song: The Boxer

Tender masculinity — very URD-friendly.

6) Femininities and double standards

Intersection: Media, beauty, labour

Sociology: Goffman

Song: You Don’t Own Me

Clear message, no lecture required.

7) Gender and work

Intersection: Economy, status, pay

Sociology: Connell + Becker (labels like “women’s work”)

Song: 9 to 5

Smart, funny, and deadly accurate.

8) Gender, power, and politics

Intersection: Law, leadership, voice

Sociology: Butler + Connell

Song: Respect

Still undefeated.

9) Gender, sexuality, and love

Intersection: Relationships, norms, freedom

Sociology: Butler

Song: Androgynous

Gentle, human, ahead of its time.

10) Gender, media, and performance

Intersection: Television, advertising, pop culture

Sociology: Goffman

Song: Like a Virgin

A sociology seminar hiding in plain sight.

11) Gender across the life course

Intersection: Age, health, expectations

Sociology: Connell

Song: Landslide

Aging, reflection, identity shifting.

12) Where we are now — and how to be decent about it

Intersection: Education, kindness, coexistence

Sociology: All three

Song: What’s Going On

Perfect closing question, not an answer.

How you keep this humane (your secret sauce)

• You’re describing, not instructing

• You’re observing, not correcting

• You’re letting music carry emotion

• You’re modelling curiosity over certainty

That’s very Be Nice, very Wabi-Sabi, and very UcOtt.

If you’d like, next we can:

• Swap in more Canadian content

• Build short spoken bridges between each section

• Or do a “things we used to say / things we say now” humour segment that disarms listeners instead of scolding them

Just say the word, and Auntie Noah’s back at the board 💛 Gender crash course Tom waites what’s he building in there

June 13, 2025

Protecting queer and trans lives across borders

rabble radio

Joe Rogan

Petersen

Crash course intro gender

Gender Stratification – Crash Course Sociology #32 [6853492747]

Crime and deviance

Peace. 

Politics

Family

Religion

Health and medicine

Race

Age

Education.  

Environment

Technology

March 21stInternational Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

On March 21, 19

60, sixty-nine people were killed and 180 were wounded after police opened fire at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid “pass laws.” A few years later in 1966, March 21st was proclaimed the “International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination” by the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN).

Good

Also Poetry day

March 27thMuslim Women’s Day

MuslimGirl.com launched Muslim Women’s Day on March 27 to elevate stories and share experiences from the community in the mainstream media.

March 31stTrans Day of Visibility

April Poetry month

Bob Dylan