Sex Roles in Business and Society

CAVEAT: No graduate credit will be awarded if HBD4721 has been successfully completed.

UPON COMPLETION OF THE COURSE, THE STUDENT WILL BE COMPETENT IN:

• Distinguishing among the definitions of sex, sex roles, and gender identity.
• Identifying sex roles that are common within the contemporary Western cultures.
• Explaining the impact of social institutions such as the family, church, school, and state upon changing sex roles.
• Articulating the process of identity development with emphasis upon sex role expectations at each phase of the life span.
• Defining gender stereotypes and examining how stereotypes are learned.
• Analyzing the role of media in portraying sex roles and gender stereotypes in business and society.
• Identifying and differentiating the communication strategies and messages for males and females.
• Discussing the choices available to men and women in choosing an occupation.
• Explaining gender differences in job search behavior.
• Outlining the pay issues and non-pay issues of the sex discrimination laws.
• Comparing and contrasting the meaning of work to both sexes and exploring its relevance to changing demographics among the work force.
• Analyzing contemporary issues for working women and men in our society.
• Discussing the problems and solutions of mixed sex teams.
• Describing the learned helplessness paradigm as it influences choices of American men and women.
• Analyzing the impact of stress on working men and women.
• Examining leader stereotypes and leadership style theories, including the concept of androgyny in leadership style.
• Articulating an understanding of the legal and social definitions of sexual harassment; the two forms of harassment recognized by the EEOC, and the four types of sexual harassment.
• Discussing the role of organizational culture in dealing with issues of sexual harassment and organizational romance.
• Summarizing the steps that companies should take in creating a policy on harassment.
• Analyzing the role of media in portraying sex roles and gender stereotypes in business and society.
• Creating a mental framework for thriving in the presence of changing societal gender viewpoints.