These terms will be helpful as you think through major course themes and questions. Be sure you have an understanding of what they mean and are able to use (i.e. think and write with) them.

Sex -
Biological state of having male, female, genitalia (or both: intersexed) (Jennifer)

Gender -
A term encompassing the collective socially constructed roles, behaviors, and norms that an individual society considers to be ‘normal’ or ‘natural’ for males and females. (Matt)

Structure and Agency -
Structure – Our lives are largely shaped by social, cultural institutions; these institutions force you towards particular beliefs and situations
Agency – Although we may live within social and cultural institutions, people still have a large degree of control over the decisions they make
Structure & Agency – Although many Americans prefer to think of themselves as atomized individuals (not dependent, not needy), we must be willing to acknowledge the influence of social institutions over our lives to some degree (Meredith)

Normative-
Any action used to try and normalize something (Marquis)

Ideology -
Ideology is the lenses with which an individual sees the world. It consists of a set of ideas that direct an individual’s actions and beliefs. Each individual has a set of ideals that form their ideology. Moreover, a group of people may share the same beliefs and ideals, and thus have a shared ideology. (Lauren H.)

Power -
Refers to the authority one has over another, the ability of one to successfully influence another. (Katie S.)

Intersectionality -
Intersectionality: the theory that oppression and inequality are not the product of one thing feeling, or institution but a combination of many or all of them. E.g. race, gender, religion, class, and sexual orientation "intersect" and collectively discriminate to cause oppression. (Suzanne)