Venue/Location: Bagdad Theater, 3702 Southeast Hawthorne Blvd, Phone: (503) 467-7521
Date: Monday, September 12, 2011 - 7:00 PM
OMSI Science Pub - Everybody is Doing It: Gender and Sexuality
Presented by Maura Kelly, PhD, Aassistant Professor of sociology at Portland State University
Admission: $5 suggested cover charge
Science Pub is open to ages 21+, or minor with adult.
Doors open at 5:00pm. Most Science Pubs fill quickly, so come early to get a seat!
At this Science Pub, find out about the sociology of gender and sexuality, how those concepts shape and constrain our everyday experiences, and are how they central to understanding social life.
Our society places great importance on labeling our genders and sexualities, and there are strict social rules that govern what is and is not acceptable. These rules shape how we perform our gender and sexual identities, that is, how we “do gender” and “do sexuality” in our everyday lives. It starts at birth when newborns are identified by pink or blue hats and it continues through life influencing everything from advertisements for beauty products, to educational paths, to laws about who can marry. Society’s rules are starting to change regarding sexual practices, family forms, and professions deemed appropriate for men and for women, but there are still very definite expectations as well as penalties for going against the grain.
Maura Kelly, PhD, is an assistant professor of sociology at Portland State University, Her research and teaching interests include gender, sexuality, social inequality, popular culture, and work. Her current research is on gender, sexuality, and inequalities in the labor force.