Chapter 28 Sexism Exam Questions Cahn

Test Bank

to accompany

Exploring Ethics, Sixth Edition

Cahn

Chapter 28

Sexism

Ann E. Cudd and Leslie E. Jones

[NOTE: Questions marked with “*” also appear in the student self quizzes on Learning Link.]

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following characterizes sexism, according to Cudd and Jones?*

a. Systematic violence

b. Economic disadvantage

c. A high human cost

d. All of the above

2. Intentional extrinsic sexism involves the belief that

a. women as a group are incapable of performing valued work.

b. women as a group are capable of performing valued work, but usually choose not to.

c. only a few exceptional women are capable of performing valued work.

d. while women as a group are capable of performing valued work, sexist institutions prevent it.

3. Cudd and Jones argue sexism operates at each of the following levels, except*

a. Interpersonal

b. Institutional

c. Procedural

d. Unconscious

4. “The man standard” is the authors’ term for

a. patriarchy in all its forms.

b. treating traits typically associated with men as normal for human beings.

c. a legal category designating preferential hiring practices.

d. the institutional sexism exemplified by religious institutions.

5. Interpersonal sexism*

a. is intentional.

b. is unintentional.

c. has both intentional and unintentional forms.

d. has less to do with intentions than with the impact on others.

6. The key to recognizing unconscious sexist motives is to look for

a. explicit sexist beliefs.

b. behavior that could not be justified by a reasonable view of the available evidence.

c. evidence of a personal history of other bigoted attitudes.

d. sexist influences from the person’s peer group.

7. According to the authors, whether a given example of unconscious sexism is “innocent” depends on*

a. the degree to which the individual has access to information that counters the sexist attitudes in question.

b. whether the individual consciously identifies as a feminist.

c. whether particular women have been harmed by it.

d. None of the above, as all unconscious sexism is culpable.

8. The idea that there are real and significant differences between men and women

a. is embraced by difference feminists and rejected by equality feminists.

b. is embraced by equality feminists and rejected by difference feminists.

c. is shared by both equality and difference feminists.

d. is rejected by both equality and difference feminists.

9. Feminists argue that sexism structures one’s*

a. experience of others.

b. self-conceptions.

c. experience of the world.

d. All of the above

10. “Equality feminists” maintain that

a. the primary medium for sexism is unconscious desires.

b. social institutions are the result of sexism, not its cause.

c. gender-neutral standards for evaluating the justice of social outcomes can and should be developed.

d. gender-neutral standards for evaluating the justice of social outcomes cannot be developed.

True or False

11. Cudd and Jones define sexism as oppression directed against individuals of any gender.*

a. True

b. False

12. Cudd and Jones argue that while racism and sexism are both pervasive, their underlying psychological mechanisms are largely different.

a. True

b. False

13. Cudd and Jones claim that both social and psychological mechanisms are needed to maintain sexism over time.*

a. True

b. False

14. Cudd and Jones argue that religious institutions cannot be properly understood as an example of institutional sexism.

a. True

b. False

15. According to Cudd and Jones, implicit social norms are an important facet of institutional sexism.*

a. True

b. False

16. Unlike institutional sexism, interpersonal sexism denotes a source of sexual inequality that is not governed by explicit rules.

a. True

b. False

17. Cudd and Jones argue that sexism in all forms is a wrong for which the person in question is culpable.*

a. True

b. False

18. According to the authors, interpersonal sexism does not have to be intentional.

a. True

b. False

19. Cudd and Jones maintain that sexism, like racism, is more easily recognized by victims than by members of the perpetrating group in question.*

a. True

b. False

20. “Difference feminists,” according to the authors, hold that the primary medium of sexism are social institutions.

a. True

b. False

Essay

21. How do Cudd and Jones distinguish institutional from interpersonal sexism? What is the key difference-maker? Are these two forms of sexism sufficiently different that one could be eliminated, but not the other?

22. Define unconscious sexism and illustrate with a concrete example. How do the authors believe this sort of sexism can be proven to exist? How do they believe it can be identified in practice? Evaluate their claim that unconscious sexism is real and an important form of oppression. Do you agree or disagree?

23. Distinguish the two feminist views described by Cudd and Jones in the final section of their article. Which do you believe is more plausible? Defend your answer.