Final answer:
The status of women in society is influenced by cultural factors and institutional roles, with modes of subsistence and economic conditions being pivotal. Furthermore, intersectionality emphasizes the diversity of women's experiences based on multiple social identities. Institutions reinforce gender roles and contribute to gender stratification across various spheres in society.
Step-by-step explanation:
The status of women in society and the factors that determine their roles and power can be attributed to various cultural factors and institutions. One significant cultural factor is the mode of subsistence, such as in hunter-gatherer societies, where women's contributions to the food supply have been linked to higher social status and more equality with men. In contrast, societies that distinctively separate the 'public' sphere of work from the 'private' domestic sphere tend to assign women to the latter, leading to their subordination. Moreover, the intersectionality of gender with race, class, ethnicity, age, sexuality, and physical ability plays a crucial role in the lived experiences of women, making it clear that gender status cannot be understood in isolation. Economic factors also play a role, as seen in the example of women of color in American society often working as domestic workers for more privileged women. This indicates that institutions seem to reinforce gender roles by prescribing societal norms and labor divisions.
Regarding the institutions that influence female gender status, major American institutions including the family, education, and economy, tend to stratify gender roles and contribute to the perpetuation of inequalities. Differentiating between sex and gender is important as it allows us to understand how societal expectations and roles are socially constructed and not inherently tied to biological differences. The theoretical perspective of intersectionality highlights the complexity of gender relations, considering multiple, intersecting identities. Efforts to lessen gender stratification in the workplace and considerations for how a matriarchal society might function highlight the ongoing discourse on gender equality. Ultimately, the experiences and status of women are shaped through a complex interplay of cultural, institutional, and economic forces.