The influence of culture and media on gender roles

Question 1

Culture

Answer 1

The ideas, customs and social behaviour of a particular group of people or society

Question 2

Media

Answer 2

Communication channels, such as TV, film and books, through which news, entertainment, education and data are made available

Question 3

Gender roles

Answer 3

A set of behaviours and attitudes that are considered typical of the gender and atypical of another

Question 4

Who did research on nurtures influence on cultural differences and where did they do it

Answer 4

Who- Mead
Where- Papa New Guinea

Question 5

What where the 3 tribes called in Mead’s research on Cultural differences (nurture)

Answer 5

1) Arapesh
2) Mundugumor
3) Tchambuli

Question 6

The arapesh

Answer 6

Gentle and responsible (similar to female stereotype)

Question 7

The Mundugumor

Answer 7

Aggressive and hostile (similar to masculine stereotype)

Question 8

The Tchambuli

Answer 8

Dominant, organised village life. Whereas, men were passive- ‘decorative’.
(Reverse of stereotypes)

Question 9

Cultural similarities (Nurture)- Buss research

Answer 9

Found consistent patterns in male preferences (gender role behaviour)
- 37 countries across the world
- All cultures women sought men who could offer wealth & resources
- Men looked for youth and attractiveness in a partner

Question 10

Cultural similarities (Nurture)- Munroe and Munroe research

Answer 10

Revealed that in most societies division of labour is organised along gender lines
- Men are breadwinners
- Women are nurtures

Question 11

Cultures influence on gender roles evaluation points- Research support

Answer 11

STRENGTH

Women’s role has changed in industrialised societies as they have moved into workplace, not in traditional societies. (Hofstede)

Question 12

Cultures influence on gender roles evaluation points- Mead’s research

Answer 12

LIMITATION

Freeman studied Samoan people, concluding Mead had been misled (observer bias and ethnocentrism)

Question 13

Media- Rigid stereotypes
(Bussey and Bandura)

Answer 13

• The media promotes stereotypes
• Men independent
• Women dependant

Question 14

Media- Rigid stereotypes
(Furnham and Farragher)

Answer 14

• Men = autonomous role and professional
• Women = familial domestic role

Question 15

Media- Self-efficacy

Answer 15

• Media influences what gender behaviour children believe they are capable of
• Girls who watched an Indian programme challenging gender stereotypes more likely to see themselves working outside the home
• Mitra et al

Question 16

Media influence on gender roles evaluation points- Cultivation theory

Answer 16

STRENGTH

Jersey shore viewers more permissive attitudes to sex than non-viewers , media ‘cultivates’ perceptions of reality (Bond and Dragos)

Question 17

Media influence on gender roles evaluation points- Passive recipients

Answer 17

LIMITATION

Children only accept gender representations if they fit family norms (Durkin)