Gender Bias Flashcards
What is gender bias?
The differential treatment or representation of men and women based on stereotypes rather than real differences.
What are the 2 types of gender bias?
Alpha and beta
What is alpha bias?
The tendency to exaggerate differences between men and women.
What is the consequence of alpha bias?
Theories devalue one gender in comparison to the other.
What is an example of alpha bias?
Freud’s view that femininity is failed masculinity.
What is beta bias?
The tendency to ignore or minimise differences between men and women.
What are the consequences of beta bias?
Theories tend to either ignore questions about the lives of women, or assume that theories about men are universal to women.
What is an example of beta bias?
The fact that the fight or flight response was applied to women, who in reality adopt a tend or befriend response.
What is androcentrism?
When a theory focuses on men.
What is gynocentrism?
When a theory focuses on women.
What are the 4 gender bias AO3 points?
1) Feminist psychology
2) Bias in research
3) Reverse alpha bias
4) Avoiding a beta bias
What does feminist psychology aim to eradicate?
The gender imbalance is psychological theories + research
What did Eagly suggest in terms of feminist psychology?
That we should use evidence of women being inferior to provide them with greater support
What did Rosenthal find in terms of bias in research methods?
That male researchers are more pleasant, friendly and encouraging to female participants than to male participants
Why do feminists argue that lab studies disadvantage women?
As differences may be found between men and women in the highly controlled, artificial setting which may not reflect real life
