Gender Flashcards
(23 cards)
What is sex?
Biological/anatomical differences between males and females. Determined by chromosomes (XX = female, XY = male). Assigned at birth.
What is gender?
The psychological and behavioural characteristics considered masculine or feminine. May differ from biological sex.
What is a sex role stereotype?
A set of culturally expected male and female behaviours. These stereotypes help us understand gender roles but can reinforce rigid behaviour patterns.
How are sex role stereotypes learned?
Often learned via cognitive, social learning theory (SLT), or psychodynamic processes.
What is androgyny?
Possessing a high and balanced mix of both masculine (e.g., assertive, competitive) and feminine (e.g., caring, emotionally expressive) traits.
What does undifferentiated mean?
Low in both masculine and feminine traits.
What is cross-sex typed?
A person whose gender identity does not match their biological sex.
What is the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI)?
Created by Sandra Bem in 1974 to measure levels of androgyny. Participants rate themselves on 60 traits (20 masculine, 20 feminine, 20 neutral) using a 7-point scale.
What are some example masculine traits in BSRI?
Aggressive, Independent, Risk-taking.
What are some example feminine traits in BSRI?
Cheerful, Shy, Warm.
What are some example neutral traits in BSRI?
Adaptable, Reliable.
What were the findings of the BSRI study?
561 female and 356 male participants; most were sex-typed, with 34% of males and 27% of females classified as androgynous.
What does the BSRI suggest about masculinity and femininity?
They are independent dimensions.
What did Adams & Sherer (1985) find regarding masculinity?
Masculine males and females were best adjusted (more assertive and self-efficacious), suggesting masculinity may be linked to positive adjustment.
What is the reliability of the BSRI?
High test–retest reliability — consistent scores across time.
What is a concern regarding the temporal validity of the BSRI?
Bem’s criteria may no longer reflect modern views of gender roles; some feminine traits seem outdated.
What is a positive aspect of Bem’s idea of androgyny?
It helped separate gender identity from biological sex and could reduce discrimination.
What is a limitation of the BSRI regarding oversimplification?
Scoring someone as masculine/feminine/androgynous doesn’t reflect how behaviour changes across contexts (e.g., work vs home).
What is a cultural bias in the BSRI?
It was developed using a Western student sample, limiting generalisability across non-Western cultures and age groups.
What did Smith & Lloyd (1978) demonstrate about sex role stereotypes?
Mothers reinforced sex role stereotypes from infancy by giving babies dressed as boys masculine toys and girls dolls.
What did Mead (1935) find in her study of tribes in New Guinea?
Gender roles are culturally learned, not biologically fixed, with different tribes exhibiting varying gender characteristics.
What is a concern regarding the temporal validity of gender roles?
Norms around gender roles have changed, making traditional sex-role stereotypes less relevant in modern society.
What is a practical application of understanding sex role stereotypes?
Rigid stereotypes can affect job prospects; understanding them can improve hiring policies and reduce gender discrimination.
