Gender Flashcards
Difference between sex and gender
Sex refers to an individual’s biological status as either male or female whereas gender refers to a person’s sense of, and expression of, their maleness or femaleness.
What is sex-role stereotype
Shared by a culture or group and consist of expectations regarding how males and females should behave
Expectations are transmitted through society and reinforced by members of it
Can lead to sexist and damaging attitudes
What is androgyny
Possessing a balanced combination of masculine and
feminine traits.
Individuals who have a balance of masculine and feminine traits are better equipped to adapt to a range of situations
Measuring androgyny (BSRI)
Bem devised the Sex Role Inventory as a measure of androgyny
BSRI consists of 60 characteristics or traits on which respondents rate themselves on a 7-point
scale
scores translate to two dimensions – masculinity-femininity, androgynous-unclassified
Bem suggested people who are highly androgynous have
greater mental wellbeing than people who are strongly masculine, strongly feminine or
undifferentiated
Role of chromosomes
Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes and the 23rd pair determines biological sex ( Female= XX Male=XY)
Role of hormones
Testosterone controls the development of male sex organs and is linked to aggressive behaviour in both genders, in humans and animals
Oestrogen controls female sexual characteristics including menstruation in which women experience heightened emotionality and irritability
Oxytocin- women produce oxytocin in larger amounts than men: Stimulates lactation post birth and facilitates bonding
Klinefelter’s syndrome
1 in 750 Males have this
Have an additional X chromosome
Physical effects:
Reduced body hair
Underdeveloped genitals
More susceptible to health problems that affect females
Psychological effects:
Poorly developed language skills and reading ability
Passive, shy and lacking interest in sexual activity
Problems with executive functioning
Turners syndrome
1 in 5000 females have this Caused by the absence of one of the X chromosomes Physical effects: No menstrual cycle No developing of breast webbed neck Psychological effects: Higher-than-average reading ability Lower-than-average performance on spatial, visual memory and math tasks socially immature
Kohlberg’s theory
Stage 1- Gender identity (2 years old): Children able to correctly identify themselves and others as male or female. No sense of permanence of gender.
Stage 2- Gender stability (4 years old): Children realise they will stay the same gender but struggle to apply this logic to other people and other situations
Stage 3- Gender constancy (7years old): Children recognise that gender remains constant and constant across time and situations and apply this to other people as well as themselves.
Gender schema theory
Child establishes gender identity (around 2- 3 years) and then look around for further information to develop their schema
Gender-appropriate schemas expand over time to include a range of behaviours and personality traits based on stereotypes which direct child’s behaviour.
By 6 child has acquired fixed stereotypical idea of what is appropriate for their gender
Children pay more attention to and have a better understanding of the schema appropriate to their gender than those of the opposite sex
Psychodynamic explanation of gender development
At age 3-6 boys experience Oedipus complex whereas girls experience Electra complex
Oedipus complex:
Boys develop incestuous feelings for mother and are jealous of father as he has what the boy desires
Boys recognise father is more powerful and get afraid father will castrate them. Boy gives up love for mother and identifies with father.
Electra complex:
Girls feel completion from mother for fathers love and resent their mother as they believe she is responsible for lack of penis. Girls acknowledge they will never have a penis so substitute this for desire to have children therefore identify with mother
SLT explanation of gender development
Gender behaviour is learned from observing others and being reinforced for the imitation of thereunder-appropriate behaviour
Vicarious reinforcement- if the consequences of another persons behaviour is favourable, behaviour is more likely to be imitated.
Vicarious punishment- if consequence of behaviour are unfavourable, behaviour is less likely to be imitated
Child will identify with role models who tend to be:
Part of Childs immediate environment
In the media
Attractive, high status
same sex
Influence of culture on gender roles
Mead’s research-Role of nurture
Arapesh- gentle and responsive
Mundugumor- aggressive and hostile
Tchambuli women were dominat and they organised village life; men were passive and considered to be decorative- reverse of western gender behaviour
Buss’s research- Role of nature
Found consistent mate preferences in 37 different countries- women sought for men offering wealth and men looked for youth and physical attractiveness.
Influence of media on gender roles
Bussey and Bandura:
found that the media provides clear gender stereotypes:
Men are independant, ambitious and advice givers
Women are dependent, unambitious and advice seekers
McGhee and Frueh:
Found that children who have more exposure to popular forms of media tend to display more gender stereo-typical views in their behaviour and attitudes
Children also most likely to imitate role models who are same sex as them and who are engaging in gender appropriate behaviour.
