Lecture 4: Gender Flashcards
What is sex?
implies characteristics of males and females have a biological basis
Examples of sex differences in adolescent development
Physiological: external genital, reproductive organs
Physical appearance: males wider in shoulders, females wider in hips
Body composition: males gain more muscle, females gain more fat
Hormonal changes: males more testosterone, females more estradiol
What is Gender?
implies that characteristics of males and females are due to cultural and social beliefs, influences, and perceptions
What is gender socialization?
process through which cultures communicate gender expectations to children and adolescents
What are some examples of gender differences?
Adolescent boys report more self-esteem
Boys encourage more competition, conflict, power, excitement
Girls engage in more intimacy, self-disclosure, support, co-rumination
What is the gender intensification hypothesis?
Gap widens during adolescence in both modern and traditional contexts. Gender intensification hypothesis: Increase in external and internal pressures to think, feel, act in ways considered gender-appropriate during adolescence. Result: increased differences in males and females as adolescence progresses
What are gender stereotypes?
Traditional ideas about what boys and girls can or should do/like/be Over-generalized beliefs about males and females. Can be accurate at the group level. May or may not accurately reflect reality for any given individual
What are other prevalent examples of gender stereotypes?
Self-concept, identity, interest, Maturity, Physical and intellectual abilities, Career choices
What is gender priming?
Gender priming raises questions about the source of gender differences. Primed to imagine self as possessing stereotypical traits
Gender: recent trends
Movement towards egalitarian gender attitudes, But still a ways to go
What is the trend in terms of Gender-related attitudes?
Decline in reports of gender inequality, Response bias, More subtle, unconscious gender role attitudes
What are Explicit attitudes
Attitudes that people are willing to admit to others Can ask directly about their thoughts/beliefs
e.g., “Are you sexist?”
What are Implicit attitudes
Attitudes within an individual’s unconsciousness (no control or awareness, Have to access this indirectly
What is the implicit associations’ test?
Reaction times to pairs of words (male and family, female and career)
Explicit vs. implicit attitudes
Implicit and explicit attitudes only moderately correlated. Related, but distinct. Research suggests that gender stereotypes continue to influence perceived gender roles. Important to explore implicit attitudes about gender roles (More objective)
