Gender Psychology

• Distinguish between sex and gender

  • Sex refers to your biological status of being male or female.
  • Differences in sex therefore refer to biological differences such as differences in chromosomes, hormones and anatomy.
  • E.g. Males have XY chromosomes whereas females have XX chromosomes.
  • Gender refers to your psychological identity as being masculine, feminine, androgynous etc.
  • Differences in gender therefore refer to psychological differences such as differences in their attitudes, behaviours etc.
  • E.g. someone who is masculine may be more aggressive than someone is feminine.
• Define sex-role stereotypes.

  • Sex-role stereotypes refer to a set of shared ideas about what behaviours/characteristics are appropriate for males and females.
  • E.g. there is a sex-role stereotype that women should take on more domestic and childrearing roles while men should go to work.
  • These sex-role stereotypes are generally shard by members of a society.
• What are sex-role stereotypes?


  A set of shared ideas about appropriate behaviors for males and females
• What is an example of a sex-role stereotype regarding women?


  Women should take on more domestic and childrearing roles
• What is an example of a sex-role stereotype regarding men?


  Men should go to work
• According to social learning theorists, how do sex-role stereotypes develop?


  Through observation and imitation of same-sex parent behaviors
• How might a girl develop sex-role stereotypes according to social learning theory?


  By observing and imitating her mother in domestic roles
• How might a boy develop sex-role stereotypes according to social learning theory?


  By observing and imitating his father going out to work
• What does gender schema theory propose about sex-role stereotypes?


  They develop when individuals form rigid gender schemas
• How might a rigid gender schema affect a boy's play choices?


  A boy may refuse to play with dolls, believing they are for girls
• How does a rigid gender schema reinforce sex-role stereotypes?


  By limiting engagement in activities expected of one's gender
• What are the key concepts related to sex-role stereotypes?


  • Shared ideas about behaviors for males and females
  • Social learning theory: imitation from same-sex parents
  • Gender schema theory: rigid gender schemas influence behavior
• What is a strength of research into sex-role stereotypes?


  It has received supporting evidence from family studies.
• How did the researcher in family studies observe children's behavior related to sex-role stereotypes?


  By observing children playing at home with their parents.
• What behavior were boys encouraged to engage in according to the family studies on sex-role stereotypes?


  Playing with toy bricks.
• What behavior were girls discouraged from engaging in according to the family studies on sex-role stereotypes?


  Engaging in rough play.
• Why does the supporting evidence from family studies add credibility to the existence of sex-role stereotypes?


  Because it shows how these stereotypes are shared by parents.
• What is another strength of research into sex-role stereotypes?


  It has received further supporting evidence within the media and schools.
• How do media and schools reinforce sex-role stereotypes?


  By displaying rigid sex-role stereotypes in toy adverts and sports.
• What type of toys are boys typically shown playing with in media adverts?

  Combat-type toys.
• What type of sports are boys encouraged to play in schools?

  Contact sports such as rugby.
• What does the reinforcement of sex-role stereotypes in media and schools suggest about societal expectations?


  Boys are expected to be more aggressive while girls are expected to be more nurturing.
• What is a limitation of the existence of sex-role stereotypes?


  They can have negative implications on women.
• How can sex-role stereotypes negatively impact women's career opportunities?


  By pressuring them into childrearing and domestic roles.
• What is the effect of sex-role stereotypes on the gender pay gap?


  It increases the gender pay gap.
• Why might research into sex-role stereotypes lack temporal validity?


  Because many parents now raise their children in less sex-stereotypical ways.
• What are some ways parents are raising children in less sex-stereotypical ways?


  By buying gender-neutral clothing and allowing play with opposite-sex toys.
• What does the decline of sex-role stereotypes suggest about their influence?


  They may be less common and influential than they once were.
• What are the strengths and limitations of research into sex-role stereotypes?


  Strengths:

  • Supporting evidence from family studies
  • Evidence from media and schools

  
  

  Limitations:

  • Negative implications on women's career opportunities
  • Lack of temporal validity due to changing parenting styles
• Define androgyny.

  • Androgyny refers to when an individual displays high amounts of both masculine and feminine traits.
  • E.g they may be very authoritative at work (a masculine trait) but very nurturing at home (a feminine trait).
• What is the name of the inventory created by Bem to measure androgyny?


  BSRI
• How many items are included in the BSRI?


  60 items
• What types of traits does the BSRI measure?


  Masculine, feminine, and neutral traits
• How many masculine traits are included in the BSRI?


  20 masculine traits
• Can you name an example of a masculine trait from the BSRI?


  Athletic
• How many feminine traits are included in the BSRI?


  20 feminine traits
• Can you name an example of a feminine trait from the BSRI?


  Shy
• How many neutral traits are included in the BSRI?


  20 neutral traits
• Can you name an example of a neutral trait from the BSRI?


  Helpful
• How do participants rate themselves on the BSRI?


  On a 7-point scale from almost never true to almost always true