Sex and Gender

• Sex - the biological status of being male or female. It is determined at the moment of conception by chromosomes.
• Gender - the psychological, social and cultural status of being masculine and feminine. It includes attitudes, behaviours and social roles associated with being male and female.
• For most people there chromosomal sex matches their sense of being male or female. However there may be chromosomal or hormonal issues which makes determining sex at birth difficult.
• Differences between sex and gender

  • Sex is biological (determined by chromosomes) wherever gender is socially determined
  • Sex is male or female whereas gender is feminine or masculine
  • Sex is determined by nature whereas gender is determined by nurture
• Sex role stereotypes - overgeneralised and oversimplified beliefs that are applied to all members or one sex.

  They refer to particular characteristics thought to be typical of males and females in specific cultures
• Sex role stereotypes can be problematic because people tend to fulfil their potential.

  Those who do choose to counter stereotypical roles may suffer prejudice and discrimination.

  We may make mistakes if we use there stereotypes to pre-judge others.
• AO3 of Sex role stereotypes - Maccoby and Jackie

  Found little evidence to support traditional gender differences. This suggests that sex role stereotypes may be based more on mistaken assumptions than on real life differences.

  Their review on gender differences showed considerable publication bias, which lead to exaggeration of differences.

  When unpublished research was influenced males and females showed similarities in most traits.
• AO3 of Sex role stereotypes - Ingalhalikar

  Found MRI scans showed better connections in women brains between left and right hemispheres. Mens brains displayed more intense activity in individual parts, especially cerebellum which controls motor skills.

  This supports the belief that women are better at multi-tasking, suggesting more sophisticated techniques like MRI show biological differences. Suggests some stereotypes are based on real differences
• AO3 of Sex role stereotypes - Smith and Lloyd

  Gave mothers 6 month old babies to play with for 10 minutes. The babies were dressed in blue or pink. If the mother thought she was playing with a boy he would encourage more active play and if the mother thought she was playing with a girl she would cradle the baby and play with dolls.

  Suggests that girls and boys are treated differently from babyhood and can result in gender differences
• Androgyny - an equal mix of gender role characteristics. People who show a combination of stereotypically feminine and masculine qualities may be described as androgynous.
• Sandra Bem argued that androgyny can be advantageous for individuals as it means they have a wider range of behaviours to draw on in different situations.
• Androgynous people may have a better psychological adjustment then 'sex typed' individuals who score highly on masculine or feminine traits.
• Androgyny is measure by Bem Sex role Inventory (BSRI).

  This is a questionnaire that was developed by Bem in 1974.
• The BSRI contains three sub scales

  1. 20 characteristics which were rated as desirable for men
  2. 20 characteristics which were rated as desirable for women
  3. 20 characteristics which were rated equally desirable for males and females
• Ben asked 100 American students to rate a series of characteristics as desirable for male or females
• When people complete the BSRI they have to rate each characteristic of how true it is to them on a 7 point scale.

  Those who score low on masculinity and femininity are classed as undifferentiated

  Those who score high on both traits are considered androgynous
• AO3 of androgyny and BSRI

  Ben found high test-retest reliability with her BSRI, suggesting that is is a reliable measure of androgyny producing consistent and replicable results.
• AO3 of androgyny and BSRI

  BSRI was based on female and male behaviours in the 1970's therefore has low temporal validity because masculine and feminine has changed a lot over the years and can be seen as different to modern day behaviour.
• AO3 of androgyny and BSRI

  The BSRI was based on opinions of American students so lacks population validity because it only uses American students to form the characteristics. The questionnaire cannot be used on other countries or cultures so it is seen as culturally relative - only relating to one culture
• AO3 of androgyny and BSRI

  The BSRI is a self report method therefore social desirability bias can be seen as a problem. Participants may lie to make themselves seem more feminine or masculine. Subjective choices are being made as it is based on opinion.
• AO3 of androgyny and BSRI - Prakash

  Evidence to support Bem idea that androgyny is helpful

  Prakash found a positive correlation between androgyny and mental health in Indian women. Those with high androgyny had less depression than others. Suggesting androgyny is a positive and psychologically healthy thing
• AO3 of androgyny and BSRI

  Bems research could have practical applications such as parent encouraging their children to be free to assume their own gender and traits. Like not giving girls pink clothes and boys blue clothes.
• Examples of male traits in BSRI

  • athletic
  • leadership abilities
  • dominant
  • competitive
• Examples of feminine traits in BSRI:

  • shy
  • gently
  • loves children
  • soft-spoken