The influence of culture and media on gender roles

• What are gender roles defined as?

  A set of behaviours and attitudes for genders
• How is culture defined in the context of gender roles?

  Ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a group
• What does cross-cultural research inform us about?

  The nature-nurture debate of gender-role behaviour
• What can we assume if a behaviour is the same across cultures?

  It is likely innate (nature)
• What does it suggest if a behaviour varies across cultures?

  It is likely due to socialisation (nurture)
• Who conducted an early cross-cultural study of gender roles?

  Margaret Mead
• What were the Arapesh known for in Mead's study?

  Being gentle and responsive
• How were the Mundugumor characterized in Mead's study?

  Aggressive and hostile
• What was unique about the Tchambuli gender roles?

  Women were dominant, men were passive
• What does Mead's study suggest about gender roles?

  They may be culturally determined
• What did Mead later concede about gender-typical behaviours?

  She underestimated their universal nature
• How do cultural expectations affect gender roles?

  They vary significantly across cultures
• What is Cultural Learning Theory?

  Gender roles are learned, not innate
• How do children acquire gender roles according to Cultural Learning Theory?

  Through observation, imitation, and reinforcement
• What did Maternal & Munroe find about gender roles?

  They are typically divided along gender lines
• What influences the reinforcement of gender roles?

  Teachers, parents, peers, and role models
• What is a developmental niche according to Super & Harkness?

  A child's development influenced by three components
• What are the three components of a developmental niche?

  Physical/social setting, customs of childcare, psychology of caregivers
• How does cultural variation in gender roles suggest they are not biologically determined?

  Diversity across cultures indicates cultural construction
• What did Coffelt & Bursch suggest about the Western view of gender roles?

  It shows clear divisions in gender roles
• What is a 'winkte' in Lakota society?

  A male who excels in women's crafts
• How does the concept of gender roles become meaningless in other cultures?

  When imposed, they may not apply
• What is a potential bias in researching cultural differences in gender roles?

  Not including local population members in research
• What forms of media influence gender roles?

  Newspapers, television, radio, music, video games, films
• How do children acquire information from the media?

  Passively and actively
• What do Bandura & Bandura suggest about media and gender stereotypes?

  Media provides clear gender stereotypes
• What did Furnham & Farragher find in TV adverts?

  Men in autonomous roles, women in familial roles
• What did McGhee & Frueh find about children and media exposure?

  More exposure leads to more gender stereotypical views
• How does media influence self-efficacy regarding gender roles?

  It informs about capable behaviours
• How does media reinforce cultural representations of gender?

  Through TV, books, films, and billboards
• How do gender roles influence children's socialisation?

  They affect aspirations and behaviours
• What is the impact of gender-stereotypical role models in media?

  Reinforcement of typical gender roles and expectations
• What has changed in the portrayal of female role models in recent years?

  Increase in non-stereotypical portrayals
• How does media exposure affect children's self-perceptions?

  It reinforces gender-stereotypical views
• What does increased media salience do to gender-appropriate behaviours?

  It increases the power of media influence