A01

• Define sex

  A person's biological status as either male or female, including chromosomes, hormones and anatomy
• Define gender

  The psychological and cultural differences between males and females including attitudes, behaviours and social roles
• State the difference between sex and gender

  Sex is innate (the result of nature) and cannot be changed, whereas gender is an assigned social construct
• Define sex-role stereotypes

  A set of beliefs and preconceived ideas about what is expected or appropriate for men and women in a given society or social group
• Suggest possible implications for continuing sex-role stereotypes

  • Overemphasises the differences between genders
  • Perpetuates inequality and inaccurate assumptions
  • Limits opportunities for boys and girls
• Describe the findings of Seavey et al. (1975) as evidence for sex-role stereotypes

  • Adult participants interacted with a three-month-old infant dressed in a yellow jumpsuit
  • When baby was labelled as male, participants used plastic ring to interact with child
  • When baby was labelled as female, participants used a doll to interact with child
  • In the no gender label condition, participants spontaneously decided on the baby's sex and justified this decision based on how the infant was perceived physically
• Define androgyny

  Displaying a balance of masculine and feminine characteristics in one's personality
• Outline the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI)

  The first systematic attempt to measure androgyny using a rating scale to produce scores across two dimensions - masculine-feminine and androgynous-undifferentiated
• Describe how the BSRI was developed

  • 100 American undergraduates were asked which personality traits they thought were desirable for men and women
  • The list was narrowed to include 20 masculine traits, 20 feminine traits and 20 neutral traits
  • Each person rates themselves on a 7-point Likert scale (ranging from never true of me to always true of me) and given score of masculinity, femininity, undifferentiated or androgynous
• Explain the positive effects associated with being androgynous

  Bem suggested that high androgyny is associated with psychological wellbeing as individuals who are (psychologically) both masculine and feminine are better equipped to adapt to a range of situations