Sex and Gender

• What is the definition of Sex?

  The biological differences between males and females including chromosomes and anatomy
• What is the definition of gender?

  The psychological and cultural differences between males and females including attitudes, behaviours and social roles
• What is the research study into Sex and Gender?

  • Imperato McGinley
  • Studied a family from the Dominical Republic
  • 4 of the children were identified as girls at birth and raised as so until puberty when they 'changed' into boys
  • They were affected by a rare genetic disorder which meant that their male genetalia wasn't externalised at birth
  • During prenatal development dihydrotestosterone was missed which would normally externalise the male genetalia
  • The boys abandoned their female identities and quickly adjusted to their new roles of men.
• What are sex role stereotypes?

  Narrow views of how men and women behave. They are a shared set of expectations that people in a society or culture hold about what is acceptable behaviour for males and females.
• What is Furnham and Farragher's research into Sex role stereotypes?

  • Studied Tv adverts
  • found that men were more likely to be shown in autonomous roles within professional contexts whereas women were often seen occupying family roles within domestic settings.
  • This suggests that the media plays a role in reinforcing widespread social stereotypes concerning male and female behaviour
• What is Ingalhaliker's Research into sex type stereotypes?

  • Scanned the brains of 949 young men and women
  • Used high-tech diffusion MRI imaging to map the connections between different parts of the brain.
  • The researchers discovered that women's brains have better connections between the left and right sides of the brain, whilst men's brains displayed more intense activity within the brains individual parts (especially the cerebellum)
  • Conclusion: Female brain is hard wired to cope better with multi-tasking whereas males brains prefer to focus on a single complex task.
• What is Androgyny?

  Displaying a balance of masculine and feminine characteristics in one's personality. E.g., a man who is competitive and aggressive at work but a caring and sensitive parent.
• What is the BSRI?

  • Developed by Sandra Bem
  • An inventory for measuring androgyny and suggested that high androgyny is associated with physiological well being because they are better equipped to adapt to a range of situations and contexts that other non-androgynous people would find difficult.
  • Scale consists of overall 60 characteristics - 20 male, 20 female and 20 neutral traits
• What is one strength and two limitations of BemSexRole Inventory?

  • S: Reliable and valid measure of androgyny
  • L: Cultural and historical bias
  • L: Measuring gender identity using questionnaires
• Why is the BSRI being reliable and a valid measure of androgyny a strength?

  • BSRI was piloted with over 1000 students where the results broadly corresponded with the participant's own description of their gender identity
  • A follow up study involving a smaller sample was conducted and revealed similar scores when the students were tested a month later
  • This is a strength because it shows the BSRI has a high degree of validity and high-retest reliablity
• Why is the BSRI having cultural and historical bias a limiation?

  • Developed over 40 years ago and outlines behaviours that are regarded as 'typical' for that point in time. (These behaviours have changed over time)
  • Bem's scale is made up of stereotypical ideas that may be outdated and lacking temporal validity.
  • The scale was devised using a panel of judges who were all from the US. Western motions of 'maleness' and 'femaleness' may not be shared across all cultues.
• Why is the BSRI measuring gender identity using questionnaires a limitation?

  • Asking people to rate themselves on a questionnaire relies on an understanding of their personality and behaviour that one may not have.
  • Gender is a hypothetical construct which is much more open to interpritation
  • The questionnaite's scoring system is subjective and people's interpritation of measuring of each end of the scale may differ.
  • Reduced internal validity
  • Self-report = potential for demand characteristics.