Gender

• Androgyny 8/18 8/20

  • BEM said stifling personalities caused mental health.
  • BEM Sex Role Inventory; undergrads list qualities attractive in both men/women. Each categorized as male/fem/undifferentiated.
  • BEM Gender Schema Theory; androgynous have flexible cognitive style (healthier).
  • +High reliability (retest) 76%-94%.
  • +PRAKASH those who tested as more androgynous were less depressed/healthier.
  • -Raising as genderless=criticized by society so not practical.
  • +SMITH/LLOYD mothers filmed playing with unknown babies. 'Male' names given trucks/ 'females' given dolls. Real gender didn't matter.
• Role of chromosomes/hormones in sex/gender 16/22

  • Genes are how we acquire sex.
  • Testosterone=secondary sex characteristics (deep voice).
  • Atypical chromosome patterns can effect sex/gender. Klinefelter's XXY=less masculine due to less testosterone. Turner's XO=shorter/lack periods due to partially missing/damaged sex chromosome.
  • +Case DAVID REIMER botched circumcision so raised female but identified strongly as male.
  • -However ^ ungeneralizable/lacks population validity.
  • +REINER/GEARHART males raised as females due to tiny penis. 8/14 still called themselves male.
  • -Reductionist.
• Kohlberg's Theory; Gender Development 16/19

  • Cognitive. Changes is gender thinking are result of cognitions.
  • 1-Gender Labelling/Identity, appearances, superficial, inconsistent. 2-Gender Stability, some consistent (MCCONAGHY doll with penis wearing dress=female). 3-Gender Constancy, always consistent.
  • -Assumes children only gain knowledge at stage 3. Can learn earlier.
  • -Initial interviews on 2-3 with tailored Qs. Kohlberg didn't account more complex knowledge. Limits validity.
  • -Emphasis on maturation in gender but SLT challenges- this doesn't explain why boys have less flexible view of gender.
• Cognitive Explanations for gender 8/22

  • KOHLBERG 1-Gender Labelling/Identity 2-Gender Stability, 3-Gender Constancy, always consistent.
  • -Assumes children only gain knowledge at 3. Can learn earlier.
  • -Interviews on 2-3 with tailored Qs. Kohlberg didn't account more complex knowledge.
  • MARTIN/HALVERSON Gender Schema Theory. Learn from interactions (TV) seek out ingroup, imitate.
  • +M/H organizes memories. <6 remembered gender consistent images better (e.g. female nurse, male firefighter).
  • -Assumes schemas determine behavior. Couples who believe in equality, may still have stereotyped roles.
• Freud's Psychodynamic Theory 8/19

  • Defense mechanisms. Repression protects our conscious. Gender develops in Phallic Stage, resolved by Oedipus effect. Boys want mum, hate dad, repressed castration fear, resolved by being like dad.
  • Electra=want mum but no penis, penis envy, converts into want baby, be like mum.
  • -Alternate CHODOROW; mum/daughter close due to same sex. Son is independent. Girls/boys try to be close to dad, only girls succeed. Non sexual version.
  • +LITTLE HANS fear of horses stems from Oedipus. Fear of castration manifested.
  • +Similar to GST. Critical ages, identification=support
• SLT 16/21

  • BANDURA suggests we learn gender from our models and reinforce it. Vicarious reinforcement= observe others and learn consequence. If rewarded for a gender related behavior, they repeat. Environmental Determinism.
  • +SLT can explain gender changing, unlike bio ect. Due to societal changes.
  • -Reductionist. DAVID REIMER evidence FOR bio (raised female due to botched circumcision but still identified male).
  • -Can't explain unconscious elements.
• Influence of Culture/Media 8/20

  • Varies from cultures. ALLEYE said although women are more domestic/less power, the gender gap is decreasing.
  • MEAD studied social groups Papua New Guinea. Arapesh women/men more gentle/responsive. Mundugmor women/men more violent/aggressive.
  • PINGREE kids shown women in non traditional roles were less stereotyping.
  • -EAGLY/WOOD bio is important. Some tasks are performed better by certain genders due to bio.
  • -Hard to measure true media influence due to lack of control group.
  • -CHARLTON gave TV to community without, didn't change aggression=little influence.
• Gender Identity Disorder

  • Brain-Sex Theory; Male/Female brains are different. BST in man is 2x as woman. Gender identity correlates to biology.
  • RAMACHANDRAN gender dysphoria is an innate phantom limb syndrome. Dysphoria of sex organs (men feel shouldn't have penis ect).
  • STOLLER GSD is social issue. Boys close to mum=more feminin.
  • -HULSHOFF hormone therapy affects BST size. Bio not GID.
  • -GID research must be conducted sensitively. True understanding can reduce stigma.
  • +ZUCKER/OWEN/ANDERSON high emotional maternal involvement. Supports social explanations.