INFLUENCE OF CULTURE

• CULTURE ON GENDER ROLES


  The influence of culture on gender roles results from the rules, customs, morals and child-rearing practices of a particular group of people or society. The behaviours and attitudes of what is considered typical of one gender and atypical of the other.
• NATURE VS NURTURE 


  • NATURE - if a gender behaviour is consistent across cultures we consider it innate or biological
  • NURTURE - if a gender behaviour is culturally-specific we consider this is due to the influence of shared norms and socialisation
• NURTURE - MEADS (CULTURAL DIFFERENCES) 


  Cultural groups in Samoa supported the cultural determination of gender roles.

  • ARAPESH = gentle and responsive
  • MUNDUGUMOR = aggressive and hostile
  • TCHUMBALI = women were dominant and they organised village life, men were passive and considered to be decorative
• NATURE - BUSS (CULTURAL SIMILARITIES)


  found consistent mate preferences in 37 countries studied across all continents. in all cultures:

  • women sought men offering wealth and resources
  • men looked for youth and physical attractiveness

  MUNROE = found that most societies, division of labour is organised along gender lines
• (+) role of cultural similarities (nature)

  is that gender roles are universal cross-culturally.  Barry et al (1957) found that in non-Western cultures, nurturing was seen as a dominantly feminine characteristic, while self-reliance was regarded similarly for males.  This shows that these findings reflect those of Western cultures and suggests a biological basis to gender roles.
• (-) culture


  MEAD and cross-cultural research highlights methodological issues within the research, for example Investigator effects - Mead has been criticised for her techniques, the researchers from one culture may record behaviours in another culture and ‘see’ things differently to the indigenous people (imposed etic).  This suggests that Margaret Mead's research cant be generalised to other cultures because something that is seen as the ‘norm’ in one’s country may not be seen as the norm in another.