Gender bias

• Gender bias occurs due to male dominated discipline.
• ALPHA bias exaggerates the differences between men and women or it devalues one gender.
• An example of alpha bias is Freud and the differences between the oedipus and electra complex.

  The Electra complex doesn't involve castration anxiety unlike the oedipus and therefore the girls aren't forced to identify an internalise with their mum as boys do with their dad.

  This leads to a weaker superego which freud states increases the likelihood of criminality.

  So essentially, Freud states women are more likely to become criminals which is not true and is therefore damaging.
• BETA bias is where the differences between genders are minimised which can lead to androcentrism.

  Androcentrism is where research is held to a male standard and is often deemed abnormal if it deviates from the standard.
• An example of beta bias is Milgram's research which was only conducted on men but was applied to women as well.

  However, women are seen to be more obedient as Sheridan and King found that all women gave a fatal shock to a puppies.

  It shows that gender differences do exist that are not being taken into consideration due to beta bias.
• The issues with gender bias is that it can lead to a lack of diversity in the workplace.

  Due to the fact it scientifically validates sexism through the use of misleading assumptions, women may be denied opportunities which further the patriarchy, specifically because women aren't given the same opportunities that men are in the workplace.

  Women are then pathologised and treated as inferior despite their capabilities, which are overlooked.
• Another issue with gender bias is that there is a lack of women in the field of research.

  Because of this, men's work is more likely to be published often holding alpha bias which furthers the differences between genders and again pathologises women.

  It strengthens the claim that women's behaviour is abnormal and inferior and limits questions of female behaviour being studied, leading to even more alpha bias.
• However, if we are to know about gender bias then we may be able to take the steps to avoid it.

  Understanding the premise of bias can lead to increased research attempting to avoid bias and the publication of generalisable research which doesn't pathologise women and treats both genders equally.

  In turn, this may lead to more appreciation of women in the workplace where they too are able to make positive contributions within society as they should have been able to do already.