Chapter 10: Sex and Gender Flashcards
What is sex?
biological male or female
What is gender?
Socially constructed identity
what is gender typing?
The process by which children acquire the social behaviors considered appropriate for their gender in their particular culture
What is gender-based belief?
Children’s awareness of their own gender and understanding of gender labels
What is gender identity?
The perception of one’s own gender
What is a gender strerotype?
Belief that members of a culture hold about: acceptable and appropriate attitudes, activities, traits, occupations, and physical appearance for males and females
What is gender role?
The general patterns of behaviors and appearance actually associated with being male or female in a given culture
What are gender role preferences?
Desire to possess certain gender-typed characteristics. e.g., children’s toys
What is the stereotyped male role?
- Independent and self-reliant
- strong willed and assertive
- dominant and competitive
- decisive, direct, active
- adventurous, worldly
- strong
- Expected to control their emotions, even under stress, and to be able to easily separate feelings from ideas
What is the stereotyped female role?
- pretty
- sociable
- loving
- sensitive, considerate
- gentle
- sympathetic, sentimental, and compassionate
- Expected to express warmth in personal relationships, display anxiety under pressure, and suppress overt aggression and sexuality more than men
What are child gender stereotypes like ?
- Girls are supposed to be sweet, gentle, pretty, wear dresses and jewelry, play with dolls and toy kitchens, and be concerned with their appearance
- Boys are expected to be rough, tough, and brave; like sports and video games; and play with toy cars, guns, construction toys, and action figures
How early are children aware of gender stereotypes and what research showed evidence of this?
Children are aware of gender stereotypes from an early age 2-year-olds looked longer at pictures—suggesting they were surprised—when they saw pictures of a man doing stereotypical female things, such as putting on makeup
When does children’s knowledge of stereotypes rapidly increase?
Children’s knowledge of stereotypes increases rapidly between ages 3 and 5
When are children very inflexible about gender stereotyping?
Very inflexible about gender stereotyping until about age 7-8 (i.e., certain toys are for boys, certain toys for girls)
When do children become more flexible about gender stereotyping?
Age 8-9 become more flexible
What kind of stereotype/preference has been largely stable across history?
Though stereotyped toy preferences have been largely stable across history, there is some indication that preferences are broadening. In 1975 toys considered to be masculine (lego, etc.) or feminine (vacuum cleaner) were considered gender neutral by 2005
What does some research suggest about gender roles when people become parents
Gender roles are more likely to intensify when adults become parents:
- Expressive characteristics - nurturance and concern with feelings. Traditionally attributed to females
- Instrumental characteristics - involving task and occupation orientation. Traditionally attributed to of males
What is gender intensification?
Gender intensification with the onset of puberty and parenthood – Shift toward more typical gender-typed patterns of behavior. Also, pressure from parents and peers
What are sex differences in gender typing for boys and why is this the case?
Boys are more gender typed in their play and toy choices than girls are. Boys’ preference for gender-stereotyped toys remains constant as they age, whereas girls’ interest in gender-stereotyped activities decreases as they reach adolescence.
Why is this the case? Greater pressure for boys to conform – otherwise will receive criticism from parent and peers.
Is gender always determined by biological sex?
For some, gender is congruous with their assigned biological sex. For some, gender does not match their assigned biological sex. Keep in mind the terms cisgender and transgender, gender fluid
What is gender development from the evolutionary theory perspective (biological factors in gender development)?
To be able to pass genes from one generation to the next, individuals need to have mating strategies that enhance their reproductive success.
Males - aggressive and competitive skills to compete with other males
Females - strategies for attracting and keeping mates who are able to provide resources and protection for their offspring; they also need skills and interests that commit them to child rearing
What is gender development from the persepective of Kohlberg’s Cognitive Developmental Theory of Gender Typing?
Children use physical and behavioral cues (hairstyles, clothing) to differentiate gender roles and to gender type themselves very early in life
What are the three phases of Kohlberg’s Cognitive Developmental Theory of Gender Typing?
Three phases:
- Age 2-3 - basic gender identity: Recognize self as a boy or girl
- Age 4-5 - gender stability: Boys remain boys and girls remain girls
- Age 6-7 – gender constancy: Minor changes (clothing, etc.) does not change gender
What is the gender schema theory (an information processing approach)?
The view that children develop schemas, that help them organize and structure their experiences related to gender differences and gender roles. Children develop schemas based on their own perceptions and the information that parents, peers, and cultural stereotypes provide. Children use these gender schemas to evaluate and explain behavior
