culture and gender roles ao1

Question 1

why might the role of culture have an effect on gender roles?

Answer 1

if we observe differences in gender role behaviour between cultures, then this indicates that socialisation must play a part

Question 2

what was mead 1935 study about?

Answer 2

carried out a study into cross cultural differences in gender roles
- she studied 3 tribal groups in New Guinea

Question 3

mead 1935 - the grapes

Answer 3

both males and females were gentle and caring, thus displaying behaviours in line with the western stereotype of femininity

Question 4

mead 1935 - the mundugumor

Answer 4

both sexes were aggressive and hostile, thus displaying behaviours in line with the western stereotype of masculinity

Question 5

mead 1935 - the Tchambuli

Answer 5

• females were dominant and organised village life
• men were passive
• a reversal of traditional western gender stereotypes
• implies that gender roles aren’t biologically determined and that social factors must shape gender role behaviour
• mead had underestimated the biological differences between males and females but the extent to which innate behaviours are expressed are determined by cultural norms

Question 6

define the study of Barry et al 1957

Answer 6

• In non-western cultures nurturing was regarded as a female trait
• self-reliance was regarded as a male trait
• as these findings reflect western views of gender roles = gender roles have a biological basis

Question 7

define the study of Williams and Best 1990

Answer 7

• found there was a universal agreement across cultures about with traits were masculine and feminine
• men = dominant and independent
• women = caring and sociable
• supports the view that gender roles are biologically in nature