Culture and media influences on gender roles Flashcards
Cultural Influences on Gender
Different cultures have varying gender roles and expectations, showing gender behaviour is partly socially constructed.
Cross-cultural studies show similarities in gender roles may reflect biology, while differences reflect cultural influences
Examples of Cultural Differences
Mead (1935) studied tribes in New Guinea:
Arapesh: Both genders gentle and cooperative.
Mundugumor: Both aggressive and hostile.
Tchambuli: Gender roles reversed compared to Western norms.
Suggests gender roles are shaped by culture and social context
Media Influences on Gender
Media (TV, films, advertising, books) provide gender role models.
Media reinforces gender stereotypes by presenting males as independent, assertive, and strong, and females as passive, caring, and emotional
Media as a Source of Vicarious Reinforcement
children observe gender-typed behaviour being rewarded in media.
More likely to imitate behaviour they see positively reinforced, avoiding behaviour shown as punished or ridiculed
Evidence of Media Influence
Williams (1986) studied a town before and after TV was introduced:
Found increased gender stereotyping in children’s behaviour and attitudes after exposure to TV.
Shows media can quickly shape gender norms.
strengths
✅ Cross-cultural research support
→ Example: Mead (1935) found major differences in gender roles across New Guinea tribes, suggesting gender is culturally learned.
✅ Media study evidence
→ Example: Williams (1986) found increased gender stereotyping in children after TV was introduced in a previously media-free town.
limitations
❌ Methodological and cultural bias
→ Example: Freeman (1983) criticised Mead’s work, claiming she was misled by participants — reduces the validity of the evidence.
❌ Overlooks biological influences
→ Example: Consistent patterns across most cultures, like males being more aggressive (e.g. supported by MAOA gene research in forensics), suggest biology still plays a role alongside culture.
