Culture and media influences on gender roles

Question 1

Culture

Answer 1

The ideas, customs and social behaviour of a society. If behaviour is found to be universal/similar across cultures, we can conclude that differences in behaviour are biologically based - nature.

Question 1

Gender roles

Answer 1

A set of behaviors and attitudes that are considered appropriate for a male/female and inappropriate for the others

Question 2

Media

Answer 2

Communication channels, such as TV, film and books, through which news, entertainment, education and data are made available.

Question 3

What is self-efficacy?

Answer 3

Belief in own capabilities

Media that shows people performing gender-appropriate behaviours increases a child’s belief that they are capable of carrying out their own gender’s activity.

Question 4

cultural differences in gender

Answer 4

Margaret Mead (1935) studied 3 tribal groups on the island of New Guinea; Arapesh tribe, Mundugamor tribe and the Tchambuli tribe:

• Arapesh were gentle and responsive (similar to Western idea of femininity)
• Mundugamor were aggressive and hostile (similar to Western idea of masculinity
• Tchambuli women were dominant and organised village life, whilst men were considered “decorative”; opposite of Western gender stereotypes

From these findings, Mead concluded that there may not be a direct relationship between biological sex and gender.

Question 5

Describe the process of information giving through media for gender

Answer 5

McGhee and Frueh (1980) found that kids who were more exposed to media showed more stereotypical gender beh than those who weren’t

Media (especially social media) may give us info to increase the likelihood of us adopting gender-specific behaviors ; seeing others perform these gender behaviours reinforces our own self confidence to do the same - called SELF EFFICIACY