Essay - Gender Differences Flashcards
Sex
Biological or anatomical physical attributes
Gender identity
Intrinsic sense of self as male, female or otherwise. It is a construct influenced biological, environmental and cultural factors
Gender variance
Non-conformity to societal norms of assigned gender including behaviours, appearance or identity
Gender dysphoria
Distress caused by discrepancy between a person’s gender identity and their natal gender
Sexual orientation
Personal, romantic or physical attraction to someone of the same, opposite, both or neither sexes
Transgender
Individuals with an affirmed gender identity that is different from their physical sex characteristics
Name the three theories of gender
- Biological determinism
- Gender role socialisation theory
- Gender as a construction
4 characteristics of gender according to Biological determinism
- Innate
- Binary (male, female)
- Fixed and unchanged level
- Essentialising (that there are innate essential differences between male and female)
Two criticisms of biological determinism
- The evidence is mixed and contested
2. Difficult to separate evidence from socio-cultural constructions
3 aspects of the gender role socialisation theory
1 Socialisation - socialised into being gender models we are
- Importance of role models - parents, media
- Informed by societal norms - different depending on country
Criticism of the gender role socialisation theory
Problem with this theory is that humans are depicted as passive recipients
What is the pre-natal gender talk study?
Smith is 2005 investigated whether the language and behaviour of the parent was different if they knew the gender of the baby before it was born? Yes, it did.
When born there is not much difference between males and females in the human species. What is this called?
Low level sexual dismorphism
5 aspects fo gender as a construction theory
- Gender as a performance (mostly unconsciously) and/or process
- Informed by many factors eg race, age, class, culture, sexuality
- Learned over time
- Contextual
- Complex
What is the most significant aspect of the gender as a construction theory?
In this theory humans have agency
How does biological determinism see the role of humans?
Gender cant be challenged as it is innate
How does gender role socialisation theory see the role of humans?
Difficult to challenge as there is an absence of agency. Can help with how we socialise children but there is no room for individual resistance
How does gender as a construction theory see the role of humans?
What is constructed can also be deconstructed. Room for challenging oppression and seeking social justice.
What is the problem if we see gender as innate?
We are likely to stereotype children and even act as police if they act outside their gender
Describe gender psychology before the 1960s
Dominated by men and participants also men. Focus on cognitive sex differences to explain differences (weighing brains). It was rife with gaps, assumptions, inconsistencies, poor methodologies.
Describe gender psychology after 1960s
2nd wave of feminism. Increase in gender research (multidisplinary). Shift from biological to socio-cultural explanations. Begin to question idea that gender is innate
What are the three areas of gender development?
Physical
Cognitive
Emotional
What do the physical characteristics of gender include
Genitalia, hormones, brain, muscle
What do the cognitive aspects of gender include?
Difference in cognitive development is minimal. Appears in only a small number of tests and for low percentage of score variance.