Gender Flashcards
Define Androgyny
A balance of masculine and feminine traits, behaviours and attitudes. relates to appearance as being neither female nor male
What did Bem (1974) suggest about androgyny?
high androgyny is associated with psychological well-being
Outline BSRI
Bem Sex Role Inventory
a way to measure androgyny.
Items of the BSRI are masculine, fem or neutral.
BSRI has 20 items each and a 7-point scale
4 categories - masculine, feminine, androgynous, and undifferentiated.
Strengths of BSRI
Reliable - a follow-up study with a smaller sample produced similar scores a month later suggesting test re-test reliability
Valid - 200 traits were developed by 50 males and 50 females in terms of gender desirability. the top 20 in each case were used. Piloting the study with 1000 students showed the BSRI reflected their GI
Limitations of BSRI
Unscientific - use of the subjective point scale and self-report.
Lack of temporal validity - US Panel in the 70’s devised the traits & stereotypical traits of fem and masc have since changed. culturally bias and not suitable measure of GI
Define sex
biologically determined by sex chromosomes. It is innate
Define gender
described as being either masculine or feminine, determined by attitudes behaviours and roles we associate with males or females.
Define GD
Where a person’s bio sex and gender identity do not correspond
What are sex-role stereotpyes
social expectations. Shared by a culture/social group & consist of expectations regarding how males and females should behave.
Some have real basis, some can be damaging and harmful
The role of chromosomes
Chromosome pair 23 determines biological sex. The Y chromosome has SRY gene - this causes androgens to produced in a male embryo.
The role of hormones
Gender development is governed by hormones.
Testosterone plays a key role in male development and aggression
Oestrogen plays a key role in female development and behaviour
Oxytocin (reduces stress) is implicated in lactation and bonding
Limitations of the role of chromosomes and hormones
bio explanations are reductionist - reducing gender to just chromosomes and hormones excludes alternative explanations. E.g., psychodynamic & the influence of childhood. suggests gender is more complex that biological influences alone
Ignores social factors - Hofstede (2010) argues that gender roles are more about social factors than gender
strengths of the role of chromosomes and hormones
supporting evidence for the role of testosterone - Wang et al (2000). Testosterone replacement on 227 hypogondal men for 180 days led to improved sexual function, mood and muscle strength.
Syndromes for atypical sex chromosome patterns
Klinefelter Syndromes - XXY chromosomal structure. 1 in 600 males suffers,
Turner’s Syndrome
Syndromes for atypical sex chromosome patterns
Klinefelter Syndromes - XXY chromosomal structure. 1 in 600 males sufferers. caused by an additional X chromosome
Physical characteristics - reduced body hair, some breast development at puberty, underdeveloped genitals,
Psychological characteristics - poor language and reading skills, passive & shy, lack of interest in sexual activity, bad response to stressful situations, issues with problem-solving.
Turner’s Syndrome - XO chromosomal structure. 1 in 5000 sufferers. caused by an absence of one of the two X chromosomes
Physical characteristics - no menstrual cycle, immature body shape, low set ears, webbed neck, underdeveloped breasts
Psychological characteristics - high reading ability, social immaturity, lower than average performance on spatial, visual, memory and mathematical tasks.
Strengths of atypical sex chromosomes patterns
contributions to nature-nurture debate. the suggestion that innate ‘nature influences’ have a powerful effect on psychology and behaviour.
Application to managing conditions.
Herlihy et al. 2011 - a study of 87 individuals with KS showed that those identified when young benefitted in terms of managing their condition.
Outline Kohlberg’s Theory of Gender Development
Cognitive based because a child’s thinking about their gender is emphasised.
Kohlberg identified 3 stages in gender development related to Piaget’s ideas (the way a child thinks changes as they age)
- IDENTITY. age 2+ children are able to identify themselves as boys/girls…their understanding of gender is limited to labelling and they have no sense of the permanence of gender.
- STABILITY. age 4ish realise they will stay the same gender over time but they still cannot apply this to others.
- CONSTANCY. age 6+ children now recognise that gender remains constant across time and situations - they apply this to others!
THIS ALSO MARKS WHERE CHILDREN LOOK FOR ROLE MODELS - they are looking for evidence which confirms their internalised concept of gender.
Strength of Kohlberg’s Theory
supporting research evidence: Damon (1977) and the story of George playing with a doll. 6-year-olds thought it was wrong and 4-6 said it was fine.
Weakness of Kohlberg’s Theory
refuting evidence - Bussey and Bandura (1999) found that children as young as 4 reported ‘feeling good’ about playing with gender-appropriate toys and bad doing the opposite. so concept of gender seems to develop earlier than Kohlberg suggests.
there may be different degrees of constancy - Martin et al (2002)
Gender Schema Theory
Martin and Halverson (1981)
GST suggests understanding changes with age. Schema are mental constructs that develop via experience. So gender schema contain what we know in relation to gender & gender-appropriate behaviour.
GST suggests that a child establishes gender identity (around 2 to 3 years old). The child then begins to look around for further info to develop their schema.
Gender stereotypes then develop.
Ingroup and Outgroups.
Strengths of GST
Research support - Martin and Halverson (1983) found that children under 6 were more likely to recall gender-appropriate photographs than gender-inappropriate ones when tested a week later. Children tended to change the gender of the person carrying out the gender-inappropriate activity in the photographs when asked to recall them.
GST can account for cultural differences. Cherry (2019) argues gender schema not only influences how people process info but also what counts as culturally appropriate gender behaviour. *unlike psychodynamic theory.
Limitations of GST
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Freud’s Psychoanalytic theory
The phallic stage is the key time for gender development.
pre-phallic stage: children have no concept of gender identity. No understanding of male and female and do not categorise others or themselves this way.
Phallic stage: around 3 - 6 years, boys experience the Oedipus Complex and girls experience the Electra Complex (Jung)
Resolution through identification with the same-sex parent. Identification leads to internalisation.
Strengths for FPT
some support for Oedipus Complex. Rekers and Morey (1990) rated the gender identity of 49 boys (aged 3-11) 75% of those judged ‘gender disturbed’ had no bio or substitute father living with them.