gender

Question 1

Define sex and gender

Answer 1

Sex= biological status determined by chromosomes, cannot be changed

Gender= Psychological & cultural differences e.g attitudes, behaviour, social roles, can be changed

Question 2

What are sex role stereotypes?

Answer 2

Shared set of expectations that people within a culture/society hold about acceptable behaviour for men/women.
- studies can support social learning theory of gender, parents/media sustain stereotypical expectations

Question 3

What is gender identity disorder?

Answer 3

biologically predisposed sex does not reflect the way an individual feels and identifies (gender reassignment surgery)

Question 4

Define androgyny:

Answer 4

A personality type characterised by a balance of masculine and feminine traits.

Question 5

How is androgyny measured?

Answer 5

Bem’s sex role inventory
- 20 masculine characteristics (competitive/aggressive)
- 20 feminine (loyal/gentle)
- 20 neutral (happy/friendly)
- respondents rate themselves 1-7 (never true- always true)
- scores classified into 2 dimensions
1. masculinity- femininity
2. androgenous- undifferentiated

Question 6

Evaluate androgyny and the BSRI:

Answer 6

• cultural and historical bias, 40 years ago, behaviours changed, stereotypical ideas lack temporal validity. scale devised by panel of judges from the US, norms may differ across cultures

+ valid and reliable, 50 male, 50 female judges rate 200 traits on desirability. highest scores became traits. Pilot with 1000 students, findings corresponded with their description of gender identity (small sample later, test retest reliability)

• Oversimplifies a complex concept, reduced to a simple score (reductionist) (Golombok/ Fivush) gender identity is a more global concept , broader issues have to be considered e.g interests and abilities

Question 7

what is the role of chromosomes in sex and gender?

Answer 7

46 chromosomes, 23 pairs
23rd pair determines sex
structure for females: XX
structure for males: XY
sex determined by sperm
girl if carries X, boy if Y
Y chromosome carries SRY, causing testes to develop producing androgens

Question 8

what is the role of hormones in sex and gender?

Answer 8

hormones cause development of reproductive organs, during puberty hormonal activity triggers secondary sexual characteristics. Males & females produce many same hormones but in different concentrations

Question 9

Role of testosterone, oestrogen and oxytocin:

Answer 9

Testosterone: male hormone, 8 weeks of foetal development. Nanne van dee poll et al, female rats injected testosterone, more aggressive

Oestrogen: menstruation +PMS (heightened emotions) used in defence cases

Oxytocin: women produce more, stimulates lactation, reduces cortisol, released after birth. ‘love hormone’

Question 10

Evaluate the role of chromosomes and hormones

Answer 10

+ Supporting evidence, case of David Reimer, can’t just be the environmental influence, suffered psychological problems

• Contradictory evidence, Tricker et al, 43 male pps injection of T or placebo, after 10 weeks, no significant difference in aggression (double blind)
• Oversimplifies, complex
  reductionist, ignore other explanations like cognitive factors (thoughts) or early childhood (psychodynamic)

Question 11

What are Atypical sex chromosome patterns?

Answer 11

Any sex chromosome pattern deviating from the usual formation

Question 12

What is klinefelters syndrome?

Answer 12

biological males, additional X, XXY
Physical: reduced body hair, breast development, clumsiness
Psychological: poor language skills, passive, shy, lack interest in sex

Question 13

What is turners syndrome?

Answer 13

Biological females only have one X chromosome
Physical: no menstrual cycle, infertile, broad chest, webbed neck
Psychological: high reading ability, socially immature, lower maths skills

Question 14

Evaluate Atypical sex chromosome patterns:

Answer 14

+ research has practical application, australian study, 87 klinefelters, treated at young age significant benefits compared to in adulthood (Herlihy et al)

+ contributes, nature nurture debate. compare to typical individuals, see differences as a result of a biological basis, abnormal chromosome structure (innate)

• unrepresentative sample, lack of generalisability. treated differently, difficult to assess nature and nurture (behaviour and psychological differences)

Question 15

What is kohlbergs theory?

Answer 15

A childs understanding of gender develops through age, with intellectual development

Question 16

What are kohlbergs stages?

Answer 16

1, Gender identity: age 2-3, identify themselves girl or boy. identify others as well

2, Gender stability: age 4-5 realisation gender is fixed, can get confused by others differences in appearance (man with long hair)

3, Gender constancy: age 6, gender consistent across all situations, not fooled by appearance, still may regard as unusual

Question 17

Evaluate Kohlbergs theory

Answer 17

• Constancy not supported, demonstrate behaviour before achieved. Bussey + Bandura, age 4 felt good playing with gender appro toys, bad doing opposite. Contradicts Kohlbergs theory.

+ evidence support stages, Slaby + Frey, split screen images, male + female, same tasks. constancy, looked same sex model, Kohlberg correct valid.

• Methodological issues, interviews with young children, cant express views, lack verbal ability. Not a true representation.

Question 18

What is gender schema theory?

Answer 18

Martin & Halverson
- beliefs & expectations relating to gender based on experience
- occurs after establishing gender identity
- (contrasts with Kohlberg, gender constancy)
- age 6, child has fixed stereotypes on gender appropriate behaviours, disregard what doesn’t fit

Question 19

What are ingroups and outgroups?

Answer 19

• better understanding of schema appropriate to own gender (ingroup). boosts self esteem
• less attention to info not relevant to identity (outgroups)
• schema develops for both age 8

Question 20

Evaluate gender schema theory:

Answer 20

+ supporting evidence, under 6, remember photos of gender consistent rather than inconsistent behaviour, tested week later. Change sex of person with inconsistent when recalled. supporting distortion

+ explains childrens thoughts about gender. hold rigid attitudes, ignore info that conflicts with existing schema

• Campbell et al, not the only factor in developing gender although children had an idea of gender & stereotypes, didn’t stop them from doing nonstereotypical behaviours.

Question 21

What is the psychodynamic explanation of gender?

Answer 21

Freud:
- phallic stage, where gender development occurs
- experience electra or oedipus complex
- crucial in forming gender identity

Question 22

What is the electra and oedipus complex?

Answer 22

electra:
- girls experience penis envy (castrated)
-mother competition for fathers love
- substitute for desire to have children, identify with mother

oedipus:
- boys incestuous feelings towards mother
- jealous hatred for father
- castration anxiety for his feelings towards mother
- identifys with father to resolve conflict

Question 23

What is identification and internalisation?

Answer 23

identification:
- wanting to associate with a person because of desirable characteristics
(same sex parent resolve conflict)

internalisation:
- adopting these attitudes, received a second hand gender identity

Question 24

Evaluate psychodynamic explanation of gender development

Answer 24

• lack of scientific rigour
  concepts unconscious & untestable, subjective. pseudoscientific, cant be falsified
• research doesnt support the need for nuclear family
  Golombok, et al, children from single parent families develop normal gender identities (socially sensitive criticise other family types)