Gender Flashcards
To become fluent in recall for exam response
Explain how males and females are different
Obvious physical differences, but other differences include extraversion, agreeableness, narcissism, psychopathy, social dominance, enjoying casual sex, self esteem and overall wellbeing (Scmitt, 2014)
Define sex
Biological/physical aspects of being male or female
Define gender
Behavioural, experimental and social dimensions of being male or female
Define gender roles
Societal expectations for normal and appropriate male and female behaviour and occupations
Define gender stereotypes
Fixed ideas about men’s and women’s traits, capabilities, occupations and behaviours
Define gender identity
Personal view of oneself as male or female
Define gender differences
Any cognitive, behavioural or physical features that differ statistically between genders (National Institute of Health, 2011)
Define intersex
Person born with ambiguous genitalia or genitalia that does not match their chromosomal sex
Define biological differences
Any gender differences attributable to genetics and hormones
Define environmental differences
Gender differences attributable to environmental factors
Define interactions
Interplay between biological and environmental factors in the construction of gender
Define masculinity/femininity
A measure of culturally appropriate/expected (constructed) attributes of men and women
How do psychologists commonly measure masculinity and femininity?
The 1974 Bem Sex Role Inventory or the 1975 Person Attributes Questionnaire (Helmreich and Stapp)
What is androgyny?
Having a significant number of both masculine and feminine traits (no obvious gender)
What is the basis of the biological argument and what are it’s strengths and weaknesses?
Genes and hormones, as well as the structure and function of the brain are the causes of observable gender differences (Halgeson, 2012 - pg 135)
Strengths: Makes logical sense, and has some grounding in various conditions i.e. 5ARD, etc.
Weaknesses: Lack of empirical evidence, no definitive part of biology can be attributed to gender, they contradict, some say chromosomes, some say hormones, and brain differences means whole theory cannot entirely explain differences)
What is the natural human form?
Female, as females do not require female hormones to form, only the absence of male ones. Therefore, nature will “produce a female unless androgens (male sex hormones) intervene” (Atkinson and Hilgard, 2009)
How many chromosome pairs are there?
23 pairs (all match in females, and one odd pair - XY in males)
Outline the case of 5 Alpha Reductase (Batista boys)
Imperato and McGinlet et al (1974) claimed that gender roles were flexible until at least puberty, citing the Batista boys, who were born female, but once puberty arrived, their female genitals became male