Gender

Question 1

What is meant by sex-role stereotypes?

Answer 1

• types of qualities and characteristics seen as appropriate for each sex
• created norms that people feel pressured to conform to

Question 2

What are the traditional sex roles for females?

Answer 2

• nurturing
• co-operative
• domestic
• emotional
• passive
• pretty

Question 3

What are the traditional sex roles for males?

Answer 3

• strong
• independent
• physical
• aggressive
• unemotional
• competitive

Question 4

What is the Bem Sex Role Inventory?

Answer 4

• 60 items rated on seven point scale related to masculine, feminine and gender neutral characteristics

Question 5

What is testosterone and what does it stimulate?

Answer 5

• stimulates development of male secondary sexual characteristics
• masculinises the brain, associated with male behaviours such as competitiveness and aggressiveness

Question 6

What is oestrogen and it’s role?

Answer 6

• group of steroid hormones
• promotes development and maintenance of female characteristics
• regulates menstruation

Question 7

What is oxytocin and it’s role?

Answer 7

• polypeptide hormone, acts as neurotransmitter
• combines w/ oestrogen to enhance each other’s effects
• helps facilitate childbirth and breastfeeding
• increases five-fold during sex

Question 8

What is KIinefelter’s syndrome?

Answer 8

• chromosomal condition that affects 1 in 750 males
• males have an extra X chromosome (XXY)
• small testes which produce insufficient amounts of testosterone before birth and during puberty

Question 9

How does Klinefelter’s syndrome affect male development?

Answer 9

• lack ability to grow facial and pubic hair, develop breast tissue, low muscularity and low fertility levels
• poor language skills
• passive temperament, attention problems and increased risk of depression

Question 10

What medical complications can arise from KIinefelter’s?

Answer 10

• cardiovascular, circulatory and respiratory conditions
• diabetes
• renal problems

Question 11

What is Turner’s syndrome?

Answer 11

• affects 1 in 2,200 females

- only one complete X chromosome , 2nd being missing or incomplete

Question 12

How does Turner’s syndrome affect female development?

Answer 12

• short stature, down slanting eyes and short webbed neck
• broad chest, organ abnormalities
• non-functioning ovaries, can’t develop breasts, can’t have periods and infertile

Question 13

What medical complications can arise from Turner’s syndrome?

Answer 13

• heart conditions
• high blood pressure
• urinary complaints
• vision and hearing problems
• osteoporosis

Question 14

What are the stages of Kohlberg’s theory of gender development?

Answer 14

• gender labelling
• gender stability
• gender constancy

Question 15

What happens in the gender labelling stage?

Answer 15

• 18 months and 3 years
• children’s knowledge of gender is fragile, “man” and “woman” are just labels
• they sometimes choose the wrong label

Question 16

What happens during the gender stability stage?

Answer 16

• 3 to 5 years
• children rely on superficial, physical signs to determine gender
• superficial transformation = changed gender

Question 17

What happens during the gender constancy stage?

Answer 17

• 6 to 7 years
• children realise that gender is permanent
• gain an understanding that things remain the same despite changing appearance

Question 18

What happens during the first stage of gender schema theory?

Answer 18

• pre-schoolers learn distinctions about what behaviours go with each gender by observing other children and through reinforcements received from parents

Question 19

What happens during the second stage of gender schema theory?

Answer 19

• age 4-6, learn subtle and complex associations for their own gender e.g how they play and talk