Gender Flashcards
What are Sex-role stereotypes?
Sex-role stereotypes are socially and/or culturally defined sets of expectations we have about the behaviour of each gender. (e.g. boys like blue)
What did Bem say about gender?
Bem said that one person can display behaviours of both genders. She also said you can not tell someone’s gender based of of their behaviours alone.
What effect did Bem say that gender stereotypes in modern society could have on people?
Bem said stereotypes in modern society could cause psychological and social harm by artificially restricting behaviour. (Men like cooking, women like rugby.)
Name Bem’s gender test?
Bem’s gender test is called the ‘Bem Sex Role Inventory’ (BSRI).
What scale does the BSRI use to rate participants likelihood of performing behaviours?
It uses a 7 point likert scale.
What was one criticism of the BSRI and how was this fixed?
The BSRI was criticised for describing androgyny as high in male and female traits not low in female and male. This was solved by adding a fourth category labelled ‘undifferentiated’.
What theory did Bem go on to right these findings up and propose them in?
Gender Schema Theory.
What are the 3 stages of Kohlberg’s theory?
- Gender Labelling
- Gender Stability
- Gender Constancy
Outline the Gender Labelling stage of Kohlberg’s theory?
2 - 3 years old
Children label themselves and others as ‘boy’ and ‘girl’, labelling of others happen first. They label based on appearance.
This is Preoperational thinking.
By the end of this stage, children have schemata for simple masculine and feminine characteristics.
Outline the Gender stability stage of Kohlberg’s theory?
4-7 years old
Children realise that gender is stable over time. However they don’t yet realise that gender is stable across different situations e.g. if a man wears a dress he can become a woman.
Outline the Gender constancy stage of Kohlberg’s theory?
7+
Children start to develop gender constancy - the belief that gender is entirely independent of time, place or appearance. Children begin to show preferences for gender appropriate behaviour.
What is Androgyny?
The word means a combination of male and female characteristics.
What is Gender?
A person’s sense of maleness or femaleness a psychological/social construct.
What is Sex?
Being genetically male (XY) or female (XX).
What are Hormones?
The body’s chemical messengers.
What is Intersex?
The term used to describe an individual who is neither male of female because of a mismatch between, for example chromosomes and genitals.
What are Chromosomes?
The X-Shaped bodies that carry all the genetic information (DNA) for an organism.
What is the Typical chromosome pattern?
23 pairs.
Outline Klinefelter’s syndrome?
Klinefelter’s syndrome is due to an XXY configuration. The individual is born with a penis and develops as a fairly normal male.
- Approximately 1 in 1000 males.
- Taller than average, less muscle coordination, less masculine due to lower testosterone e.g. less facial hair broader hips and possible breast tissue. Infertile.
Outline Turner’s syndrome?
Turner’s syndrome is due to an XO configuration, meaning the second sex chromosome is partially or completely missing.
- 1 in 2000 females at birth.
- Born with a vagina and a womb. Shorter than average , lack of periods due to underdevelopment of ovaries. Many other possible characteristics e.g. small jaw, webbed neck, narrow hips.
What does Oxytocin do?
Promotes feelings of bonding in men and women.
How do peer relationships effect behaviour?
- leads them to believe all girls share the same interests and all boys share the same interests.
- They avoid children of the opposite sex because they are not ‘like me’.
How does ingroup outgroup work?
Humans categorize things. Members of the outgroup are viewed as less similar and, as a result we may have biases against them. Thus, the outgroup bias includes negative categorizations, feelings, or ideas about people who are not part of our ingroup.
What is the Oedipus complex?
The Oedipus complex occurs during the phallic stage of development, when a boy wishes his father was dead because they are rivals for the mothers love.
