Gender and Norms 2A

Question 1

What are two definitions of culture.

Answer 1

1. Any kind of information, socially transmitted… → Cultural identity is identification with any such information or a knowledge tradition.
2. A group who share context and information. → Cultural identity is identification with such a group (social identity)

Question 2

What is an egalitarian view on gender role ideology (GRI)?

Answer 2

Expect equal roles and responsibilities regardless of gender; positive evaluation of gender equality
“Marriage should not interfere with a woman’s career any more than it does with a man’s.”

Question 3

Explain what intersectionality means and how it increases disadvantage.

Answer 3

Intersectionality refers to the state and experience of an individual with multiple minority identities, which result in compounded disadvantage

i.e. Some category memberships have a minority status in society and maybe marginalized or disadvantaged (black, hispanic, LGBTI+)

Question 4

Identify factors that correlate with cultural differences in gender/sex role ideology.

Answer 4

Researchers found striking differences in gender role ideology across 14 cultures

• Similar means for males and females
• Men tend to be lower in the egalitarian tendency than women in most countries except a few (Malaysia, India, Pakistan)
• The mean was higher in Northern/ Western Europe and lower in Nigeria, Pakistan, India, and Japan

Question 5

Briefly describe how gender norms relate to male health.

Answer 5

Gender norms concern behaviours considered ‘appropriate’ for males and females, respectively, in society.

Male gender norms discourage help-seeking:
o Do not show weakness
o Be emotionally stoic
o Be able to handle your problem

Question 6

Identify a theoretical link between Honor Culture and male violence.

Answer 6

Honor norms may manifest as justification of aggression against women who are perceived as behaving in ways that threaten their partner’s honour.

Psychological mechanism: Adherence to gender-specific honor norms protects the individual’s sense of self-worth.

Question 7

Briefly explain the biosocial explanation of gender differences.

Answer 7

According to Wood & Eagly’s (2012) biosocial perspective, gender differences are constructed from an interaction of nature and nurture:

1. Nature: Biological dimorphism (anatomical sex differences) of large male upper body vs. female reproduction/lactation.
2. Nurture: Social, economic, and ecological conditions (e.g., food acquisition)

Where food acquisition requires activities that advantage the larger upper body, power asymmetry arises; this asymmetry is justified by using sex roles, norms, and stereotypes, which maintain and may enlarge gender differences.

Question 8

Identify the role of stereotypes in gender differences.

Answer 8

Gender stereotypes influence social behaviours and sometimes ‘dictate’ what men and women should like or do - this is deeply rooted even in liberal societies

Question 9

What does ‘essentialism’ mean?

Answer 9

A belief that ‘the observed differences between the social categories are inherent, stable and unchangeable’

Question 10

What does ‘biological essentialism’ mean?

Answer 10

The differences (sex/gender roles) are unchangeable because they are biologically based

This societal view used to justify the system, makes it difficult to change the status quo