GENDER AO3 Flashcards
AO3 points for androgyny
QUANTITIVE APPROACH
strength Bems research is that it is measured quantitatively- meaning it can be used for research purposes and analysing . spence 1984 argues that gender is more than a set of numerical questions suggesting both would be helpful when studying the concept
VALID AND RELIABLE
strength - at the time it was seen as valid and reliable - 50f judges and 50m judges tlo scale 200 traits BSRI was piloted to 1000 students - this was recreated as a smaller study which showed test-retest reliability
SELF AWARENESS
limitation people may not have insight to their own behaviours, which the test relies on. BSRI may not be objective , scientific way of measuring masculinity.
AO3 points for the role of chromosomes and hormones.
EVIDENCE FOR TESTOSTERONE
strength - Wang (2000) male hypogonadism - condition where mans testes fail to produce a normal level of hormone. 227 men - 180 days testosterone treatment - mood libido and sexual function was measured and they had all improved
SOCIAL FACTORS IGNORED
limitation - ignores social factors of gender related behavior. hofstede 2010 individualist and collectivist cultures. challenges explanations of behavior suggesting social factors are more involved in shaping gender behavior.
REDUCTIONIST
limitation- they are reductionist. reduce down the explanation down to just chromosome and hormones and begin to ignore or underplay alternative explanations. suggesting gender is more complex then just the biological approach alone.
AO3 points for A typical sex patterns
NATURE - NURTURE DEBATE
strength - contribution to the nature nurture debate. as comparing those with the conditions with those who dont means it can show the powerful effect that chromosomes and the biology has on behavior and psychology.
REAL WORLD APPLICATION
strength - research can allow for more diagnosis and ways to manage the syndrome to become more accessible. Australian study 87 people with klinefelters syndrome showed those who had been diagnosed and treated at a young age experience significant benefit - raises awareness
SAMPLING ISSUE
key to identify a large number of people to b able to get an accurate level of analysis and findings from the study. - most severe to not. without this it means that the way others are pictured with A typical sex chromosomes may be exaggerated.
AO3 points for kohl bergs theory
RESEARCH SUPPORT
strength - Damon 1977 told a story about a boy named George who liked to play with dolls to a four year old and a six year old . the four year old thought it was okay but the six year old did not showing that the gender constancy stage does show around the age of six years old.
METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS
limitation - bem 1989 criticized methodology as of course children are confused when girls dress up as ‘boys’ and boys dress up as ‘girls’ as in our culture that is how we identify others gender. therefore the methodology is flawed in telling us what children would actually know
DEGREES OF CONSTANCY
limitation martin 2002 praised the theory for recognizing that children understanding of gender and others guides them through life. however it is suggested that there are different degrees to gender constancy suggesting that constancy is more of a gradual process that kohl berg didn’t recognize.
AO3 points for gender schema theory
RESEARCH SUPPORT
strength martin and halverston 1983 did own study and found children under the age of six were more likely to remember photographs of stereo-typically gender appropriate behavior.
EARLIER GENDER IDENTITY
limitation- longitudinal study with 82 children- zosuls 2009- looked at the onset of gender identity. twice week 9-21 months at 19 months on average gender identity occurred, suggesting gender identity is earlier then thought it just cannot be communicated from the baby.
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
strength- can account for cultural differences cherry 2019 suggested that gender schema not only influences how people process information what also counts as being culturally appropriate. martin and halverstons theory explains how gender schema forms even across different cultures.
AO3 points for the pyschodynamic theory
OEDIPUS COMPLEX
strength - evidence of the role of the Oedipus complex rekers and morey rated the gender identity of 49 boys aged 3-11 years old based on interviews with their families out of those who were thought to be gender disturbed 75% f them didn’t have a biological father or substitute.
FEMALE DEVELOPMENT
limitation- there was a lack of understanding of the Electra complex and girls development- Carl Jung had information on women development. suggesting that theirs less information on Electra complex and therefore from lead feminist psychologist Karen horney that the idea of penis envy is an androcentric bias.
PSEUDOSCIENCES
limitation is that pyschodynamic explanation lacks scientific credibility. - not testable because they are largely unconscious processes. which therefore questions the validity of Freud theory as it is not based on sound scientific evidence.
AO3 points of explanations of gender through SLT
RESEARCH METHODS
strength of SLT is that it is supported by other evidence. smith and Lloyd 1978 observed babies that were half the time dressed in ‘boys’ clothes and the other half of the time dressed in ‘girls clothes’
girl- got told they were pretty or handed a doll
boy- handed rattle shaped hammer and was encouraged to be adventurous. suggesting gender appropriate behavior is stamped at a young age.
CULTURAL CHANGES
strength of SLT is that behavior and cultural norms as well as social norms change within the year - take bems sri for examples changed as it is not relevant anymore. meaning SLT is one of the only explanations to include cultural change
NO DEVELOPMENTAL SEQUENCE
limitation is that it does not provide an adequate explanation as to how the learning process changes with age and maturation is not something that is factored into the SLT explanation
AO3 points of influence of culture on gender roles
RESEARCH SUPPORT
hofstede argues that 2001 in industrialized culture by changing status and expectations of women are functioning in s increasingly active role in the work place which has lead to a break down in original stereotypes and therefore suggest that gender roles are very much determined by cultural context
MEAD RESEARCH LIMITATION
cross cultural research has been criticized accused of making generalizations. freeman 1983 conducted a follow ups study from those in papa new guinea and said that preconceptions had influenced mead ideas and had been mislead by her participants which means there is observer bias and ethnocentrism
AO3 points of influence of media on gender roles
CULTIVATION THEORY
strength- media influence - CT argues that the more time a person spends ‘living’ in the media worlds the more likely they are to reflect social reality. suggesting that the media cultivates the perception of reality (drogos and bond 2014 found positive correlation between casual sex and time spent watching relaitiy TV jersey shore)
PASSIVE RECIPIENT
limitation of gender roles
durkin 1985 argues that even very young children are not passive and uncritical recipients media messages. suggesting that norms within the child’s family is more telling then the effect media has. suggesting that media influences are secondary influences to family influences
A03 on gender dysphoria - biological explanation
CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE
limitation to BST is that certain claims have been challenged. hulshoff 2006 studied in transgender individuals brains using MRI scans taken during hormone treatment showed the BST had changed significantly in size. kruijer and Zhou the BST was examined post mortem.
OTHER BRAIN DIFFERENCES
strength - evidence suggests there may be other brain differences associated with gender dysphoria. rametti 2011 - analysed other sexually dismorphic areas of the brain - white matter was different in men and women’s brains. suggests that there is difference between men and women transgender individuals.
A03 on gender dysphoria - social explanation
SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONS
strength of social construction approach is that not all cultures have two genders eg. fa’afafine of Samoa (female to male) suggesting that gender s seen as a social construction rather then a biological fact
PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY
limitation - oversey and person explained does not proved adequate explanation account of gender dysphoria in biological females as the theory only applies to transgender women
rekers 1986 found that gender dysmorphia those assigned male at birth is more likely to be associated with the absence of the father - fear of separation from the mother.
