Gender Bias Flashcards
What is gender bias?
The differential treatment or representation of men and women based on stereotypes rather than real differences
What is a alpha bias?
A tendency to exaggerate differences between men and women, suggesting that there are real and enduring differences between the two sexes.
What are the consequences of alpha biases in theories?
By using alpha biases in theories one gender tends to be devalued in comparison to the other, but typically the female gender is devalued
What is an example of an alpha bias? (psychodynamic explanation for female morality)
Psychodynamic explanations for offending behaviour suggests that criminality occurs due to a deviant superego. According to Freud, since females do not experience castration anxiety, they are under less pressure and have less of a need to identify with the moral standards of their same sex parent as compared to boys. This leads to the suggestion that females are less moral than males.
What is an example of an alpha bias? (sociobiological theory for sexual promiscuity)
Wilson’s sociobiological theory suggest that sexual promiscuity is genetically determined in males but against females’ ‘nature’. Evolutionary, femalkes are selective due to limited eggs and reproductive efforts. This alpha bias can lead to prejudice against promiscuous women, stemming from stereotyped notions of female mating choices
What is an example of an alpha bias? (schizophrenia diagnoses)
Historically, schizophrenia diagnoses favored men until the 1980s, suggesting an alpha bias. Women’s symptoms may be less severe or masked, leading to underdiagnosis. Cotton et al argues that societal expectations for women to maintain relationships, work and show less distress than men may obscure their symptoms, influencing diagnostic trends
What is androcentrism?
The consequence of beta bias, occurs when all behaviour is compared to a male standard, often to the neglect/exclusion of women
What is an example of androcentrism? (PMS criticism + after affects)
PMS has been criticised by some as being a social construct, which trivialises female emotions, particularly anger. On the other hand, amle anger is seen as a logical response to external pressures
What is a beta bias?
A tendency to ignore or minimise differences between mena nd women.
What are the consequences of beta biases in theories?
Theories which have beta biases tend to ignore questions about the lives of women, or insights derived from studies of men will be made to equally apply to women
What is an example of beta bias? (participants answering questions based on moral dilemmas)
Kolhberg’s levels of moral reasoning theory was developed on the basis of studying groups of American males, who all answered questions based on moral dilemmas. These results were then generalised to represent levels of moral reasoning for both men and women
What is a limitation of gender bias? (misleading assumptions + damaging consequences)
Gender biased research may create misleading assumptions, about female behaviour, as it fails to challenge negative stereotypes and validates discrimination. It provides scientific “justification” to deny womens’ opportunities in society. As a result, it becomes normal for women to be abnormal. Therefore, not only is gender bias a methodological issue but it also has damaging consequences which affect the lives and prospects of women
What is a limitation of gender bias? (lack of women in senior positions)
The lack of women in senior research positions means that female concerns may not be reflected in the research questions asked. Male researchers will also be more likely to have their work published than female researchers. Additionally in lab experiments women can be placed at a disadvantage. Women are placed in unbalanced relationships with (usually male) researchers who have the power to label them unreasonable, irrational and unable to complete tasks
What is a limitation of gender bias? (essentialist perspective + women ovaries)
Many gender differences are based on an essentialist perspective - that the gender differences are inevitable and fixed in nature. Walkerdine reported that in the 1930s ‘scientific’ research revealed how intellectual activity would shrivel women’s ‘ ovaries, harming their chances of giving birth. Such essentialist accounts in psychology are often politically motivated arguments disguised as biological ‘facts’
