Gender bias

Question 1

Alpha bias

Answer 1

where differences between men and women are exaggerated

Question 2

beta bias

Answer 2

when the differences between men and women are minimised

Question 3

androcentrism

Answer 3

when ‘normal’ behaviour is judged according to the male standard so female behaviour is regarded as abnormal

Question 4

what is gender bias

Answer 4

when one gender is treated less favourably than the other, often referred to as sexism

Question 5

possible consequences to gender bias

Answer 5

validating sex discrimination, upholding stereotypical assumptions, scientifically misleading

Question 6

positive ao3 of gender bias- alpha bias

Answer 6

• has led to some theorists (Gilligan) to assert the worth and valuation of feminine qualities
• has led to healthy criticism of cultural values that praise certain male qualities such as aggression

Question 7

positive ao3 of gender bias- beta bias

Answer 7

makes people see men and women as the same, led to qual treatment in legal terms

Question 8

negative ao3 of gender bias- alpha bias

Answer 8

• focus on differences between genders leads to the implication of similarity within genders thus ignores the many ways women differ from each other
• can sustain prejudices and stereotypes

Question 9

negative ao3 of gender bias- beta bias

Answer 9

• draws attention away from the differences in power between men and women
• is considered as an egalitarian approach but it results in major misrepresentations of both genders

Question 10

Consequences of gender bias

Answer 10

Feminists argue that although gender differences are minimal or non-existent are used to maintain male power

Question 11

examples of gender bias in research

Answer 11

• Kohlberg based his stages of moral development around male moral reasoning and had an all male sample then generalised his findings to women (beta bias) and also claimed women generally reached a lower level of moral development (androcentrism)
• Freud- his ideas are seen as inherently gender biased, All his theories are androcentric, most obviously ‘penis envy’ The idea that women are defined psychologically by the fact that they aren’t men

Question 12

sexism within the research process- ao3

Answer 12

A lack of women appointed at senior research level means that female concerns may not be reflected in the research questions asked

Question 13

implications of gender bias

Answer 13

may validate stereotypes and discrimination eg research into pms

Question 14

sexism within the research process

Answer 14

research questions oriented to male concerns
preference for results showing gender differences
lab experiment disadvantages women

Question 15

reflexivity

Answer 15

being upfront about ones biases and preconceptions can reduce gender bias (Dambrin and Lambert)

Question 16

Essentialism

Answer 16

gender differences presented as fixed in nature often politically motivated

Question 17

feminist psychology

Answer 17

worrell proposes that research should be collaborative and in context