Gender bias - AO3

Question 1

What is a PECS paragraph (consequence)?

Answer 1

• P: One consequence of gender bias is that it may lead to the formation of negative stereotypes for a particular gender
• E: Freud’s psychoanalytical theory of gender assumes that girls have a weaker gender identity and are morally inferior, which may lead to the discrimination and development of prejudicial views of women. Women may be prevented from accessing the same opportunites as males
• C: However, alpha bias within psychological research has led to a greater understanding of how genders differ which may emphasise the strengths of women. For example, psychological research has found that women are better at learning, paying attention and being organised
• S: This means that research into gender differences may still be beneficial as it emphasises the value of women and works to reduce or challenge gender stereotypes

Question 2

What is a negative consequence of gender bias?

Answer 2

• P: Differences are often presented as biological fixed and enduring
• E: Maccoby and Jacklin in 1974 presented findings of several studies that concluded girls have a better verbal ability while boys have better spatial ability. BUT, in 2015 Joel et al used brain scanning and found no such sex differences. It is possible that the data from Maccoby and Jacklin was popularised because it fitted existing stereotypes
• E: However, we should still study gender differences in the brain, despite social sensitivity. Research for example has suggested that women are better at multitasking; Ingalhalikar suggests this may be because women benefit from better connections within each hemisphere
• L: This shows that there may be some biological differences, but we should be wary of exaggerating the effects they may have on behaviour, distinguishing between sex differences rather than gender differences

Question 3

What is a limitation of gender bias?

Answer 3

• P: Enduring gender bias within psychology has also led to sexism within the research process
• E: Women are underrespresented in university departments, paritcularly in science. A lack of women at senior research kevel means that women’s concerns may not be reflected in the research questions asked
• E: Male researchers are also more likely to have their work published, and studies that find evidence of divisive gender differences are less likely to appear in journal articles
• L: This means that the institutional structures and methods of psychology as a discipline may continue to produce findings that are gender biased

Question 4

What is a strength of gender bias?

Answer 4

• P: Strength = By indentifying that gender bias exists in research we can work to overcome it
• E: Many argue that the use of controlled lab experiments being run by menmay be intimidating to women. It has been suggested that more qualitative measures (like interviews) are used in order to reduce gender bias and ensure women are accurately represented (i.e ethnographic research)
• E: Modern researchers now recognise the effect their own values and assumptions have on the nature of their work (reflexivity). Feminist psychologists emphasis that women should be studied within meaningful, real life contextes and they must be active participants in any research
• L: Therefore, identifying gender bias within psychological research and taking steps to minimise or overcome it will lead to a greater understandings of women’s behaviour in context