Gender - Cultural Influences

Question 0

Mead - Papua New Guinea

Answer 0

3 tribes
One gentle
One violent
One with dominant females and emotionally dependent males

Question 1

Munroe and Munroe

Answer 1

Cross cultural studies of gender show that every society has some division of labour and behaviour by gender
Food preparation and childcare - females, never the full responsibility of males
Girls - compliance
Boys - assertiveness

Question 2

Labour divisions are the same in most cultures suggests that…

Answer 2

Biology rather than culture explains the development of gender roles.
W don’t know if it is a direct outcome
Or indirect like in social role theory (cultures shape their socialisation processes along the lines of inborn biological tendencies.

Question 3

Sugihara and Katsurada

Answer 3

Japanese men do not seek to be macho like Americans but instead value being well rounded in the arts, a trait normally regarded as feminine.

Question 4

Culture and ecology

Answer 4

The magnitude of male superiority on spatial tasks was highest in tight sedentary societies.
Th division of labour is greatest because women stay at home while men hunt
Alternatively in nomadic societies both travel and hunt so there is less division (Van Leeuwen).

Question 5

Kimura

Answer 5

Suggests that in hunting societies those with poor spatial perceptions are likely to die, thus eliminating such genes from the gene pool, this would explain why in societies where both men and women hunt there would be less gender differences in spatial abilities.

Question 6

Where women contribute a lot to food accumulation they are…

Answer 6

…highly valued, allowed more freedom and are generally regarded less as sexual objects. (Schlegel and Barry)
Women occupy a higher position within the social group and therefore have more power and less need to conform to the demands of the powerful members of society.