Gender: Gender bias!!

Question 1

Androcentrism

Answer 1

Centered or focused on men, often to the neglect of women.

Question 2

Alpha Bias

Answer 2

Exaggerates the difference in men and women, therefore devaluing one gender in comparison to another.

Question 3

Example of alpha bias (Freud)

Answer 3

In his theory of psychoanalysis, Freud viewed femininity as failed masculinity.
Josselson (1988) - in this study women are seen as failed men with ‘penis envy’.

Question 4

Beta Bias

Answer 4

Ignoring or minimising differences between men and women, due to assuming what is true for men is true for women.

Question 5

Example of beta bias (Kohlberg)

Answer 5

• Study on moral development in which only male sample was used, he generalised these findings to women.
• Gilligan highlighted this beta bias and suggested women make moral decisions in a different way to men

Question 6

Evaluation 1 (Feminist)

Answer 6

• Gilligan argues for ‘difference’ psychology from biological explanations.
• Socially determined gender stereotypes play to great a role into the perception of women.
• Social change must implement a revision of our facts about gender.
• This can occur by the acknowledgement of women inferior qualities and give them extra support towards it.

Question 7

Evaluation 2 (Bias in research methods)

Answer 7

• This includes the gender of the reasearcher .
• Rosenthal (1966) found male experimenters were more pleasant and friendly towards female participants
• This lead to women performing better in the tasks.
• Feminists also argue lab experiments disadvantage women due to the controlled environment not providing the true picture of a womens setting in the real world.

Question 8

Evaluation 3 (Positive of beta bias)

Answer 8

• Equal treatment (beta bias) in laws have lead to greater educational and occupational opportunities for women
• However, Hare-mustin and Mareck, say this draws away from the special needs of women
• for example equal parental leave, ignoring biological demands of pregnancy.