Gender - Revised Edition Flashcards
Outline the biological/nature argument
Emphasises the role of biology and hereditary in asserting that gender is tied to biological sex
Are there any theorists in the biological argument?
No, but lots of supporting evidence
What are 2 pieces of evidence for brain differences?
Verna (2015) - differences in patterns of neural connections between parts of the brain in males and females (women between hemispheres and men within hemispheres)
Kimura (1987) - brain organisation results in differences in visual - spatial abilities (men excel in mental rotation tasks)
What are two pieces of evidence for chromosomal differences?
Imperato and Mcginley (1974) Batista Boys
David Reimer
What are two pieces of evidence for hormones?
Diamond (1997) - pre and peri natal hormones
Maccoby and Jacklin (1980) - aggression more common in males and nurturance more common in females
What is an evaluation of the biological argument?
Hutt (1972) states that the importance of nature over nurture requires the separation of that which cannot be separated
e.g. males may be naturally potentially aggressive, but whether they display these traits depends on the environment they are socialized into
Outline the key ideas around the socialisation/nurture approach
Gender results as a product of external factors, mainly socialisation and is solely responsible for gender
What is Social Learning Theory?
Bandura (1977)
Attention, Retention, Reproduction and Motivation
Three types of models: real life, symbolic and cartoon
Support for SLT
Fagot (1989) - parents reward gender appropriate behaviour and punish gender inappropriate behaviour
Criticism for SLT
Maccoby and Jacklin (1980) stated that children are more likely to follow behaviour appropriate to their own gender, regardless of the gender of the model
What is Social Role Theory?
Eagly (1987)
Gender is a cultural construct
Expectations around males and females dictate how society is organised
Tied to SLT (observation, reward and punishment)
Support for Social Role Theory
Cejka and Eagly (1999) found beliefs that an occupation requires male or female traits dictates whether the job is male or female dominated
Criticism for Social Role Theory
Doesn’t explain sex differences in all mammals yet most still exhibit gendered roles
What is Socio-cultural theory?
Interaction of learning and culture is what determines gender roles
Support for Socio-cultural theory (active)
Fagot (1978) - family socialisation makes girls less active than boys - a learned behaviour based on cultural norms
Also Mead (1935) but her work is largely discredited