Gender - Revised Edition

Question 1

Outline the biological/nature argument

Answer 1

Emphasises the role of biology and hereditary in asserting that gender is tied to biological sex

Question 2

Are there any theorists in the biological argument?

Answer 2

No, but lots of supporting evidence

Question 3

What are 2 pieces of evidence for brain differences?

Answer 3

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)

Question 4

What are two pieces of evidence for chromosomal differences?

Answer 4

Imperato and Mcginley (1974) Batista Boys
David Reimer

Question 5

What are two pieces of evidence for hormones?

Answer 5

Diamond (1997) - pre and peri natal hormones
Maccoby and Jacklin (1980) - aggression more common in males and nurturance more common in females

Question 6

What is an evaluation of the biological argument?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Outline the key ideas around the socialisation/nurture approach

Answer 7

Gender results as a product of external factors, mainly socialisation and is solely responsible for gender

Question 8

What is Social Learning Theory?

Answer 8

Bandura (1977)
Attention, Retention, Reproduction and Motivation
Three types of models: real life, symbolic and cartoon

Question 9

Support for SLT

Answer 9

Fagot (1989) - parents reward gender appropriate behaviour and punish gender inappropriate behaviour

Question 10

Criticism for SLT

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What is Social Role Theory?

Answer 11

Eagly (1987)
Gender is a cultural construct
Expectations around males and females dictate how society is organised
Tied to SLT (observation, reward and punishment)

Question 12

Support for Social Role Theory

Answer 12

Cejka and Eagly (1999) found beliefs that an occupation requires male or female traits dictates whether the job is male or female dominated

Question 13

Criticism for Social Role Theory

Answer 13

Doesn’t explain sex differences in all mammals yet most still exhibit gendered roles

Question 14

What is Socio-cultural theory?

Answer 14

Interaction of learning and culture is what determines gender roles

Question 15

Support for Socio-cultural theory

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Criticism of Socio-cultural theory

Answer 16

Lots of universality of male and female traits (a contradiction of this theory) e.g. women staying at home to care for children is seen in progressive cultures and traditional ones
e.g. no society exists where men do all childcare and women do all war

Question 17

Outline Cognitive Development Theory

Answer 17

Kohlberg (1966-69)
Based on Piaget 4 stages of gender development
1. Gender identity (2 yrs)
2. Gender stability (3-4 yrs)
3. Gender constancy (5-7 yrs)
Once these stages were achieved they will actively seek out corresponding gender models

Question 18

Support for Cognitive Development Theory

Answer 18

Marcus and Overton (1978) showed children ‘muddled’ images - a man putting on lipstick, and they stared at these images longer, indicating confusion

Question 19

Criticism for Cognitive Development Theory

Answer 19

A very broad theory, has steps but does not explain how this process occurs
Does not explain gendered behaviour before the age of 2

Question 20

Outline Gender Schema Theory

Answer 20

Bem (1985)
Extension of Cognitive Development Theory
children develop gender related behaviours because they develop schemas (stereotypes) that guide them to adopt behaviours

Question 21

Support for Gender Schema Theory

Answer 21

Serbin et al (2002) children showed gender inappropriate behaviour (a man putting on lipstick) and stared longer at them, indicating confusion - a stimulus at odds with the schema (stereotype) they had developed

Question 22

What is the theory of Gender Neutrality?

Answer 22

Money and Earnhardt (1972)
Anatomy is destiny
Gender is able to be changed before the age of 2 via socialisation, genitalia and hormonal changes

Question 23

Support for Gender Neutrality Theory

Answer 23

1972 AIS reassignment - chromosomal males who looked and felt like females, so were changed and were happy

Question 24

Criticism for Theory of Gender Neutrality

Answer 24

David Reimer

Question 25

What is the sociobiological/evolutionary perspective?

Answer 25

Gender roles have taken shape gradually in the course of human evolution as part of a broader environmental adaptation

Question 26

Who is the theorist for the sociobiological/evolutionary approach?

Answer 26

Kendrick (Parental Investment Theory - 1972)
men and women place investment in different aspects of reproduction
women: have to carry child so must find best match to make a strong baby
men: must ensure loyalty of women, so are aggressive and territorial to scare away other men from women

Question 27

Support for Parental Investment and Sociobiological/evolutionary approach

Answer 27

Women’s sexual selectivity and men’s relative lack of selectivity and aggression

Question 28

Criticism for Sociobiological approach

Answer 28

Some social behaviours are genetic - lots of variation in social behaviours
Difficult to test sex differences and whether they have evolved because we have no access to ancestor’s data