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
Criticism of Socio-cultural theory
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
Outline Cognitive Development Theory
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
Support for Cognitive Development Theory (M + A)
Marcus and Overton (1978) showed children ‘muddled’ images - a man putting on lipstick, and they stared at these images longer, indicating confusion
Criticism for Cognitive Development Theory
A very broad theory, has steps but does not explain how this process occurs
Does not explain gendered behaviour before the age of 2
Outline Gender Schema Theory
Bem (1985)
Extension of Cognitive Development Theory
children develop gender related behaviours because they develop schemas (stereotypes) that guide them to adopt behaviours
Support for Gender Schema Theory (Ser…)
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
What is the theory of Gender Neutrality?
Money and Earnhardt (1972)
Anatomy is destiny
Gender is able to be changed before the age of 2 via socialisation, genitalia and hormonal changes
Support for Gender Neutrality Theory
1972 AIS reassignment - chromosomal males who looked and felt like females, so were changed and were happy
Criticism for Theory of Gender Neutrality
David Reimer
What is the sociobiological/evolutionary perspective?
Gender roles have taken shape gradually in the course of human evolution as part of a broader environmental adaptation
Who is the theorist for the sociobiological/evolutionary approach?
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
Support for Parental Investment and Sociobiological/evolutionary approach
Women’s sexual selectivity and men’s relative lack of selectivity and aggression
Criticism for Sociobiological approach
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
