Gender Roles and Sexuality

Question 1

Female brains?

Answer 1

More grey matter volume in some parts of the prefrontal cortex (decision making)

Question 2

Male brains?

Answer 2

More grey matter in subcortical temporal structures (auditory and visual processing, long term memory and emotions)

Question 3

Effects of estrogen?

Answer 3

Affects anatomy and physiology of the hippocampus: important role in long term memory and spatial orientation.

Question 4

Eagly’s theory?

Answer 4

Difference in the roles in society do a lot to create and maintain stereotypes.

Question 5

Gender typing?

Answer 5

Becoming aware of difference and patterns in gender

Question 6

Biosocial theory?

Answer 6

Early biological developments influence how people react to a child and these social reactions are related with children’s assuming gender roles.

Question 7

Social learning theory abt gender?

Answer 7

Learning gendered identities through 2 processes:
1. Differential Reinforcement: awarded for sex appropriate behaviours and punished for the opposite. (fathers more prone)
2. Observational Learning: adopt the attitudes and behaviours of same-sex models.

Question 8

Cognitive theories at gender?

Answer 8

Greater emphasis on children’s active involvement in acquiring gender roles.

Question 9

Kohlberg’s cognitive theory?

Answer 9

1. Gender role development depends on stagelike changes in cognitive development; need for a certain understanding of gender.
2. Children engage in self-socialisation, they actively socialise themselves.

Question 10

Martin and Halversons’ Gender Schemata?

Answer 10

Organised sets of beliefs and expectation about males and females that influence the kinds of information they will attend to and remember.

Question 11

Gender Intensification?

Answer 11

Gender differences may be enhanced by hormonal changes associated with puberty and increased pressure to conform to gender roles.

Question 12

Bockting and Coleman’s 5 stages?

Answer 12

1. Pre coming out
2. Coming out
3. Exploration
4. Intimacy
5. Identity Integration

Question 13

Beliefs about sexuality among adolescents?

Answer 13

• Approximately ¾ of teenagers think that sex with affection in the context of a relationship is acceptable. Casual sex is not the norm among young teens.
• The double standard may have declined slightly but has certainly not disappeared.
• Adolescents are confused about sexual norms likely because they receive mixed messages about sexuality.
• Today’s adolescents are more open minded of a variety of sexual behaviours and orientations.

Question 14

Gutmann on gender roles?

Answer 14

gender roles and gender related traits in adulthood are shaped by the parental imperative: the requirement that mothers and fathers adopt different roles to raise children successfully