Gender - Sex And Gender Flashcards
What is sex?
The biological differences between males and females including chromosomes, hormones & anatomy
What is gender?
The psychological & cultural differences between males & females including attitudes, behaviours & social roles
What are sex-role stereotypes?
A set of beliefs & preconceived ideas about what is expected or appropriate for males & females in a given society
What is gender identity disorder?
When someone biological sex doesnt align with their percieved gender identity
Individuals who experience gender identity disorder may choose to do what?
Identify as transgender and have gender reassignment surgery to align both of their identities
Give an example of a sex role stereotype for men & women?
Men -> breadwinner
Women -> housekeeper
How can sex-role stereotypes be communicated in society?
Parents
Peers
Media
Schools
Give an example of how sex-role stereotypes can be communicated?
Schools and their PE curriculum
Boys -> football
Girls -> dance
What is an issue with sex-role stereotypes?
Can lead to sexist assumptions being formed e.g. women cannot hold positions of authority/high responsibility as she may become ‘over-emotional’
What was the case study by Imperato-McGinley et al?
Four children from a family in the Dominican Republic were born males and raised as women and had a rare genetic disorder (genitalia wasnt external at birth) so when they hit puberty their male genetalia grew and they quickly adapted to the male gender identity
Suggests gender identity isnt fixed
What was the experiment done by Seavey et al?
Had a 3 month old infant in a yellow baby grow
Each 1/3 of participants told the baby was male/female/given no gender
Left the participants with the baby and a rag doll/ring/ball
Found the participants who thought the baby was female gave them the rag doll, participants told male gave them the ring and ones told no gender spontaneously gave a gender to the baby based on physical characteristics
Conclusion: adults interact differently with infants depending on whether they believe they are male/female
What was the experiment by Rubin et al?
Parents were asked to describe their babies within 24hrs of their birth
Found: parents of boys said they were ‘strong’/ parents of girls said they were ‘soft & delicate’
Concluded parental stereotypes of their children start from an early age despite no stereotypical behaviour shown & when parents know the gender of their baby before birth stereotyping behaviour starts then e.g. with them painting a pink/blue room
