Gender: Sex and gender

Question 1

What is sex?

Answer 1

The biological differences between males and females e.g. hormones and chromosomes.

Question 2

What is gender?

Answer 2

The cultural/psychological/social differences between males and females e.g. behaviours, social roles.

Question 3

Female chromosomes:

Answer 3

XX

Question 4

Male chromosomes:

Answer 4

XY

Question 5

Where is sex on the nature/nurture debate?

Answer 5

Sex is innate - Nature

Question 6

Where is gender on the nature/nurture debate?

Answer 6

Gender is a social construct - Nurture

Question 7

What are sex-role stereotypes?

Answer 7

A set of beliefs and preconceived ideas about what is expected or appropriate for men and women in a given society or social group.

Question 8

What is androgyny?

Answer 8

Displaying a balance of masculine and feminine characteristics in one’s personality.

Question 9

What is the Bem sex role inventory (BSRI)?

Answer 9

• The first systematic attempt to measure androgyny.
• 60 traits were used- 20 feminine, 20 masculine, 20 neutral.
• Respondents were required to rate themselves on a 7-point rating scale for each trait. 1 = never true of me; 7 = always true of me.
• Scores were then classified as being either: masculine, feminine, androgynous or undifferentiated.

Question 10

What are the 4 Bem sex role inventory classifications and the scores you needed to get them?

Answer 10

High masculine + low feminine = masculine
High feminine + low masculine = feminine
High masculine + high feminine = androgynous
Low masculine + low feminine = undifferentiated

Question 11

What are the 4 evaluation points for the Bem sex role inventory?

Answer 11

1) Quantitative approach (S)
2) Valid and reliable (S)
3) Self-awareness (L)
4) Cultural differences (L)

Question 12

Explain quantitative approach (S) as an evaluation point for the Bem sex role inventory:

Answer 12

• A strength of Bem’s research is that androgyny is measured quantitatively.
• The numerical approach is useful for research purposes when it is necessary e.g. when identifying a dependent variable.
• However Spence argues that there is more to gender than a set of behaviours typical of one gender or the other, so qualitative methods offer a better way of analysing gender.
• Suggests that using both quantitative and qualitative methods may be more useful to study different aspects of androgyny e.g. the Personal attribute questionnaire (PAQ)

Question 13

Explain valid and reliable (S) as an evaluation point for the Bem sex role inventory:

Answer 13

• A strength of the BSRI is that it was valid and reliable at the time it was developed.
• The traits were determined by asking 50 female and 50 male judges to rank the traits in terms of mascuilinity and feminitiy- with the highest ranking words being used.
• The BSRI was then used by over 1000 students, and found that the BSRI result corresponded with the students gender identity- demonstrating validity.
• However the BSRI was made decades ago and behaviours that are regarded as ‘typical’ and ‘acceptable’ in relation to gender have changed since then.
• Suggests that the BSRI is not a suitable measure of gender today and was a child of its time.

Question 14

Explain self-awareness (L) as an evaluation point for the Bem sex role inventory:

Answer 14

• A limitation of the BSRI is that people may not have insight into their degree of masculinity, femininity or androgyny.
• Asking people to rate themselves on a questionnaire relies on people having an understanding of their personality and behaviour which they may not necessarily have.
• Gender is also a social construct which is open to more interpretation than sex.
• Suggests that the BSRI may not be an objective, scientific way of assessing masculinity, femininity or androgyny.

Question 15

Explain cultural differences (L) as an evaluation point for the Bem sex role inventory:

Answer 15

• A limitation of the BSRI is that Bem placed great emphasis on the idea that androgynous individuals are more psychologically healthy as they are best suited to deal with situations that demand a masculine or feminine response.
• This assumption has been challenged. Some researchers have argued that people who develop a greater proportion of masculine traits are better adjusted as these are more highly valued in individualist cultures.