influence of culture and media on gender roles

Question 1

explain culture and gender roles?

Answer 1

• cross cultural study by Margaret Mead in new guinea tribe
• 3 different tribes
  
  1. gentle women similar to west
  2. aggressive and hostile women
  3. women dominant and men passive
• suggests nay not be direct biological relationship between sex and gender, gender roles r culturally determined

Question 2

evaluate nature vs nurture for culture and gender roles?

Answer 2

• WEAKNESS
• cross cultural can give insight into different cultural practices
• however is impossible to separate the 2 influences of nature and nurture, as soon as they’re born gender role expectations are thrust
• each influence the other
• weakness of cross cultural study as these tribes could force women to take on these roles

Question 3

-explain a study to show cultural similarities?

Answer 3

David Buss in his cross-cultural study into gender roles found consistent patterns in mate preference

• in 37 countries women wanted men who could offer wealth and resources
• men wanted young and attractive

Question 4

evaluate imposed etic for cultural similarities?

Answer 4

• cross cultural studies normally done by western researchers
• they may impose their theories on the interviewees and not properly convey the results

Question 5

evaluate a criticism of meads research for culture and gender roles?

Answer 5

• criticised for not separating her own opinions from her description of Samoan lifestyle, and making generalisations whilst only being there for a short time and visiting purely when she needed to interview
• follow up showed flaws and showed her preconceptions had influence on reading of events

Question 6

explain rigid stereotypes in media and gender roles?

Answer 6

• media provides clear gender stereotypes eg. men rich, women, dependent
• study on tv adverts showed that more men were shown as autonomous than women, who were seen more in the home

Question 7

evaluate countering stereotypes for rigid stereotypes in media and gender roles?

Answer 7

• Pingree found that gender stereotyping was reduced when children were shown TV adverts w/ women in non stereotypical roles
• however preadolescent boys stereotypes become even stinger after watching non traditional adverts

Question 8

explain how the media confirms future gender roles?

Answer 8

-media confirms gender typical behaviour+gives info on their likely future success as seeing a person performing gender appropriate behaviour increases kids belief that they can do it in the future

Question 9

evaluate correlation not causation for information giving in media and gender roles?

Answer 9

• media output may reflect prevailing social norms, or is it the cause of such norms by depicting men and women in certain ways
• most children are exposed to media, therefore to find control groups in which children haven’t been influenced are not available