Influence of Culture On Gender Roles

Question 1

when can you assume that gender is innate?

Answer 1

if a particular gender-role behaviour appears to be consistent across different cultures

Question 2

who are the researchers for the cultural differences(nurture)?

Answer 2

• Mead

Question 3

what did Mead do?

Answer 3

• carried out in cultural groups in Papua New Guinea
• Arapesh were gentle and responsive (sterotypically feminine)
• Mundugumor were aggressive and hostile (sterotypically masculine)
• Tchambuli women were dominant and they organised village life, men were passive and consider to be decorative (reverse of stereotype)

Question 4

what does Mead’s research suggest?

Answer 4

• there may not be a direct biological relationship between sex and gender
• gender roles are culturally determined
• she underestimated the universal nature of many gender-typical behaviours, the extent to which innate behaviours are expressed are largely as a result of cultural norms

Question 5

who are the researchers involoved in the cultural similarities (nature)?

Answer 5

• Buss
• Munroe (Robert and Ruth)

Question 6

what did Buss find?

Answer 6

• found consitent patterns in mate preference in 37 countries across all continents
• in all cultures, women sought men who could offer wealth and resources
• men looked for youth and physical attractiveness in potential partner

Question 7

what did Munroe and Munroe do?

Answer 7

• they found that most societies division of labour is organised along gender lines, with men typically being breadwinners and nurturers