Issues and debates: gender bias Flashcards
What is gender bias?
The differential treatment and/or representation of males and females, based on stereotypes and not on real differences.
What is universality?
There are no differences between males and females, and that behaviour found in one person is true for all.
What is androcentrism?
Centred or focused on men, often to the neglect or exclusion of women.
What is gynocentrism?
The focus on females leads to the neglect of males.
What is alpha bias?
Exaggerating the differences between the two genders e.g Freud - femininity is failed masculinity.
What is beta bias?
Underestimating the differences between the two genders e.g. Taylor et al, fight or flight vs tend and befriend.
What is was Kolbergs moral reasoning research?
Kohlberg’s theory of moral development is a theory that focuses on how children develop morality and moral reasoning. Kohlberg’s theory suggests that moral development occurs in a series of six stages. The theory also suggests that moral logic is primarily focused on seeking and maintaining justice.
- Stage 1: Obedience and punishment.
- Stage 2: Self-interest.
- Stage 3: Interpersonal accord and conformity.
- Stage 4: Authority and maintaining social order.
- Stage 5: Social contract.
- Stage 6: Universal ethical principles.
What does zeitgeist mean?
Undeliberate minimisation of gender differences as thinking expectations was a reflection of the social and moral attitudes at that specific time.
A03 of gender bias:
- Problems in psychological research
+ Restores the imbalance in psychological theories
+ Feminist Psychologists propose how Gender Bias can be avoided
+ Real world applications of gender bias for women
Problems in psychological research: gender bias
A lack of women at senior research level means female concerns may not be reflected in research questions asked. Male researchers are more likely to have work published. Also, female participants in lab studies are in an inequitable relationship with a (usually male) researcher who has the power to label them irrational and unable to complete complex tasks. This means psychology may be guilty of supporting a form of institutional sexism that creates bias in theory and research.
A03: Restores the imbalance in psychological theories
Another way to reduce gender bias is to take a feminist approach which attempts to restore the imbalance in both psychological theories and research. For example, feminist psychology accepts that there are biological differences between males and females: Research by Eagly (1978) claims that female are less effective leaders than males. However, the purpose of Eagly’s claim is to help researchers develop training programmes aimed at reducing the lack of female leaders in the real-world.
Feminist Psychologists propose how Gender Bias can be avoided: gender bias
Worrell suggests criteria researchers can follow to avoid Gender Bias. Women should be studied within meaningful real-life contexts, and genuinely participate in research instead of being objects of study. Also, diversity in groups of women should be studied, rather than comparisons made between women and men. Finally, there should be a greater emphasis on collaborative research methods that collect qualitative data. This way of doing research may be preferable, and less Gender-Biased, than laboratory-based research.
Real world applications of gender bias for women: gender bias
By developing a greater understanding of gender bias, psychologists have put forward a number of solutions. For example, some psychologists attempt to develop theories that emphasise the importance or value of women. Cornwell et al. (2013) noted that females are better at learning, as they are more attentive and organised, thus emphasising both the value and the positive attributes of women. As a result, this type of research helps to reduce or challenge gender stereotypes which is important in reducing gender bias.
