Issues and debates: gender bias Flashcards
What is alpha bias?
When differences between men and women are shown and may be exaggerated -> either to heighten value of women or devalue them.
-> differences are presented as real, fixed and inevitable.
give an example of alpha bias in research (Wilson sociobiological theory)
- Wilson sociobiological theory: relationship formation focuses on ‘survival efficiency’.
- Believes males want to impregnate as many women as possible so guaranteed for genes to be passed on.
-> sexual promiscuity is presented as natural for males, whilst for women it is going against their nature.
What is beta bias
- when differences between sexes are ignored, minimise or misunderstood.
- often occurs when female ppts are not part of the research and it is assumed that the research applies equally to both sexes.
- E.g. milligram’s study only had middle aged men as ppts.
give examples of beta bias
- fight or flight response: early research into fight or flight only carried out on male animals and was considered a universal response to a threatening situation.
- E.g. milligram’s study only had middle aged men as ppts.
what is androcentrism?
- understanding of ‘normal’ behaviour is drawn from research that involves ‘all male’ samples -> behaviour that deviates from this is seen as ‘abnormal’ by comparison.
-> a result of beta bias. - female behaviour is misunderstood and underrepresented -> generalised to females.
Give an example of androcentrism (PMS)
- premenstrual syndrome (PMS) -> feminists object to this as they believe it is a social construct which stereotypes and trivialises the female exp.
- suggests female anger is due to hormones whereas male anger is a rational response to external pressure.
What is gynocentric / Estrocentrism?
- study conducted only on females but also generalised to males.
Explain how Gillagan refuted Kholberg’s work on moral development
- Highlighted bias inherent in his work.
- suggested women make moral decisions in a different way to men (care ethic vs justice ethic).
- Her work is arguably also (alpha) biased, as male and female moral reasoning is more similar than her work suggests.
Explain how Freud’s psychodynamic approach displays androcentrism
- female forms weaker superego and so sense of morality is inferior to males.
- femininity an expression of failed masculinity.
- vanity: a defence mechanism to make up for sexual inferiority to men.
what are the evaluations of gender bias?
negative:
- negative implications of gender bias
- essentialism / essentialist approach
positive:
- recognition of reflexivity
- growth of feminist psychology
(-) explain how there are negative implications with gender bias (Tavris)
- may create misleading assumptions about female behaviour -> fails to challenge negative stereotypes and validates discriminatory practices.
- may provide scientific ‘justification’ to deny women opportunities both in the workplace and society.
-> e.g. Bowlby monotropic theory. - Tavris -> becomes ‘normal’ for women to feel ‘abnormal’.
-> may therefore have lasting and damaging consequences for real women.
(+) explain how there is growth in reflexivity (Dambrin and Lambert)
- Modern researchers are starting to recognise effect on own values and assumptions have on the nature of their work.
- Dambrin and Lambert -> reflected on own gender-related experiences in their research.
- has led to greater awareness of the role of personal bias in research.
(-) explain how gender bias displays essentialism
- many gender differences are based on the essentialist perspective that gender differences are fixed and enduring.
- can be politically motivated ‘facts’ that create double-standards.
- e.g. sociobiological theory.
(+) explain how there is a growth in feminist psychology (Worrell)
- Worrell stated a number of criteria should be adhered to in order to avoid gender bias:
- women should be studied in real life context
- should genuinely participate in research
- diversity within groups of women should be examined as opposed to differences between men and women.
