Issues and Debates: Gender Bias

Question 1

Universality

Answer 1

An underlying characteristic of human beings that is capable of being applied to all, despite differences of experience and upbringing.

Question 2

Bias

Answer 2

The tendency to treat one individual or group in a different way from others.

Question 3

Gender bias

Answer 3

Psychological research or theory that offers a view that does not justifiably represent the experience and behaviour of men or women (usually women) i.e. the representation of one gender only.

Question 4

Alpha bias

Answer 4

The attempt to exaggerate/overestimate the differences between the genders.
- These differences are presented as “fixed and inevitable” and will most likely devalue females, however may occasionally “heighten” the value of women.

Question 5

Beta bias

Answer 5

The attempt to downplay/underestimate the differences between the genders.
- When women are not included (as participants) and it is assumed that research findings apply to both sexes.

Question 6

Androcentrism

Answer 6

“Male-centred”: when men’s behaviour is the standard against which women’s behaviour is compared. Female behaviour is often judged to be abnormal/deficient/ inferior by comparison.
- Female behaviour becomes misunderstood.

Question 7

What is so important about gender bias?

Answer 7

• It is not necessarily a conscious process.
• Researchers may think that they have been objective but because of their backgrounds they may view the world in a particular way.

Question 8

Alpha bias

Example?

Answer 8

“Sociobiological theory of relationship formation” (eg. Wilson, 1975):
Explains human sexual attraction and behaviour through the principle of “survival efficiency”.

• Men have to impregnate as much women as possible (stating that sexual promiscuity in men is genetically determined)
• Women must preserve their genes to ensure the healthy survival of her offspring (and when they engage in the same behaviour as men, they are going against their “nature”).

This is an instance of the hyperbolic display of the differences between the sexes.

Question 9

Beta bias

Example?

Answer 9

“Fight or flight” response:
Early research was based exclusively on male animals and was assumed to be a universal response to a threatening situation.

“Caring and befriending”:
However, Taylor et al. (2000) suggested that female biology has evolved to inhibit this and instead cares for offspring (caring) and forms defensive networks with other females (befriending).

Question 10

Androcentrism

Example?

Answer 10

Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS):

• Stereotypes and trivialises female experience.
• A social construction, according to critics, as it medicalises female emotions (especially anger).
• Male anger on the other hand is seen as a rational response to external pressures.

Question 11

EVALUATION 1

SOLUTION

Answer 11

P: Due to the issue of gender bias, Worrell (1992) suggested a criteria:
E: Suggesting the use of alternative methods of inquiry to explore the personal lives of women, considering women in natural settings, studying diverse samples - such as varying their ages, class, sexuality and minority or ethnic group.
E: Exploring this criteria would ensure non-gender biased research investigations.
I: This therefore would therefore help reduce investigator biases that may affect female participants’ behaviour, producing more valid data.