Sex and Gender Flashcards
What is sex?
Refers to the biological makeup of the individual. You are either male or female based on the physical makeup of your body. You identify yourself and others as male or female based on the body they/you have
What is gender?
This refers to the psychological and cultural aspects of being male or female
What are 3 components of psychosexual development by Hines?
- Core gender identity
- Gender role behaviours
- Sexual orientation
What is core gender identity?
An individuals sense of themselves as female or male
What are gender role behaviours?
Characteristics and behaviours that differ in males and females
What is sexual orientation?
Erotic/sexual interest in role of the same or opposite sex, it is generally established during outlets and early adulthood
What do sex role beliefs concern?
The type of qualities and characteristics expected of members of each sex and these beliefs become sex role stereotypes
Why are sex role stereotypes deemed to be expected and proper qualities?
Because the belief is shared by a majority of people
What is learnt?
Masculine and feminine qualities
What are sex role stereotypes for females?
- Nurturing
- Domestic
- Emotional
- Passive
- Pretty
What are sex role stereotypes for males?
- Strong
- Independent
- Physical
- Aggressive
- Unemotional
How are sex role expectations taught from an early age?
- Males being treated more physically
- Girls playing quietly with dolls
- Boys playing more boisterously with guns
What happens to those who don’t fit the sex role stereotypes?
They are subjected to hostility and pressure to ‘correct’ their behaviours
What did Langlois and Downs do?
Compared peers’ and mothers’ reactions to pre-schoolers play with opposite gender toys
What did Langlois and Downs find?
When boys played with girls toys, mothers accepted this but male peers ridiculed and even hit them
How did Archer and Lloyd support this?
They observed that children as young as 3 criticised peers who engaged in cross-sex play and were less likely to play with them
What did Sood et al find?
Only 12% of British primary school teachers and 3% of nursery teachers are male, this is side to early teaching being seen as a female profession
What do these studies find?
Sex stereotypes begin in childhood and continue into adulthood
What are 3 evaluation points?
- Sex role stereotypes can differ cross culturally
- Mainly learned thorough environmental experience
- Restrictive
