Sex and gender Flashcards
What is sex?
Biological status of male and female. Pair of chromosomes (XX females and XY males). Governs anatomy and hormonal differences as a result of nature and is innate.
What is the definition of gender?
Psychosocial status of masculine or feminine and is influenced by social norms and cultural expectations. Nurture - not fixed and fluid so open to change.
What piece of evidence challenges that gender is purely socially constructed?
Controversial Dr Money case - ethical implication of gender reassignment for David Reimer.
What piece of evidence argues that gender is more complex and not solely social?
McGinley - 4 batista children with genetic disorder where male genitalia was concealed inside. Quick to abandon female gender identity and no issue in adjusting to male lifestyle following puberty.
Who researched men and women’s biology in relation to social roles?
Madhura Ingalhalikar
What did the person who studied social roles find?
949 men and women brain scans. Women have better connections between left and right hemisphere making it hardwired for multitasking, and men have more intense activity in individual parts (cerebellum).
What is sex-role stereotypes?
Set of shared expectations within culture about what is acceptable for males and females. It is communicated through society and reinforced by parents and media etc. It may form the basis of the child’s sexist assumptions emerging.
What is androgyny?
Displaying a mixture/balance of masculine and feminine characteristics in a personality. Higher = better psychological wellbeing as better equipped to adapt due to range of traits.
Who measured androgyny and how?
Bem’s sex role inventory (BSRI)
7 point scale of 20 masculine,feminine and neutral traits. Classification in 2 dimensions.
Who said there is more to gender than just a set of behaviours associated more to one gender than the other - proposing use of personal attribute questionnaire?
Janet Spence
Who challenged the link between androgyny and better well-being and that more masculine traits are more appreciated in individualist cultures?
Adams and Sherer
