Sex & Gender Flashcards
The physical characteristics that define male and female.
biological sex
A combination of all those features that a society associates with or considers appropriate for being a man and woman.
gender
A pattern of behaviors and traits that defines how to act the part of a female or a male in a particular society.
gender role
Overgeneralized and largely inaccurate beliefs about what males and females are like.
gender stereotypes
The hypothesis that males and females are similar on most, but not all, psychological variables.
gender similarities hypothesis
Individuals’ basic awareness that they are either a male or a female.
gender identity
The process by which children become aware of their gender and acquire the motives, values, and behaviors considered appropriate for members of their biological sex.
gender typing
The formation of separate boys’ and girls’ peer groups during childhood.
gender segregation
A magnification of differences between males and females during adolescence associated with increased pressure to conform to traditional gender roles.
gender intensification
A solid understanding of oneself as male-female, man-woman.
gender constancy
The stage of gender typing in which children realize that their sex remains the same over time.
gender stability
The stage of gender typing in which children realize that their sex is stable across situations or despite changes in activities or appearance.
gender consistency
Organized sets of beliefs and expectations about males and females that guide information processing.
gender schema (plural: schemata)
An orientation that emphasizes the well-being of others and includes traits of emotionality and sensitivity to others; considered feminine.
communality
An orientation toward individual action and achievement that emphasizes traits of dominance, independence, assertiveness, and competitiveness; considered masculine.
agency
