Sex, gender and androgyny.

Question 1

What is sex?

Answer 1

the biological status of being male or female, which is determined by XX chromosomes and XY chromosomes. This then influences hormonal differences and anatomical differences.

Question 2

Characteristics of sex?

Answer 2

Result of nature, cannot be changed, simple.

Question 3

What is gender?

Answer 3

the psychological, social, cultural differences between boys/men and girls/women, including behaviours, attitudes and social roles. Status of being masculine or feminine, which is influenced by social roles.

Question 4

Characteristics of gender?

Answer 4

Result of nurture, can be changed, complex.

Question 5

What is gender dysmorphia?

Answer 5

For most people, their biological sex and gender identity correspond (ideal and actual self match up).
Some people’s prescribed gender does not align with the way they feel inside and their gender identity.

Question 6

What are sex role stereotypes?

Answer 6

Shared expectations that people within a society/culture hold about what is acceptable for males and females.

Question 7

How are sex role stereotypes learnt?

Answer 7

through socialisation and is transmitted to society through parents, mass media, etc.

Question 8

Do sex role stereotypes have truth in them?

Answer 8

Many stereotypes have no truth and can lead to sexist assumptions and discrimination, such as the idea women will become ‘over emotional’ if they have too much responsibility in the workplace.

Question 9

Who were the Barista family?

Answer 9

-A family in the Dominican Republic, several children were identified as female and were raised as so. When they hit puberty, they ‘turned’ into boys; they grew testicles and penises and their voices started to deepen.
-This was caused by a genetic defect that meant there was not enough testosterone for the male foetuses to grow male anatomy, but as the testosterone level increased in puberty, they started to grow.
-They abandoned their female gender identity and embraced their newly found biological sex.

Question 10

Sasha case study?

Answer 10

-Sasha was raised completely as gender neutral, only very few close family members knew his biological sex. They wanted Sasha to express himself and not feel pressure to conform to social roles.
-Sasha’s parents received a lot of backlash about this lifestyle. It is argued that as a child grows they will find their independent identity, which includes gender.
-Some argue that males and females do have biologically different brains.

Question 11

What is androgyny?

Answer 11

=Displaying a balance of masculine and feminine characteristics in one’s personality.

Question 12

What does androgyny help us to do in psychology?

Answer 12

Helps to define the difference between a common sense understanding and a concept in psychological research.

Question 13

What does androgyny mean in everyday terms versus psychological terms?

Answer 13

In everyday language; androgynous is to ‘look’ like someone who cannot be identified as a man or a woman.
In psychology, it refers to the balance of masculine/feminine behaviours, attitudes and traits.

Question 14

Example of androgyny?

Answer 14

For example, a man/woman who is competitive at work but a sensitive and caring parent.

Question 15

What did Bem develop?

Answer 15

A way of measuring androgyny.

Question 16

How does androgyny link to wellbeing?

Answer 16

-Also suggested high levels of androgyny correlated with psychological well-being. -This is because people who have a combination of masculine and feminine traits are more well equipped to adapt to a wider range of situations.

Question 17

What is the Bem Sex Role Inventory?

Answer 17

1974.
The scale presents 20 traits considered ‘masculine’, 20 traits considered ‘feminine’ and a further 20 neutral traits.
Respondents rate themselves on a 7 point rating scale and then the scores are classified upon two dimensions- masculine-femininace and androgynous-undifferentiated.

Question 18

What do the difference score combinations mean in the BSRI?

Answer 18

High masculine, low feminine= masculine.
High feminine, low masculine= feminine.
High masculine, high feminine= androgynous.
Low masculine, low feminine= undifferentiated.

Question 19

Strengths of BSRI: quantitative?

Answer 19

The numerical approach is useful when operationalizing variables in an experiment. HOWEVER Spence argues that there is more to gender than a set of typical behaviours/traits so qualitative methods would be better. A compromise is reached by combining scales to study androgyny, for example, using the personal attribute questionnaire too.

Question 20

Strengths of BSRI: valid and reliable?

Answer 20

The scale was developed by asking 50 males and 50 females to rate 200 traits in terms of how masculine or feminine they are. The traits that scored highest became the 20 traits in the inventory. In the pilot to 1000 students, the results corresponded with the participants’ own perception of gender, demonstrating internal validity.

Question 21

Limitations of BSRI: temporal validity?

Answer 21

the inventory was developed over 40 years ago. Traits considered typical then have changed significantly. Bem’s ideas of masculinity and femininity may be stereotypical and outdated. Lacks temporal validity.

Question 22

Limitations of BSRI: cultural bias?

Answer 22

the study was devised in the United States. Masculinity/femininity has different perceptions in different countries. So has imposed etic and lacks population validity.

Question 23

Limitations of BSRI: self awareness?

Answer 23

People may not have an insight/understanding into their degree of masculinity/femininity. Gender is a social construct which is up for more interpretation than sex. The scoring system is therefore subjective and therefore may not be a scientific method of measuring androgyny.

Question 24

Limitations of BSRI: wellbeing?

Answer 24

The assumption Bem made that androgynous people are more equipped for everyday life has been challenged. Because masculine traits are more valued in individualistic cultures, these may lead to a better wellbeing.