Sex, Gender, and Androgyny

Question 1

define sex

Answer 1

biological characteristics, chromosomal patterns determine which reproductive organs you’re born with

Question 2

define gender

Answer 2

• social construct of how society define what it means to be a man or a woman
• categorise traits and behaviours as masc or fem

Question 3

define androgyny

Answer 3

andro = male, gyny= female, combinations of ,male and female characteristics

Question 4

define transgender

Answer 4

an individual who’s gender identity differs from their biological sex, can lead to gender dysphoria

Question 5

sex-role/gender stereotypes

Answer 5

• based on societal expectations/ socialised into gender roles
• reinforced from birth - children treated differently based on sex
• both implicit and explicit (social learning)

Question 6

Bem’s beliefs about androgyny

Answer 6

masculinity and femininity are traits independent to biological sex - not inevitably linked
- a person can score high or low on both aspects regardless of their sex

Question 7

Bem (1974)

Answer 7

• coined the term androgyny
• devised the BSRI - bem sex role inventory to measure gender
• first systematic attempt to measure androgyny

Question 8

how does the BSRI test carried out?

Answer 8

• uses a rating scale of 60 traits, 20 masc, fem, and neutral
• produces a score across two dimensions: masculine- feminine and androgynous-undifferentiated
• uses a 7-point Likert scale

Question 9

how was the inventory created?

Answer 9

• developed by asking 100 American undergrads for personality traits desirable for a man and/or woman
• original list of 200 was narrowed down to 40 (20 masc, and fem,) and 20 neutral were added

Question 10

gender schema theory/ BSRI findings

Answer 10

• Bem found more people were androgynous than at the extremes
• led her to develop the gender schema theory
• suggested those w/ androgynous cognitive styles are mentally healthier as they feel less pressure to conform to society expectations and gender stereotypes

Question 11

strengths of sex, gender, and androgyny

Answer 11

Evidence supporting sex role stereotypes are assigned to children
- smith&lloyd videoed mother playing w/ a baby dressed as a boy then girl - gave diff toys depending on perceived gender based on stereotypes

Evidence for link between androgyny and physical health
- prakash et all, 100 married indian women answered questions on gender, health, anxiety, and stress, those w/ high masc had low depression scores

Question 12

strengths of BSRI

Answer 12

high reliability
- e.g. bem had a high test retest of 0.76-0.94
- shows responses are consistent over time

Question 13

limitations of BSRI

Answer 13

lack temporal validity
- hoffman&boarders asked 400 undergrads to rate the items on BSRI and found only 2 were still endorsed as masc and fem
- items selected in 70s, attitudes and stereotypes have changed