Sex, Gender And BSRI

Question 1

Define sex:

Answer 1

A biological status which is determined by genes, hormones and chromosomes.
CANNOT CHANGE

Question 2

Define gender:

Answer 2

A psychosocial status which performs the expected attitudes, behaviours and roles of males + females.
CAN CHANGE

Question 3

What is gender dysphoria?

Answer 3

When a person’s sex does not match their gender, this leads to dysphoria.

Question 4

What are sex roles ?

Answer 4

Expected roles of each sex.

Question 5

What are sex role stereotypes for girls?

Answer 5

Emotional, nurturing, tidy

Question 6

What are sex role stereotypes for boys?

Answer 6

Authoritative, hardworking, demanding

Question 7

What did Ingalhalikar’s study reveal about male and female brains?

Answer 7

Females have greater connections across the hemispheres whereas males have greater connections within hemispheres, which may explain why females are great at multitasking whereas males prefer to focus on one complex task at once.

Question 8

What may explain why females are great at multitasking?

Answer 8

Greater connections across the hemispheres

Question 9

What may explain why males prefer to focus on one complex task at once?

Answer 9

Greater connections within hemispheres

Question 10

What did Rubin et al.’s study reveal about gender stereotyping?

Answer 10

New parents described girls as ‘soft and delicate’ and boys as ‘strong and alert’ within the first 24 hours after birth.

Rubin found that stereotyping occurs as soon as the gender is revealed, this means stereotypes can be made sooner as the gender can now be revealed at 16 weeks.

Question 11

How did Ingalhalikar study female and male brains ?

Answer 11

By mapping female and male brains using MRI scanning techniques.

Question 12

Rubin et al study:

Answer 12

Looked at when stereotyping occurred.
New parents were asked to describe their new baby after the first 24 hours.

Question 13

What is the Batista Boys “Penis at 14” ?

Answer 13

Four children within a family were identified as female at birth and raised as girls until puberty, when they changed into males. Each of the children’s vaginas closed over, testicles appeared and they grew normal sized penises.

Question 14

What allowed for the Batista Boys case to exist ?

Answer 14

The four girls (now boys) were all affected by a rare genetic disorder which meant their male genitalia was not external and concealed inside.

Question 15

What is the role of dihydrotestosterone in the Batista Boys case?

Answer 15

During prenatal development, a crucial chemical step (the introduction of the hormone dihydrotestosterone) was missed which would normally externalize the male genitalia.

Question 16

What does the Batista Boys case suggest about gender identity?

Answer 16

Each boy abandoned their female gender identity with very few problems and even went on to find a partner and eventually had children. This suggests that gender identity is flexible rather than fixed.

Question 17

What is androgyny according to the BSRI?

Answer 17

Androgyny: a balance of masculine and feminine traits. You adapt to a specific situation.

Question 18

What is Bem’s Sex Role Inventory (BSRI)?

Answer 18

Bem’s Sex Role Inventory: Ppt’s had to rate themselves on a scale 1-7 (always true to always never true) on 60 traits. 20 were male, 20 were female and 20 were neutral. Ppt’s were 1 of the 4 categories:
1. Male: high male, low female
2. Female: high female, low male
3. Androgynous: high female, high male
4. Unclassified: low male, low female

Question 19

What conclusion did the BSRI show ?

Answer 19

Those that were androgynous were the most psychologically healthy and had greater mental well-being.

Question 20

What was a strength of the BSRI study?

Answer 20

This study used a Pilot Study in which 100 people judged 200 traits and agreed on the 60 masculine, feminine and neutral traits. This use of the pilot study helps to boost the validity of the study.

Question 21

What are some limitations of the BSRI study?

Answer 21

• Lacks temporal validity: Societal views of sex roles have changed since the 1970s and are not applicable within today’s society.
• Cultural bias: The BSRI was developed in the USA which has an individualistic culture and a western society therefore is not generalizable to all cultures.
• The BSRI was a self report: people may lie to be androgynous therefore it doesn’t give reliable information and decreases the validity within the study
• This theory is reductionist, it reduces the complexities of gender down to 60 traits. It is important that other factors such as: jobs, hobbies and interests should be considered to fully understand.