Sex Role Stereotypes & Androgyny

Question 1

Sex Type

Answer 1

Biological fact: based on chromosomal arrangement and hormones

Question 2

Gender Presentation

Answer 2

• Behaviour/subjective differences between sexes
• Affected by our biology, social environment, upbringing, experiences

Question 3

Sex Role Stereotypes

Answer 3

• Socially/culturally defined sets of expectations we have about the behaviour of each gender
• Learnt implicitly (internalisation - schema) and explicitly (modelling)

Question 4

Bem: Androgyny

Answer 4

• Idea that one person can display behaviours of both genders
• Claimed you can’t reliably tell someone’s gender by a list of behaviours alone - most perform some non-stereotypical behaviours

Question 5

Bem: Why is Androgyny positive?

Answer 5

• Stereotypes in modern society could cause psychological and social harm by artificially restricting behaviour
• Reinforced, fixed (musturbatory) distinctions could result in lower self-worth

Question 6

Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI)

Answer 6

• Contains 20 masculine, 20 feminine, and 20 neutral items
• Participants use 7-point likert scale to rate their likelihood of performing the behaviours

Question 7

Masculinity according to BSRI

Answer 7

High Masculine characteristics, low Feminine characteristics

Question 8

Femininity according to BSRI

Answer 8

Low Masculine characteristics, high Feminine characteristics

Question 9

Androgyny according to BSRI

Answer 9

High ratio of Masculine:Feminine characteristics

Question 10

4th Category

Answer 10

• Spence et al (1975): criticised BSRI for describind androgyny but not the opposite
• New 4th category: Undifferentiated (low masc., low fem.)
• Criticised for a lack of construct validity - needs better definition