Week 8: Gender

Question 1

What is the difference between sex and gender?

Answer 1

• Sex=biological categorization. Based on chromosomes/genes

- Gender= social categorization as male or female. Based on social and cultural distinctions and identification.

Question 2

How do kids figure out gender?

Answer 2

Infants know that there are two genders, and match voice to appearance: cross modal categorization.

Question 3

Describe Kohlberg’s theory of gender

Answer 3

Gender identity - 2 years (I’m a boy vs. I’m a girl)
Gender stability - 3-4 years (I’ve always been, and always will be a boy)
Gender constancy - 5-7years (What people wear and do does not change their gender. They also start seeking out same gender role-models)

Question 4

Empathic thinking

Answer 4

About other people’s thoughts, feelings, the social world

Question 5

Systematic thinking

Answer 5

About processes and causation of objects / machines/ systems, the physical world

Question 6

Describe the two approaches regarding sex differences: Evolutionary Approaches & Environmental/Socialization Approaches

Answer 6

Evolutionary Approaches
- Sex differences arise from different evolutionary pressures faces by males vs females. E.g. men are better at mental rotation and dead reckoning because these were skills needed for hunting across human evolution.
Environmental/Socialization Approaches
-Social learning theories: sex differences are learned from immersion within a culture, where there are different expectations and different sex roles.

Question 7

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Answer 7

Genetic females (XX) produce more androgen than typical

• Show more rough and tumble play, and interest in “boy” activities
• Higher (male-like) spatial cognition test scores
• These girls are not socialized differently