gender: refers to the sex of an individual, either male or female › bio trait fixed by genes b/f...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 16Gender Roles:
Gender Roles & DifferencesGender Typing
Variations in Gender Roles
Gender Roles & Differences
Gender: refers to the sex of an individual, either male or female › Bio trait fixed by genes b/f birth
Gender Roles: widely accepted societal expectations about how males & females should behave› Appropriate & normal behavior› Not genetically determined› Product of bio & social factors› Observe & describe› Function as norms or standards› Ostracized if violate
Gender Roles & Differences Gender Stereotypes: gender roles become rigid,
fixed, oversimplified beliefs about ways men & women ought to behave› Traditional man breadwinner, female homemaker› Females: warm, emotional, dependent, gentle,
helpful, patient, submissive, interested in arts, care for children, cook
› Men: independent, competitive, tough, protective, logical, competent at business, math & science
› Widespread, in 30 countries Men: wise, courageous, aggressive, dominant,
arrogant, unemotional Women: dependent, submissive, weak, emotional,
foolish, sensitive
Gender Roles & Differences Physical Differences:
› Sex characteristics› Size
Cognitive Differences: › Stereotype men more intelligent› Stereotype men greater knowledge of world
affairs, science, industry› Girls acquire language faster› Boys more reading problems in US than girls› Men better with visual images & visual-spatial
abilities in math, science, map reading› Computational ability basically same
Gender Roles & Differences
Explaining Gender Differences:› Usually small & getting smaller› Group differences› Cultural influence› Women entering male dominated careers
Gender Roles & Differences
Differences in Personality & Behavior:› Nurturance: affectionate care, more
women› Communication Style:
Boys dominate in class discussion Men talk less than women about feelings &
personal experiences, intimate experiences If do usually with a woman
Women most likely to offer understanding, support
Treated differently from birth
Gender Roles & Differences
Aggression:› Men fight more, war, physically longer &
stronger› Hostile, threatening, verbal actions,
challenges, threats, boasts, and demands, grabbing or destroying something, hitting, shoving
› Men more likely to use physical aggression too
› Women use indirect aggression
Gender Roles & Differences Mate Selection:
› Physical features: cleanliness, complexion, eyes, teeth, hair, muscle tone, steady gate
› Men more swayed by physical appearance› Women more emphasis on dependability,
kindness, fondness of children› Women look at social status, financial resources,
dependability, education, intelligence› Men look at appearance, health, desire for home
& children› Traits that ensure reproductive success› Socialization
Gender Typing
Gender Typing: gender role development› 2 ½ ideas about traits & behaviors being m› male or female
Bio View: genes & hormones› Genetics: traits that help you live get passed on
Men: visual spatial skills & aggression Women: nonverbal communication skills &
nurturance Adjusted, male/female roles not as rigid in early
societies, shared responsibility Some use non-human animals to draw
comparisons
Gender Typing Hormones:
› Brain: Cognitive functions use both sides Performed more quickly & efficiently by 1 than other
Usually right is better at visual spatial tasks Usually left is better at verbal tasks Producing speech solely responsibility of one or other
Lateralization: specialization of 2 sides of the brain Occurs in fetal development Influenced by sex hormones May occur differently in boys & girls
Testosterone causes right side to develop further Women show less lateralization than men
Gender Typing Psychological Views:
› Psychoanalytic Theory: gender typing explained in terms of gender ID, occur between 3-5 Children seek attention of parent of opposite sex,
see other parent as rival, later don’t feel that way so ID with same sex parent out of guilt
Then comes to develop behaviors associated with own sex, models behavior
Problem: most kids show gender roles earlier than 5
Gender Typing Psychological Views:
› Social Learning Theory: gender role behavior is acquired through 2 different learning processes, reinforcement & modeling Reinforcement occurs when a behavior has good
consequences, more likely to repeat Or punished less likely to repeat Starts early, as babies
Talk & read more to girls, rough house more with boys Positive reaction to gender appropriate toys, not opposite Toys they are given to play with
1 year olds equal in aggression, communication, but reaction by parents is different based on sex By age 2 girls less aggressive, use words Boys still aggressive, b/c it works
Gender Typing Gender Typing:
› Social Learning Theory: Modeling: social learning through observation &
imitation of others More likely to model behavior of same sex parent or
caregiver More likely to receive praise for modeling same sex parent Should be flexible, capable of change
Women working outside home, more women in college than men, female sports, men staying at home, men more nurturing & cooperative
Gender Typing Psychological Views:
› Gender Schema Theory: a cluster of ideas about physical qualities, behaviors, and personality traits associated with one sex or the other Children play an active role in developing gender
appropriate behavior Develop their own concepts about gender & shape behavior to
conform to gender concepts Develop gender schema
Gender is such a strong force in our society that kids organize their perceptions around gender lines Seek information about gender typed traits Once schema is formed they strive to live up to it, judge themselves
& others by it Blend self concepts with gender schema of culture Self esteem is higher if fits better Also determine how important certain traits are to them
Variation in Gender Roles Throughout time:
› Western changed the most Women: child rearing, Men: providers
Based on different bio characteristics Women: less aggressive in mate selection, use
adornment to make more attractive Men: initiate relationship Formerly rigid
Variations in Gender Roles Modern Times:
› Mid 20th Century: Women home, cook, clean, kids, devoted wife, needs of
husband and children first, career & personal ambitions on hold, didn’t marry = shunned
› Today: 2000, 70% women worked or trying to find it 57% moms work within 6 months of birth Marrying later or remaining unmarried, 15% single in 2005
2005 less than ¼ of homes were married couples with kids 1970 40%
Families need 2 incomes Stay at home dads More flexible gender roles Women in sports Hair styles, jewelry, piercings, make up, less dresses/shirts
Variations in Gender Roles
Cultural Variation:› Ethnography: Margaret Mead explored
how gender roles vary culture to culture South Pacific What is considered appropriate for men &
women differs culture to culture Gender differences learned, not inborn