Sex vs. Gender Roles????Gender Roles: ways of

behaving thought to be typical of the sex to

which a person belongs.

Set by society norms

Sex Roles: physiological status of

being male or female.

First thing parents want to know

about child is gender.

Even in womb

gender becomes most

important characteristic of baby.

Gender of person is determined

by which sex organs

As child grows he or she will form attitudes and ideas about their gender. Their gender role will be influenced by both biological and social factors.

Times change

gender roles are becoming less

strict. Women are being

accepted in roles

traditionally male dominated.

Men enjoy

things once

considered feminine,

like

caring for children.

Gender Roles in United States and Other Western Cultures

• Women• Gentle• Dependent• Emotional• Weak

• Men• Aggressive• Independent• Dominant• Strong

Even newborns, who show no gender differences at all

are described with these terms.

Gender Identity Formation

• Complex process through which children incorporate biological and social factors of gender into their behaviors, attitudes, and self-understanding.

• Includes two processes: Gender-Identity Development & Sex-Typing or Gender Role Acquisition.

Sex Typing or Gender-Role Acquisition

Process through which children learn what society expects based on gender

Come to exhibit personality traits, behaviors, interests, and attitudes related to their gender.

Boys more rigidly sex-typed than Girls

Gender stereotypes are socially determined

models which contain cultural beliefs about

what gender roles should be. Each

society has its own stereotypes of what “perfect” gender role

is.

Gender Constancy

• Understanding that gender is permanent characteristic

• Can’t be altered by changing clothing or cutting hair.

Gender Identity Disorder• Any disorder in which

there is conflict between actual sex of person and sex which he or she identifies.

• Relates to transgender people - people who bend or challenge gender roles.

Do Gender Roles Have Biological or Social Roots?

Heated topic among psychologists & sociologists. Seem to agree that both biology & society play part in gender identity, but how much is still debatable.

Nature Nurture

Biological View• Testosterone and estrogen are hormones that

occur naturally in both sexes. • Higher levels of testosterone create aggressive

tendencies. Since males produce more testosterone, may be why males often more aggressive than females.

Testosterone Aggression

• Changes in estrogen levels throughout month can cause mood swings, which contributes to stereotype

women are more emotional.

Estrogen Mood Swings

Body structure is another biological difference. Males tend to have larger body builds and more muscle tissue than females, though females tolerate more pain than males. Females has larger limbic systems, controlling emotion. Females have larger temporal lobes, controlling language. Males have more grey matter in brain.