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GENDER- sex and gender - Coggle Diagram
GENDER- sex and gender
the difference between sex and gender
sex-
the biological differences between males and females. assigned from conception and due to the inheritance of chromosomes. M= XY F= XX
gender
- the psychological distinction netween masc and fem personality traits. this might not match someones biological sex
sex role stereotypes-
set of expectations of appropriate male and female behaviours shared by a culture. theyre used as a short cut in understanding what behaviours are expected from ourselves and others. Psychologists argue that the development of sex role stereotypes come from one or a mixture of SLT, cognitive and psychodynamic processes
if someone has a balance of M and F characteristics then theyre
androgenou
s. If someone has a low count of both then theyre
undifferentiated
Bem sex role inventory=
developed in 70s by Sandra Bem as a means of measuring androgyny. Ps rate themselves on a 7 point scale of 60 characteristics and theyre scored on 2 dimensions masculinity-feminity and androgynous/undifferentiated
BSRI measures 20 masc characteristics, 20 fem characteristics and 20 neutral characteristics
Bem argued that people with more A traits are more psychologically healthy, with higher self esteem and better relationships
research evaluations for sex and gender
POSITIVE- Bem measured over 500 m students and almost 400 f students using the BSRI questionairre and found that most females were feminine and same for men. However, around 30% of each sex were androgynous. this suggests that there is a high proportion of individuals who have a high and balanced level of both traits.
NEGATIVE- her original research didnt include a category for people with few of either traits
NEGATIVE- study compared 101 undergrad Ps gender using the BSRI with a test of personality traits. researchers found both masc females and males were best adjusted on measures of assertiveness and self-efficacy. this suggests masc gender males and females are well adjusted which counters Bems suggestion that andrigynous are the most psychologically and well adjusted type
however this could be due to society itself being male dominated and prioritising competitive traits such as assertiveness. maybe A people would be the best adapted in a more equal society
NEGATIVE- could be oversimplifying individuals gender identities. behaviour often changes in different contexts where youd have to be more submissive or dominant
POSITIVE- it first developed to us the idea that gender and sex arent the same, which has led to positive social change
evaluating sex role stereotypes
POSITIVE- over 30 new mothers were recorded playing with s atrangers 6 m/o baby. they were either dressed as typically male or typically female. masc, fem and neutral toys provided. squeaky hammer was only offered to babies dressed as males as the first choice toy and doll to babies dressed as girls. mothers were more verbally encouraging of physical activity with the boys than the girls . suggests that adults do hold sex role stereotypes about appropriate gendered behaviour and socialise children into that behaviour from infancy
POSITIVE- Mead did a study into individual tribes in New Giuinea. all of the tribes were in complete isolation from the rest of society and they had always been like that. in 1 tribe, both males and females were very aggressive (masculine), in another both sexes were very feminine and in another tribe the males were responsible for children and females were more dominant. the evidence for large variations in male and female normative gender roles in the islanders suggests cultural forces are responsible for gender stereotypes meaning lots of gendered behaviour is learnt socially and noth through innate biological processes.
NEGATIVE- the theory might lack temporal validity because lots of childrearing norms have changed in modern society. theres wider choice of gender neutral clothes and toys meaning theories around sex role stereotypes are less relevant today.