PSYCHOLOGICAL ANDROGYNY By Sufia Irshad 13D

Introduction• Psychological androgyny refers to the coexistence of both masculine and feminine characteristics in an individual

• A much more extreme and distressing state is gender dysphoria, where the individual feels trapped in the wrong-sex body.

Explaining AndrogynyThe state of androgyny flourished in

the 1970’s and 1980’s because during this period, there were dramatic developments in gender equality between men and women and there was the advancement of gay rights.

The Androgynous hypothesis (Bem 1975) claims that androgynous individuals were psychologically healthier than sex typed individuals such as masculine men and feminine women.

Explaining AndrogynyOlds (1981) argued that androgyny is a developmental stage reached by some people. According to developmental theories, some individuals are able to develop and move beyond acceptance of traditional sex roles.

Bem argued that it was a healthier state because the individual does not see the world in terms of gender stereotypes

Behavioural models

These describe androgyny as a form of behaviour demonstrated by what people do rather than what they think.

So an androgynous individual gains a wide range of skills associated with both masculine and feminine qualities such as leadership and nurturance.

By this approach, androgyny is seen as a lifestyle choice

Evaluation of Androgyny Hypothesis

Initial studies carried out by Bem supported the claim of androgyny equalling psychological health. However, later studies contradicted the androgyny hypothesis, suggesting that individuals who had most masculinity items were better adjusted overall- Zeldow et al (1985)

Nevid and Rathus - Challenged androgyny by stating that it is masculinity, not androgyny that accounts for greater self-esteem.

Evaluation of Androgyny Hypothesis

Feminist psychologist Hollway (2002) argued that Bem’s ideas about androgyny imply that individuals need to change their ways of thinking and seeing the world. Instead, she argues that social changes in the amount of power afforded to men and women need to take place.

She also objects Bem’s acceptance of male characteristics such as competitiveness and dominance, as desirable for women.

Advantages of study of androgynyThe study of androgyny has removed the bias approach

that assumed that the only options were male and female. It has established that people may have an androgynous gender identity, and many of us will have both male and female sex-typed characteristics.

Quiz

1. What does psychological androgyny refer to?

2. Why did the state of androgyny flourish in the 1970’s and 1980’s?

3. What does the androgyny hypothesis propose?

Quiz• 4. Why did Bem believe that androgynous individuals are

in a healthier psychological state?

• 5. Describe androgyny from a behavioural perspective

• 6. Bem’s work challenged the accepted belief in the 1970s and the 1980s that women should be feminine and men should be masculine? What did Zeldow find?

Quiz• 7. What criticisms were made by Hollway about Bem’s

hypothesis?

• 8. What are some advantages to the study of androgyny?

Quiz Answers

• 1. What does psychological androgyny refer to? • A- it refers to the coexistence of both masculine and female

characteristics in an individual

• 2. Why did the state of androgyny flourish in the 1970’s and 1980’s?

• A- because during this period, there were dramatic developments in gender equality and advancement of gay rights

• 3. What does the androgyny hypothesis propose?• A- claims that androgynous individuals are psychologically

healthier than sex typed ones

Quiz• 4. Why did Bem believe that androgynous individuals are in a healthier

psychological state?• A- because she believed that these individuals would not see the

world in terms of gender stereotypes

• 5. Describe androgyny from a behavioural perspective• A- from a behaviour point of view, it is behaviour demonstrated by

what people do rather than what they think, so androgyny is seen as a lifestyle choice.

• 6. Bem’s work challenged the accepted belief in the 1970s and the 1980s that women should be feminine and men should be masculine? What did Zeldow find?

• A- He found that individuals who had most masculinity were better adjusted overall

Quiz

• 7. What criticisms were made by Hollway about Bem’s hypothesis?

• A- argued that Bem’s ideas about androgyny imply that individuals need to change their ways of thinking and seeing the world

• 8. What are some advantages to the study of androgyny?• A- has removed the biased approach that assumed that

only options were male and female.