Gender Development

SexIs Biologically Determined

It refers to the Biological Aspects of the human body which make us

Male or Female

• Genes• Hormones• Reproductive

Structures• Genitalia

GenderIs a Socially Constructed

concept that refers to ideas about what we categorise as

‘Male’ or ‘Female’ within Society

Gender is assigned by Culture & Society

Boys in BlueGirls in Pink

Gender is a concept which is subject to change across Time

and Cultures

• Genes Males and Females both share 22 pairs of ‘XX’ Chromosomes, the 23rd pair determines the sex. Males ‘XY’ Females ‘XX’• Sex HormonesMales Androgens - ‘Testosterone’ Females ‘Oestrogen’ & ‘Progesterone’• Reproductive Structures

• Genitalia

Sex Page. 12

Is a concept that refers to ideas, which we hold about the:

• Behaviour• Personality• Attitudes

Of Males and Females within a given society

Gender Page. 13

So… Sex is Biologically Determined and Gender is a Social Construct

Gender is defined by Characteristics and Appropriate Behaviour due to what is considered ‘Masculine’ or

‘Feminine’, this can differ between culturesSex is Biologically defined and does not change

Our ideas of male and female behaviours change significantly across different cultures and time periods

Mead (1935)

Studied The Tchambuli Tribe

She found Gender Roles were Reversed in comparison to Western Cultures

Page. 14

TASK: Give an example of how ideas regarding Gender may be different in the following

societies:1)Modern UK vs. Victorian UK:

What about types of Job Roles?

Belong to Men

Stay at home to look after the family

Secondary to Men

Women were their Belongings

Power & Estate

Head of the Family

Past Exam QuestionExplain the Difference between

Sex and Gender: (3 Marks) pg.14Sex refers to…

Gender refers to…

Difference: Sex is __________

whereas, Gender is a ___________,

and may change across ________/________

Vortex Activity

Androgyny

AndrogynyAndrogyny is a term used to describe an individual who

possesses SIMILAR amounts of characteristics regarded as both

typically ‘Masculine’ and ‘Feminine’

For example, a female may be affectionate and caring (feminine) as a mother, but also forceful and ambitious

(masculine) within her work.

Page. 15

Affectionate and Caring (feminine) as a mother…

but also forceful and ambitious (masculine) within her work

Androgyny… An Example to Remember

Bem (1974)

Believed that androgyny existed in most people, and was easily

measurable

She devised an inventory (Bem’s Sex Role Inventory - BSRI) to

measure Androgyny

Lets Measure how Androgynous we are… Page 16

2. Yielding Admitting Defeat

9. Conscientious Efficient, organized, neat, and

systematic

12. Theatrical Exaggerated / Dramatic

13. Assertive Self-Assured/Confident

14. Flatterable Flatter others

22. Analytical Thinking about things logically

32. Compassionate Sympathetic to others

36. Conceited Vein / Proud / Favourable opinion of yourself

41. Warm Loving/Passionate

42. Solemn Calm, Not bothered by much

48. Inefficient Lack ability or skill to perform well

54. Unsystematic Unorganised/Don’t Care

60. Conventional Conform to standards? Eg. Class Rules

Bem (1974) Bem found that some individuals rated themselves highly on both Masculine &

Feminine traits.

Bem claimed that these individuals, defined as Androgynous were psychologically

healthier than those who rated themselves more masculine or feminine

What do you think?

Past Exam Question(Jan 2010): Pg. 18

What is meant by the term androgyny?Suggest how a person might show androgynous behaviour.

(2 marks)

Androgyny

How would you use this example to define Androgynous Behaviour?

Sex, Gender & Androgyny

Distinguish the Difference between Sex & Gender? (3)

What is the definition of Androgyny? (1)

Give an example of Androgynous Behaviour? (1)

What can we use to measure Androgyny? (1)

Sex-Role Stereotypes

A blind beg gar had a brother who died.

What rela tion wasthe blind beg gar to the

brother who died?

“Brother” is not the answer.

Sex Role StereotypingSex-Role Stereotypes are culturally

determined beliefs about what a particular sex’s gender role should be• For example, a sex-role stereotype may be that

women stay at home and look after the children.

Page. 19

Do you think Sex-Role Stereotypes will be around forever?

Q & A

Where do you think Sex-Role Stereotypes come from?

At what age do you think Sex-Role Stereotypes are embedded?

Sex Role Stereotyping in relation to the Media

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z6ks8Z0X20

Psychological StudyDurkin (1985)

Took samples of adverts using Content Analysis

Information was recorded from the adverts…

Men

• Professional• Celebrity• Leisure Activities• Workplace

70% Of the Voice overs were Male…What do you think this shows…?

Women

• Mothers• Homemakers• Household products..

Cleaning/Cooking

When they observed they found Men to be presented in Higher Status Job Roles and Women to be presented in Lower Status/

Domestic Roles

These findings represented stereotypes in society.

The stereotypes suggested men cannot run a home and that women do not

have status or authority, this is evidenced by using

male voice overs

Page. 20

What was the Aim of Durkin’s (1985) Study?

Q & A

Method?

Results?

What does this study Conclude?

Psychological Study

Smith & Lloyd (1978)Had a theory…

That if they dress the same baby boy in blue and pink that the way

adults play with them will be different…

Blue Baby

Were given hammers and were played with roughly

Pink Baby

Were given teddies and cuddled and

kissed

Does this mean that the way we are treated from birth form Sex-Role Stereotypes?

When they observed they found Participants treated the same child differently…

What was the Aim of Smith & Lloyd’s (1978) Study?

Q & A

Method?

Results?

What does this study Conclude?

Jemima is playing dress-up games with her older sister,

Abbie. Jemima puts on a builders hat and says to Abbie, “When I’m

a big girl , I’m going to be a builder.”

Abbie replies, “No you cant be a builder, silly. Only boys can be

builders. Girls don’t do that sort of job.

What is meant by Sex Role Stereotyping? Refer to the conversation above in your answer. (3)

Page. 21

Multiple Question Task

Nature vs Nurture

Nature / NurtureNature

Refers to a belief that Gender Differences in behaviour are determined by

Genes Hormones

Nurture

Refers to the environment in which we are brought up and the extent to which we learn from it and

how this can determine our Gender

The Nature/Nurture debate in Psychology considers the extent to which our Gender is either

determined by Nature or Nurture

Page. 22

Nature or Nurture?

Money believed that Nurture was

stronger than Nature

In the 1960’s Bruce's’

circumcision went wrong

Money reported that “Brenda's” development was that of a normal femaleHer behaviour was feminine and she has

assumed her female identity

Nature - Sex Nurture - Upbringing

Bruce Became Brenda

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUTcwqR4Q4Y

Nature or Nurture?

The Bruce/Brenda study supports

NATURE because Brenda was not happy as a girl and finally

reverted back to the his original sex

Nature - Sex Nurture - Upbringing

Brenda Became David

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUTcwqR4Q4Y

In relation to Gender, describe what is meant by Nature &

Nurture(4 Marks)

Page. 27Nature refers to the belief that gender differences in behaviour are innate and determined by genetic and biological factors. Nurture refers to the idea that

gender differences are learned and as a result of social learning and cultural

factors, ie. The environment.

Billy is having a conversation with his sister, Sadie. Billy says that he is much better than her at playing football because

he is aboy. Sadie disagrees. She says, “Its nothing to do with you being a boy./ It’s because you go to football training

every Saturday morning.”State what is meant by nature and nurture in relation to

gender. Refer to Builly & Sadie’s conversation in your answer.Page. 28

Nature refers to a belief that gender differences in behaviour are due to genes and hormones.

Nurture refers to the idea that gender differences are a result of cultural/social factors

and that gender behaviour is learned.Sadie thinks Billy is better at football because

he practices every week – NurtureWhereas Billy believes he is better at football

because he is a boy - Nature

Mead (1935)Mundugamor Tribe

Arapesh Tribe Tchambouli Tribe

Both Men and Women

All Aggressive(Masculine)

Both Men and Women

All Warm & Emotional(Feminine)

Gender Roles Reversed

Men looked after the home(Feminine)

Women went to hunt for food(Masculine)

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Why does Meads study support that NURTURE controls Gender Development?

Explain One Methodological Problem in relation to the Mead study.

Because the gender roles of the Males and Females in Meads cross cultural study are not the roles that NATURE intended.

Eg. Males = Masculine

Researcher Bias Subjective – What Mead may class as a

‘masculine’ characteristic may differ to what others class as a ‘masculine’ characteristic

Results are said to be exaggerated

Meads study Explains how the opposite Gender Role can be adopted.

A boy who acts particularly feminine would have encountered a set of experiences which has led him to acquire a different gender role.

Meads study states the Gender is a LEARNED Behaviour

Different cultures have different norms, values and beliefs so what is reinforced and expected of a certain gender is different

Nature Nurture

Bem (1974) Page 15

Aim

Method

Results

Conclusion

To investigate masculine and feminine characteristics in individuals to see whether they are Androgynous

Bem used a self-report survey/questionnaire where individuals had to rate themselves on a scale of 1 – 7. This survey later became known as Bem’s Sex Role Inventory (BSRI)

Bem found that some individuals rated themselves highly on BOTH masculine and femine scales and were, according to Bem found to be Androgynous

Bem found that Androgyny does exist and can be measured

Multiple Choice Task

Describe what is meant by the term cultural

variations in relation to Gender. Give an

example of this (3 Marks)

Cultural Variations refer to the difference in behaviour of males

and females which exist in different cultures.

Some cultures may have different norms & values.

For example, some cultures may have revered gender roles.

Briefly evaluate the study identified in your answer

above (3 Marks)

Mead found that gender behaviour differed over different

countries/ethnicity. Mead was criticised for researcher bias in her study as she

found what she expected to find.

The validity & reliability of Meads findings are also subjective as Meads

opinion of what characteristics may be feminine or masculine are subject to an

opinion

Identify one study in which cultural variations in gender –related behaviour

were investigated (1 Mark)Mead (1935)