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