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Psychology 320: Gender Psychology

Lecture 2

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Announcements

1. Additional office hour: Beginning Friday, September 17th, I will hold an additional office hour, from 11:00-12:00, in the Arts 200 Café (outside our classroom).

2. Invitational office hour: Research suggests that faculty contact is an important predictor of academic success. Accordingly, each week, I will randomly invite students from our class to meet with me for an informal chat about their interests, graduate school, course content, etc. Attendance is optional. Although students may meet with me at either office hour on Friday, the Arts 200 Café office hour will allow for more informal discussion.

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Invitations, By Student Numberfor September 17th

14450076

30255095

44381077

63737084

95552071

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Introduction

1. What is gender? (continued)

2. What is gender psychology?

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By the end of today’s class, you should be able to:

1. generate examples of intersexuality and gender variance.

2. articulate the goals of gender psychology.

3. discuss the two primary controversies that characterize the field of gender psychology, as a whole.

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What is gender? (continued)

• Examples of intersexuality and gender variance (continued):

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The “Two-Spirited” of the First Nations

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The “Hijras” of India

9The “Muxe” of Mexico

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The Fa’afafine of Samoa

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What is gender psychology?

• Gender psychology: Refers to the scientific investigation of the relations among sex, gender, psychological functioning, and social processes.

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• Two primary controversies surround gender psychology:

1. Should sex comparisons be made?

Position 2: Sex comparisons should be made only if they are based on pre-existing theory.

Position 1: Sex comparisons should not be made.

Position 3: Sex comparisons should be made whether or not they are based on pre-existing theory.

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2. Should researchers who study gender emphasize sex similarities or sex differences?

Position 1: The minimalist position.

Position 2: The maximalist position; consistent with the essentialist view.

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Introduction

1. What is gender? (continued)

2. What is gender psychology?