Sandra BemSandra Bem

Lindsay FarrarLindsay Farrar

Rachel WiedemanRachel Wiedeman

Sam LytalSam Lytal

Katie RichterKatie Richter

OverviewOverview

Family/AcademicsFamily/Academics

ZeitgeistZeitgeist

Historical AntecedentsHistorical Antecedents

Personal ObstaclesPersonal Obstacles

Bem Sex-Role InventoryBem Sex-Role Inventory

Gender Schema TheoryGender Schema Theory

The Lenses of Gender The Lenses of Gender

An Unconventional FamilyAn Unconventional Family

FamilyFamily

Born: June 22, 1944Born: June 22, 1944

Her father was a postal clerk and her Her father was a postal clerk and her mother was a secretarymother was a secretary Financial struggleFinancial struggle Parents always fightingParents always fighting

Mother emphasized the need to work Mother emphasized the need to work outside the home.outside the home.

Early AcademicsEarly Academics

Hillel Academy (kindergarten -8Hillel Academy (kindergarten -8thth grade) grade) Jewish schoolJewish school Was not interested in what she studied here Was not interested in what she studied here

and did enough just to get byand did enough just to get by Her ideas about gender began during her time Her ideas about gender began during her time

herehereExpulsion due to wearing pantsExpulsion due to wearing pants

College AcademicsCollege Academics

Carnegie-Mellon Carnegie-Mellon UniversityUniversity Bachelors in psychologyBachelors in psychology Hypothesis testingHypothesis testing Developmental Developmental

psychologypsychology Daryl Bem (assistant Daryl Bem (assistant

professor)professor)Egalitarian marriageEgalitarian marriage

College AcademicsCollege Academics

University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan Graduate school in child clinical psychologyGraduate school in child clinical psychology Ph.D dissertationPh.D dissertation

The Role of Task Comprehension in Children’s Problem The Role of Task Comprehension in Children’s Problem SolvingSolving

Professor Sandra BemProfessor Sandra Bem

Seminars on Daryl and Sandra Bems marriage lifeSeminars on Daryl and Sandra Bems marriage life An Unconventional FamilyAn Unconventional Family Career comes first for both units in the marriageCareer comes first for both units in the marriage Equality of men and womenEquality of men and women

Carnegie-Mellon until 1971 (assistant prof)Carnegie-Mellon until 1971 (assistant prof) Began to focus on ideas involving gender issues rather than the Began to focus on ideas involving gender issues rather than the

psychology of childrenpsychology of children

Stanford University until 1978 (assistant prof)Stanford University until 1978 (assistant prof) ““healthy person” = male + female traitshealthy person” = male + female traits sexually-biased job discriminationsexually-biased job discrimination The effects of gender-specific job advertisementsThe effects of gender-specific job advertisements BSRI Bem Sex Role InventoryBSRI Bem Sex Role Inventory

Cornell University 1981 – professorCornell University 1981 – professor PsychologyPsychology Director of Women StudiesDirector of Women Studies

ZeitgeistZeitgeist

Social Climate of the 20Social Climate of the 20thth Century Century

WomenWomen Gender IssuesGender Issues Inequality in the workforceInequality in the workforce

Historical AntecedentsHistorical Antecedents

Psychology during the mid-1900’s to late-Psychology during the mid-1900’s to late-1900’s1900’s BehaviorismBehaviorism Humanistic PsychologyHumanistic Psychology Cognitive PsychologyCognitive Psychology Developmental PsychologyDevelopmental Psychology

Historical AntecedentsHistorical Antecedents

Developmental PsychologyDevelopmental Psychology Majority of research during the time she was Majority of research during the time she was

in grad school and after she graduatedin grad school and after she graduated She was not interested in this so she began to She was not interested in this so she began to

experiment on her own original ideas of experiment on her own original ideas of gender.gender.

Personal ObstaclesPersonal Obstacles

Family ProblemsFamily Problems

Financial IssuesFinancial Issues

Minority/Inequality IssuesMinority/Inequality Issues JewishJewish Very few women in Psychology programsVery few women in Psychology programs

It took longer for her to become a professor in It took longer for her to become a professor in psychology than it would take a man.psychology than it would take a man.

She had her own ideas that she chose to studyShe had her own ideas that she chose to study

Bem Sex-Role InventoryBem Sex-Role Inventory

DescriptionDescription 60 personality characteristics60 personality characteristics Likert scale 1-7Likert scale 1-7 Three scoresThree scores

Administration RulesAdministration Rules Male or female high school student or olderMale or female high school student or older 10 to 15 minutes10 to 15 minutes Individual to large groupIndividual to large group

Bem, S. L. (1976). Bem sex-role inventory; Bem, S. L. (1974).

Scoring of BSR InventoryScoring of BSR Inventory

Masculinity ScoreMasculinity Score

Femininity ScoreFemininity Score

Androgyny ScoreAndrogyny Score Difference between Masculinity Score and Difference between Masculinity Score and

Femininity ScoreFemininity Score Conversion factor = 2.322Conversion factor = 2.322

Bem, S. L. (1974); Bem, S. L. (1975).

Androgyny?Androgyny?

Meaning of Androgyny ScoreMeaning of Androgyny Score

Androgyny:Androgyny: Reflects the relative amount of masculinity Reflects the relative amount of masculinity

and femininity that the person includes in and femininity that the person includes in his/her self-description.his/her self-description.

Best characterizes the nature of the total sex Best characterizes the nature of the total sex role and sex identity of the individual.role and sex identity of the individual.

Bem, S. L. (1975); Bem, S. L. (1977).

Strengths of the BSRIStrengths of the BSRI

Normative DataNormative Data Stanford Introduction to Psychology CourseStanford Introduction to Psychology Course

444 Males and 279 females444 Males and 279 females Foothill Junior CollegeFoothill Junior College

117 Males and 77 Females (paid volunteers)117 Males and 77 Females (paid volunteers) These normative samples helped create the These normative samples helped create the

cut points for the data and the conversion cut points for the data and the conversion factor to calculate the Androgyny Scorefactor to calculate the Androgyny Score

Large normative sampleLarge normative sampleBem, S. L. (1976). Bem sex-role inventory; Bem, S. L. (1974).

More Strengths of the BSRIMore Strengths of the BSRI

Both Masculine and Feminine Both Masculine and Feminine characteristics included and they are on characteristics included and they are on different continuums.different continuums.

Social Desirability ScoreSocial Desirability Score To verify that the androgynous score is validTo verify that the androgynous score is valid

Applicability of the findings to other areasApplicability of the findings to other areas

Inventory is easy to complete and has Inventory is easy to complete and has short administration time.short administration time.

Bem, S. L. (1974); Bem, S. L. (1975); Bem, S. L. (1977).

Weaknesses of the BSRIWeaknesses of the BSRI

Face ValidFace Valid

Self-Evaluation onlySelf-Evaluation only

Created and Normed in 1970’sCreated and Normed in 1970’s

BSRI Influence on FutureBSRI Influence on Future

Masculinity and Femininity should be Masculinity and Femininity should be conceptualized on separate continuum.conceptualized on separate continuum.

Androgyny researchAndrogyny research metrosexual metrosexual

Sex Typing ResearchSex Typing Research Children and parentingChildren and parenting

Bem, S. L. (1976). Sex typing and the avoidance of cross-sex behavior; Andersen, S. M., & Bem, S. L. (1981); Bem, S. L. (1974).

Gender Schema Theory OverviewGender Schema Theory Overview

ConditioningConditioning

ResultsResults

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Study 1: Gender Clustering in Free Study 1: Gender Clustering in Free RecallRecall

The BSRIThe BSRI

Experimental Phase: Free RecallExperimental Phase: Free Recall

Study 2: Gender-SchematicStudy 2: Gender-SchematicProcessing of the Self-ConceptProcessing of the Self-Concept

Basic Self ConceptBasic Self Concept

Non-sex typed Self ConceptNon-sex typed Self Concept

The Heterosexuality SubschemaThe Heterosexuality Subschema

Common experiencesCommon experiences

Universal SymbolismUniversal Symbolism

Phone Attraction Phone Attraction

The Antecedents of Gender-Based The Antecedents of Gender-Based Schematic Processing: Some Schematic Processing: Some

SpeculationsSpeculations

From the beginning children are taught From the beginning children are taught two things:two things:

AssociationsAssociations A DichotomyA Dichotomy

Strengths and WeaknessesStrengths and Weaknesses

StrengthsStrengths EnvironmentEnvironment Methods of assessmentMethods of assessment

WeaknessesWeaknesses Nature Verses NurtureNature Verses Nurture

Consequences for the FutureConsequences for the Future

Consequences of gender typingConsequences of gender typing

Lenses of GenderLenses of Gender

1) Androcentrism1) Androcentrism

2) Biological Essentialism2) Biological Essentialism

3) Gender Polarization3) Gender Polarization

““These 3 gender lenses provide the These 3 gender lenses provide the foundation for a theory of how biology, foundation for a theory of how biology, culture, and the individual psyche all culture, and the individual psyche all interact in historical context to interact in historical context to systematically reproduce male power.”systematically reproduce male power.”

Biological EssentialismBiological Essentialism

DefinitionDefinitionDivision of laborDivision of laborNot the only way for society to functionNot the only way for society to functionDifferences should be considered, not Differences should be considered, not devalueddevalued ““Yes, women might turn out to be more Yes, women might turn out to be more

biologically nurturant than men on the biologically nurturant than men on the average, but that should make them average, but that should make them psychiatrists, not secretaries”psychiatrists, not secretaries”

AndrocentrismAndrocentrism

Defines males (and male experience) as a Defines males (and male experience) as a standard or norm and females (and female standard or norm and females (and female experience) as a deviation from that norm.experience) as a deviation from that norm.

3 explanations:3 explanations: Judeo-ChristianJudeo-Christian Greek PhilosophyGreek Philosophy Freudian Psychoanalytic TheoryFreudian Psychoanalytic Theory

Gender PolarizationGender Polarization

Superimposes male-female differences on Superimposes male-female differences on virtually every aspect of human experience virtually every aspect of human experience (from modes of dress and social roles to (from modes of dress and social roles to ways of expressing emotion and sexual ways of expressing emotion and sexual desire.)desire.)

Bem’s suggestionBem’s suggestion

““we need to sever all the culturally we need to sever all the culturally constructed connections that currently constructed connections that currently exist in our society between what sex a exist in our society between what sex a person is and virtually every other aspect person is and virtually every other aspect of human experience”of human experience”

Bem, S. L. (1998). An Unconventional Family.

An Unconventional FamilyAn Unconventional Family

Autobiographical account Autobiographical account

““If The Lenses of Gender is the statement If The Lenses of Gender is the statement of my theory, of my theory, An Unconventional FamilyAn Unconventional Family is is the statement of my practice” the statement of my practice”

Egalitarian PartnersEgalitarian Partners

Feminist Child-rearingFeminist Child-rearing

InterviewsInterviews

Bem, S. L. (1998)

SummarySummary

Influential in personality and gender Influential in personality and gender research through her work with the BSRI, research through her work with the BSRI, the Gender Schema Theory, and theories the Gender Schema Theory, and theories of societal gender roles.of societal gender roles.

Her writings influenced feminist thought Her writings influenced feminist thought and parenting beliefs.and parenting beliefs.

BibliographyBibliographyAndersen, S. M., & Bem, S. L. (1981). Andersen, S. M., & Bem, S. L. (1981). Sex typing and Sex typing and androgyny in dyadic interaction: Individual differences in androgyny in dyadic interaction: Individual differences in responsiveness to physical attraction. responsiveness to physical attraction. Journal of Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 41,Personality and Social Psychology, 41, 74 – 86. 74 – 86.Bem, S. L. (1974). The measurement of psychological Bem, S. L. (1974). The measurement of psychological androgyny. androgyny. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 42,Psychology, 42, 155 – 162. 155 – 162.Bem, S. L. (1975). Sex role adaptability: One consequence of Bem, S. L. (1975). Sex role adaptability: One consequence of

psychological androgyny. psychological androgyny. Journal of Personality and Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 31,Social Psychology, 31, 634 – 643. 634 – 643.

Bem, S. L. (1976). Bem, S. L. (1976). Bem sex-role inventory. Bem sex-role inventory. Princeton, NJ: Princeton, NJ: Educational Testing Service.Educational Testing Service.Bem, S. L. (1976). Sex typing and the avoidance of cross-sex Bem, S. L. (1976). Sex typing and the avoidance of cross-sex

behavior. behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Psychology, 33,33, 48 – 54. 48 – 54.Bem, S. L. (1977). On the utility of alternative procedures for Bem, S. L. (1977). On the utility of alternative procedures for

assessing psychological androgyny. assessing psychological androgyny. Journal of Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 45,Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 45, 196 – 205. 196 – 205.

Bibliography continuedBibliography continued

Bem, S. L. (1981). Gender schema theory: A cognitive account of sex typing. Psychological Review, 88, 354 – 364.Bem, S. L. (1993). The Lenses of Gender. New Haven, CT:

Yale University Press.Bem, S. L. (1998). An Unconventional Family. New Haven,

CT: Yale University Press.Bettis, N. (n.d.). Sandra Ruth Lipsitz Bem. Retrieved June 18,

2007, from http://www.psych.cornell.edu/sec/pubpeo ple/s1b8/s1b6_vita.pdf

Koesterer, M.(n.d.). Dr. Sandra Lipsitz Bem: An Unconventional Life. Retrieved June 18, 2007, from http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/sandrabem.htmlSynder, M., Tanke, E. D., & Berscheid, E. (1977). Social perception and interpersonal behavior: On the self- fulfilling nature of social stereotypes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 35, 656 – 666.