GENDER
1. Difference between sex and gender
Sex is the group of biological characteristics with which we are born.
Gender refers to the learned attitudes and behaviors that characterize people of one sex or the other.
Sex is innate, gender is learned. Gender is a cultural creation and the gender roles differ from one society to another.
The differences between genders are more perceptual than real--males and females can both be aggressive and nurturing.
2. How many genders are there?
Berdache show that there can be more than 2, but most cultures Western and non, recognize only 2.
3. Can a person=s gender identity be changed?
Very rare, gender identity is set in childhood, started as young child and solidified in middle childhood (boys are icky)
4. Are gender differences an attempt to exert control over women?
Why more men berdache? Are there more limits for women?
But we very much want to be able to categorize people as male or female and will act very differently when we know with whom we are dealing.
How do we learn gender?
Parents
Parents are the first and most influential source of learning about gender roles.
What roles do parents play?
Parents treat infants differently
Boys: played with more roughly
given different toys
crying dealt with differently
Girls: not handled as much
cuddled more
fathers interact with more stereotypical play
A child’s toys are played with more because a parent does than because a child does--girls will play with truck and boys with dolls if a parent does, too. Parents, therefore, play a key role in determining what children play with.
Fathers use more directive language with sons than daughters. Mothers ask for compliance and cooperation.
Fathers interact more with sons than daughters. Fathers were more interested in cognitive development of sons and social development of girls.
Teachers
Teachers often treat boys and girls differently. Boys are given more time to talk, are called on more often, and receive more positive feedback. Teachers are more likely to give girls the answers, but have boys work to find out. Boys are encouraged to do more work in classes that are "boy" subjects--math and science--and are encouraged to pursue boy careers. Girls are encouraged to take more social sciences.
Peers
A child=s peers become especially important when a child enters school. Other children influence what games you play, what you wear, what TV shows you watch. The approval of peers is very important.
Peers reinforce gender-role norms through play and toys. Girls play with dolls while boys play with other types of toys that usually involve more "action".
Peers use verbal and nonverbal means of approval. Smiles are given for appropriate behavior. That’s for boys, or "only girls do that" discourage other activities.
Mommy doll--Mommy at work, play dressed in suit and pumps. Attempt to make doll that reflects "real life" but portrays middle class attitudes and values.
How real should toys be?
But friends can encourage different gender-role behaviors. If a girl’s friend plays soccer, she might too, If a boy shows some emotion, his male friends might too.
Relationships in adolescence are difficult to understand. Old research saw peer groups as enemies of the family. But newer work sees peers as influencing more superficial behaviors, but not deep attitudes. Adolescents seem to be more egalitarian in gender roles than parents.
Media
Television tends to promote negative stereotypes about gender, ethnicity, and age.
This is often subtle--most commercials have male voices, even if they are "aimed" at women. Cleaning products in particular are dominated by male voices. Strength, authority, desire to "please".
Do we continue to learn our gender roles in adulthood?
Theory of role transcendence
1. undifferentiated stage
2. polarized stage
3. transcendent stage
Young children don’t differentiate activities.
School age begins the polarization of roles.
In young adulthood individuals tend to shed the rigid division of roles.
Adults may develop an androgynous gender role. Androgyny combines male and female traits. They are characterized by flexibility and unique combinations of expressive and instrumental traits.
Androgyny allows for a complete range of emotions and behaviors.
Flexibility and integration are key elements. An individual who is always aggressive at work and passive at home is NOT androgynous. Need to be flexible.
As people get older men tend to become more androgynous and women more feminine, but for about 1/2 of people they maintain stable gender identities.
Androgynous people tend to be able to form and sustain intimate relationships. They cope with stress better. They have better sex. They exercise more and smoke less.
Some argue that androgyny should be psychological goal, but others point out that androgyny may cause people to feel they have to be both feminine and masculine--double source of inadequacy.