Psychology of Women and Gender Exam 1

BSU 324 Exam 1 Study Guide- taught by Katie Lawson

Sex

the biological distinction between females and males

Gender

Social expectations for masculinity and femininity

Gender Identity

An individual's private experience of the self as female, male, a blend of both, or neither

Gender Stereotypes

Gender stereotypes are culturally shaped beliefs that certain qualities can be attributed to individuals based on gender (descriptive, prescriptive, proscriptive). Implications of gender stereotypes are that they are polar opposites and the notion that men and women should be separate from each other in a variety of contexts.

Descriptive

Expectations about what typical men and women are like (is the typical man aggressive)

Prescriptive

Saying what women and men should be like (SHOULD a man be aggressive)

Proscriptive

What women and men SHOULD NOT be like (should a man NOT be aggressive)

Why might we often put people into "types" (e.g., housewife, career man)?

As humans, we love to simplify things

Information Processing

Knowledge structures guide the way individuals process information.
How individuals perceive, analyze, manipulate, use, and remember information. Proposes that cognitive development is ongoing and gradual, not organized into distinct stages.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

An individual response to others' behaviors (which are influenced by their perceptions of the individual).
An individual's expectations about another person or entity eventually results in the other person or entity acting in ways that confirm the expectations.

Old Tests measuring masculinity/femininity

The old tests gave a lot of items to males and females (ex. how angry do you get when you are disturbed when you want to do work?).
-If males and females significantly differed (on average), these items were used to crate masculine or feminine scores.
-Masculinity/femininity seen as opposites
-Attitude Interest Analysis Survey (1936)

Bem Sex Role Inventory

Aims to measure how closely respondents fit the social expectations that certain traits are associated with gender roles.
-U.S. Culture
-Asked individuals to rate the characteristics that were most desirable "for an American men or woman"
-Had two unipolar dimensions

Traditional Old Tests Summary

Masculinity and femininity are opposite ends of a single continuum.
Defined according to gender differences in responses typically given by females and males

Modern Tests Summary

Masculinity and femininity are separate, independent dimensions.
Assess the degree to which an individual's self-description matches a set of traits categorized as typical or desirable for men or women

Intersectionality

Intersectionality refers to the simultaneous experience of social categories such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation and the ways in which these categories interact to create systems of oppression, domination, and discrimination.
-Gender and stereotypes change across cultures
-People tend to view their own culture as the "norm"
-U.S. Culture (2+ Genders vs. Samoa Culture (3 genders)

What are common themes across cultures associated with femininity?

Femininity is dependent on culture
-Emphasis on beauty
-Restrictions on movement
-Less power
-Should be interested in children
Expressions of themes differ depending on culture

What is a stereotype threat?

When an individual is aware that they may be judged by or may fulfill negative stereotypes about their gender, it can negatively affect performance.

Prejudice

The negative evaluation of persons or their activities because of their membership in a particular group

Sexism

Prejudice based on a person's sexual category

Types of Sexism

Old-fashioned, modern, hostile, benevolent

Old-fashioned

Openly endorse stereotypic judgements about and differential treatment of women and men (saying men should be providers, women should stay at home)

Modern

Subtle, denial of discrimination (do not support politics designed to improve women's status, men are less likely to get custody of children)

Hostile

Negative evaluation, attitudes, and stereotypes about a gender (women are incompetent, men are not skilled in childcare)

Benevolent

A chivalrous ideology toward women who embrace conventional roles - protect and show affection (feelings must take care of other sex)

How are hostile and benevolent sexism related?

People who believe in the chivalrous ideology (benevolent) believe that women are incompetent and need their help (hostile).

Sex Discrimination

The differential treatment of individuals because they are male and female

Sex Discrimination Examples

Saudi women and driving, Iran and women's testimony, discrimination at work