Sex, Gender, and Human Diversity

Define sex

Biological — X & Y Chromosomes, genitals

Define gender

Psychological experience of sex

Define gender identity

Personal sense of being male/female

Define gender role

Cultural expectations for behavior

What is androgyny?

Showing both masculine and feminine traits.

When does gender identity and role development begin?

It develops early in infancy as parents, peers, and teachers teach gender expectations.

Are masculinity and femininity opposites?

No — they exist on a spectrum, and people can express traits of both. (androgyny)

Are men and women more similar or different overall?

Most men and women are more similar than different.

Do gender differences describe individuals or averages?

They describe averages, not individuals/absolutes.

Evaluate each person individually → avoid stereotypes.

What physical abilities are unique to women?

Only women can get pregnant, give birth, and breastfeed.

What physical difference is generally true of men?

Men have greater upper-body strength on average → throwing accuracy

In what manner are physical differences significant?

They are more historically important as they are less relevant today.

How do men and women compare in overall intelligence?

Overall intelligence is equal between men and women.

No overall intelligence gap.

In which cognitive areas do women generally excel?

Women tend to excel in verbal skills, fine motor skills, and memory

In which cognitive areas do men generally excel slightly?

Men tend to excel slightly in spatial skills, reasoning, and navigation.

What has happened to the math performance gap between genders?

The math gap that once favored men has disappeared since the 1990s.

How do emotional and social tendencies differ between genders?

Women are generally more nurturing, friendly, and cooperative, while men are more assertive, dominant, and aggressive.

Are emotional and social gender differences absolute?

No — these are average differences, and many exceptions exist.

How do men and women differ in sexual thoughts and partner preferences?

Men think about sex more often and prefer younger partners, while women prefer partners with good character and stability.

In general, for relationships, most people prefer?

Long-term, monogamous relationships. 

What does the biological view say about the origin of gender differences?

It attributes gender differences to hormones, evolution, and brain differences.

Which gender has a larger corpus callosum, and what might this relate to?

Women have a larger corpus callosum, which may relate to language skills.

Which gender has a slightly larger right hemisphere, and what skill is it linked to?

Men have a slightly larger right hemisphere, which is linked to spatial skills. 

What does the social learning view say about the origin of gender differences?

It explains them as a result of experience and cultural expectations.