gender bias

What is gender bias?

Where our ideas about how different gender identifies should behave affects objectivity

Tendency to treat or represent one gender differently to another during the research process and subsequently research finding do not accurately represent their experiences

Types of gender bias

• Androcentrism

• Alpha bias

• Bet bias

Androcentrism

Presenting a male dominated view, behaviour of men taken as norm. If our understanding of ‘normal’ behaviour comes from ‘all male’ samples then behaviour that deviated from this i seen as ‘abnormal’ or ‘inferior’. Behaviour of women becomes portrayed as atypical and an exception to the rule

Example of research - Freud believed feminist was failed masculinity (male centred norm)

Alpha bias

When differences between men and women are shown and may be exaggerated/overestimated either to heighten the value of women or devalue them.

There is no doubt that differences exist but they are exaggerated

Examples of research- suggests it is in a males interest to impregnate as many women as possible implies sexual promiscuity in males is genetically determined - quantity over quality

Beta bias

When differences between the 2 sexes are ignored minimised or underestimated and then generalised to the opposite sex

Often occurs when females are not part of the research process and it is assumed findings apply equally on both sexes

Examples of research - differences between the 2 sexes are ignored minimised or underestimated

Biological vs social explanations

P. Many of the gender differences reported by psychologists over the years are presented as fixed and enduring when they are not

E. For eg maccoby and jacklin suggested girls have superior verbal ability, boys have superior spatial differences which are hardwires to the brain

E. Joel et al used Brian scanning and found no such gender differences in Brian structure or processing it is possible for the data from maccoby and jack link was populated because it fitted existing stereotypes of girls as speakers and boys are doers

L. These sorts of claims are often politically motivated and disguised as biological facts. We should be wary of accepting biological facts when they may be better explained through social sterotypes

The important contribution of feminist psychology

P. Feminist psychology is a way to counter r reduce gender bias

E. It is re examining the ‘facts’ about gender promoting a research agenda focusing on women’s concerns

E. A psychology for women rather than a psychology of women. It has drawn attention to sources of bias under researched areas in psychology like childcare sexual abuse dual burden working and prostitution

L. Judith sorrel along with other feminists have stated that a number if criteria should be adhered to in order to avoid gender bias study women in real life contexts diversity should be examined use collaborative research methods

Wider implications/impact of gender bias (SSR)

P. Gender bias psychological research may create misleading assumptions about female behaviour it fails to challenge negative stereotypes and validates discrimination

E. It may provide a scientific justification to deny women opportunities both in the workplace and society

E.carol tar is said ‘it becomes normal for women to feel ‘abnormal’ So gender bias isn’t just a methodological problem but may have damaging consequences which affect the lives and prospects of real women

L. However many odeon researchers now recognise the effect that their own values and assumptions have on their work and embrace it as a crucial aspect of the research process (known as reflexivity)