PSY 3121: Psychology of Women and Gender - Lecture Notes

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts and definitions from the Psychology of Women and Gender course, useful for exam preparation.

Feminism

A movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression.

Intersectionality

A theoretical framework that examines how various social identities interrelate and contribute to various forms of oppression.

Power and Privilege

Concepts describing the differential access to resources and opportunities based on one’s social identity.

Socialization

The internalization of the social expectations and attitudes of a culture, particularly regarding gender.

Self-objectification

The process where individuals internalize societal standards and evaluate their own appearance as an outsider.

Hostile Sexism

Negative beliefs about women who do not conform to traditional gender roles.

Benevolent Sexism

Positive beliefs about women who conform to traditional gender roles, reinforcing traditional norms.

Cissexism

The belief that only cisgender individuals are natural and legitimate, often excluding transgender identities.

Gender Identity

A person’s inherent sense of their gender, which may not align with the sex assigned to them at birth.

Cultural Feminism

A perspective that values traditionally feminine qualities and links gender oppression to a lack of appreciation for these qualities.

Gender Socialization

The process through which individuals learn the roles, behaviors, and expectations associated with their gender.

Sexual Scripts

Learned guidelines that inform expectations about normal sexual behavior within a specific culture.

Beauty Standards

Socially constructed expectations regarding physical appearance that are often unrealistic and context-dependent.

Privilege

Unearned advantages held by individuals based on their membership in a dominant group.

Reflection Journal

A specific assignment that requires individuals to reflect on their social identities and experiences.

Feminist Psychology

A subfield of psychology that focuses on the experiences of women and the impacts of gender inequality.

Microaggressions

Brief, everyday comments or actions that alienate or demean individuals based on their social identity.

Gender Norms

Cultural expectations regarding how individuals of different genders should behave.