Issues and Debates

Gender Bias AO1 - Overview

• In theory and research, offers view that doesn’t represent the experience and behaviour of all genders (usually women)

• Gender differences raise important questions abt value of explanations as may not be universal. Challenges psychology as natural scientific discipline that should be unbiased, neutral, impartial.

Gender Bias AO1 - Alpha Bias

Exaggerates differences, real and enduring, positive and negative towards women (caring/submissive), and men (leadership/aggressive). Devalues one gender in comparison to another. E.g. Bowlby, Freud

Gender Bias AO1 - Beta Bias

Underestimates differences. Studies using only men then generalised to everyone (faux universality). Tends to ignore Qs abt lives of women / specific experience. E.g. Asch, Zimbardo, Milgram.

Gender Bias AO1 - Androcentric Bias

Male centred. Normal behaviour judged according to male standard. Challenged by feminist psychology. Women’s behaviour seen as deficient, abnormal, pathologised (illness). E.g. PMS medicalises women’s anger, while seen as rational response for men to external pressures.

Gender Bias AO1 - Effect on Research Overview

Certain research inevitably biased due to methods.

Denmark et al (1988): Gender bias found at all stages of research. Male bias in proposal, finance, publication.

Feminists argue female oriented research been discriminated against e.g. studies on menopause, periods, childbirth tend not to get funded by male dominated agencies.

Gender Bias AO1 - Effect on Research Specifics (1)

1) Question formation: Questions reflect gender stereotypes e.g. leadership defined as dominance, aggression (typically male)

2) Research Design: Masculine approach based on logic, rationality, qtt data over feminine caring and relatedness.

3) Research Methods: Rosenthal (1966) - M researches treat ptcps differently.

M—F = more pleasant, friendly, honest, encouraging than M—M. May account for artificial gender differences

Gender Bias AO1 - Effect on Research Specifics (2)

4) Sampling: Theories developed from white male students, then represented as universal despite unrepresentative.

5) Inappropriate Conclusions: Findings based on one gender generalised to another perpetuates discrimination. Kohlberg: Development of morality inferior in females.

6) Publication Bias: Only publish significant research results. Research not presenting differences unpublished = AB

Gender Bias AO3 - Validating Discriminatory Practices

Gender bias = Misleading assumptions about female behaviour.

Gives scientific justification to deny women opportunities e.g. Not hired due to PMS.

Gender bias not just methodological problem, but damaging consequences to lives and prospects of women.

Gender Bias AO3 - Promotes Sexism in research process

Lack of women at senior level = female concerns not reflected in research questions.

Male researchers more likely to be published. Female ptcps in lab studies are in unbalanced relationship with male researcher, has power to label as irrational/incapable.

Psychology may be guilty of supporting form of institutional sexism, creates bias in theory and research.

Gender Bias AO3 - Reflexivity

Researchers can recog effect of their values on their work = embrace bias as imp part of research rather than issue affecting objectivity.

Lambert et al (2008) looked at lack of women execs in accounting. Includes reflection on how gender related experience influences events.

Reflexivity = Imp development in psychology, greater awareness of personal bias in shaping research.

Gender Bias AO3 - Feminist psychology

Argues gender bias can be reduced / eliminated.

Women studied in real life contexts = genuine participation rather than objects of study. Diversity in groups of women > gender differences.

Less gender biased than lab experiments.