Problem 7 1.5
Gender
Gender- cognitive and social differences between males and females
Sex – biological and psychological differences between males and females
Gender typing- the association and process by which children acquire the values,
motives and behaviours considered appropriate for their gender in their culture
Gender identity- the perception of oneself as either masculine or feminine
Gender role standards- stereotypical behaviour appropriate for each gender
according to specific cultures
- Woman- expressive: nurturing, kind, good mother
- Men- instrumental: aggressive, dominant, good father
Stereotypes
Stereotypes- beliefs that members of a culture hold about how men and women
should behave and what is acceptable and appropriate for each sex
Influences on gender typing:
- Parents:
o Directly- instruct specific behaviour
o Indirectly- model and reinforce behaviour e.g. decoration, verbal
communication, clothes, physical contact
o Fathers- make more discriminations, pressure children to play with
gender-typed toys, treat girls more gently, encourage boys to be tough
o Self-fulfilling prophesy- prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself
to become true
- Siblings/peers:
o Older siblings influence gender typing in the younger sibling
o If older sister- more feminine characteristics
o If older brother- more masculine characteristics
o Siblings of different sexes- less stereotypical gender role concept
- Teachers/schools
o Structure class according to gender
o Encourage maths/science in boys
o Encourage literature in girls
o More responsive to girls
o More conflict with boys due to assertiveness
- Media:
o Reinforces gender stereotyped
o Men- more powerful
o Women- sex objects, stay at home mum
Gender
Gender- cognitive and social differences between males and females
Sex – biological and psychological differences between males and females
Gender typing- the association and process by which children acquire the values,
motives and behaviours considered appropriate for their gender in their culture
Gender identity- the perception of oneself as either masculine or feminine
Gender role standards- stereotypical behaviour appropriate for each gender
according to specific cultures
- Woman- expressive: nurturing, kind, good mother
- Men- instrumental: aggressive, dominant, good father
Stereotypes
Stereotypes- beliefs that members of a culture hold about how men and women
should behave and what is acceptable and appropriate for each sex
Influences on gender typing:
- Parents:
o Directly- instruct specific behaviour
o Indirectly- model and reinforce behaviour e.g. decoration, verbal
communication, clothes, physical contact
o Fathers- make more discriminations, pressure children to play with
gender-typed toys, treat girls more gently, encourage boys to be tough
o Self-fulfilling prophesy- prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself
to become true
- Siblings/peers:
o Older siblings influence gender typing in the younger sibling
o If older sister- more feminine characteristics
o If older brother- more masculine characteristics
o Siblings of different sexes- less stereotypical gender role concept
- Teachers/schools
o Structure class according to gender
o Encourage maths/science in boys
o Encourage literature in girls
o More responsive to girls
o More conflict with boys due to assertiveness
- Media:
o Reinforces gender stereotyped
o Men- more powerful
o Women- sex objects, stay at home mum
