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E PSY

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SED V A
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SEX, GENDER DEFINED

SEX
-

refers to the BIOLOGICAL aspects of being male or female.

Differences in chromosomes, anatomy, reproductive systems

ASCRIBED STATUS

GENDER
-

refers to the PHYSIOLOGICAL and SOCIOCULTURAL aspect of

being male or female.

Its a dichotomous social category that prescribes behaviors,

attitudes, feelings, and other characteristics as being appropriate
for a male or a female

Can be viewed on a continuum of characteristics demonstrated by a

person regardless of the persons biological sex

ACHIEVED ROLES

GENDER DIFFERENCES
MEN

WOMEN

VALUES
- Independence
- Power
- Accomplishments

VALUES
- Communication
- Connection
- Relationships

SOCIAL WORLD
- Hierarchy of POWER

SOCIAL WORLD
- A network of connections

Men are externally focused:

Situations are issues to be
resolved.

Women are internally focused

and often talk to connect.

SOCIAL
STRUCTUR
E
SOCIAL
STATUS

STATUS SETS

Position in the social system

Different statuses/position a
Significant determinant on how
person may acquire
one will be treated and defined

GENDER ROLE

expected behavior associated with

a status
performed according to social NORMS

STATU
STATU
S
S

MOTHE
R

FATHER

ROLE

Nurturin
g,
Caring,
Loving

Provider,
Disciplin
e

GENDER ROLE THEORIES

Evolutionary Theory
-

Genetic differences between male and female

Behavioral differences evolved differently to fulfill their different and

complimentary functions w/c are necessary for survival (Sheilds 1975)

Behavioral differences stem from different sexual & reproductive

strategies that have evolved to ensure that men and women are to
efficiently reproduce and effectively pass on their genes (Buss 1995)

GENDER ROLE THEORIES

Object-Relations Theory (Chodorow 1989)
-

Focuses on effects of socialization in gender development

Relationships between people, in particular with family esp.

between mother and child

Relationship between the subject/SELF and the OBJECT

The way we relate to people and situations in our adult world has
been programmed into us by the way we experienced our parents
when we were infants

SELF relates to OBJECTS in the unconscious

GENDER ROLE THEORIES

Gender Schema Theory

(Bem 1981)

Focuses on the role of cognitive organization in addition to

socialization

Children learn how their cultures and societies define the roles of
men & women and internalize this knowledge as a gender schema
or unchallenged belief

Children will incorporate themselves their own concepts into their

gender schema and will assume the traits and behavior suitable for
their gender

GENDER ROLE THEORIES

Social Role Theory (Alice Eagly 1987)
-

the sexual division of labor and societal expectations based on

stereotypes produce gender roles

the communal and agentic roles Communal Role is characterized by

attributes, such as nurturance and emotional expressiveness, commonly
associated with domestic activities, and thus, with women; Agentic Role
is characterized by attributes such as assertiveness and independence,
commonly associated with public activities, and thus, with men

Behavior is strongly influenced by gender roles when cultures endorse

gender stereotypes and form firm expectations based on those
stereotypes

GENDER STEREOTYPE
Stereotype is a term used to define all people of a certain belief into a
mostly negative category that may only reflect a selected few of the
racial demographics.
Stereotyping are overgeneralized beliefs about people based on their
membership in one of the many social categories (Anselmi & Law, 1998)
Stereotyping is basically putting someone down because someone of their
sex is/are not believing they are able to do something because they
are either male or female.
Male and female are stereotyped according to the traits that they are
assumed to process by virtue of their biological make-up.

GENDER STEREOTYPE
Sexism is the assignment of negative stereotype. Its perpetuated by systems
of patriarchy : male-dominated social-structures leading to oppression.
Example: Women labeled as being unreliable, erratic due to hormones

Womens status are more stigmatized because the statuses are more
associated with being inside the house less power, no income, etc.

Patriarchy exhibits androcentrism: male-centered norms throughout

the social institution that becomes standard to w/c people adhere.
Altogether, patriarchy and androcentrism, perpetuates beliefs that
gender roles are biologically determined and unalterable.

Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer
to understanding the problems of running a country
Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.

Margaret Thatcher
First Woman British Prime Minister