Chapter 1 Introduction to the Psychology of Gender _____________________

Definitions: Sex and Gender Sex: the classification of individuals as female or male based on their genetic makeup, anatomy, and reproductive functions e.g., vagina, penis, breasts, chromosomes Gender: the meanings that societies and individuals give to female and male categories\ e.g., colors, clothing, toys, roles, attitudes ___________________

History of the Psychology of Women The early years “Womanless” psychology Women viewed as different from and inferior to men First generation of women psychologists conducted research to challenge assumptions of inferiority ____________________

History of the Psychology of Women The recent years 1960s: beginning of the modern feminist movement in the U.S. Emergence of psychology of women as a separate field of study Psychology of gender textbooks Psychology of Women Quarterly, Sex Roles Today, women represent nearly half of the psychologists in the workforce __________________

Studying the Psychology of Women Bias in psychological research, continued Selecting research participants Are the participants representative of the larger population? Is the gender composition specified? Other sampling limitations: race, socioeconomic status, sexuality, disability Selecting the measures __________________

Studying the Psychology of Women Bias in psychological research, continued Analyzing and interpreting the findings Statistical significance Interpreting findings in a way that suggests female weakness or inferiority Inappropriate generalization Assumption that presence of gender differences implies biological causes Communicating the findings Publishing Avoiding gender-biased language ____________________

Themes in the Text Theme 1: Intersectionality: The Diversity of Women’s Identities and Experiences An individual’s multiple identities interact with each other to shape the person’s experiences Examine diversity with respect to ethnicity, social class, sexual orientation, ableness, age, culture ____________________

Themes in the Text Theme 2: Gender Differences in Power Organizational power: ability to use valuable resources to dominate and control others Interpersonal power: ability to influence one’s partner within a specific relationship Power-over: a person’s or group’s control of another person or group Power-to: empowerment of self and others to accomplish tasks ____________________

Themes in the Text Theme 3: Social Construction of Gender Traits, behaviors, and roles associated with females and males not inherent in one’s sex Traits, behaviors, and roles shaped by numerous interpersonal, cultural, and societal forces Our experience of femaleness and maleness cannot be separated from our ethnicity and social class or from our sexual orientation and physical ability/disability ______________________