Gender Roles and Development Chapter 7

Gender Roles in the Family Roles are not innate but are learned Progress toward Egalitarian roles in family However, women still engaging in “second shift” Equal sharing closely tied to marital satisfaction

Role Relationships in Happy vs. Unhappy Couples Role IssuesHappy Couples Unhappy Couples Both are equally willing to make adjustments 87%46% Both are satisfied with division of housework 81%41% Both work hard to have an equal relationship 90%54% Couples make most decisions jointly 89%57% Household tasks based on preference not tradition 71%55% Olson & Olson, 2000

Top Five Role Relationship Issues for Married Couples Percentage Concern about unfair division of housework49% House work is based on traditional roles versus interest 44% The husband is not willing to adjust as much as the wife 44% Women are responsible for running the household in addition to working outside the home 43% Disagree that both work to maintain an equal relationship 40% Adapted from Olson & Olson, 2000

Key Concepts

Sex: who we are biologically as male or female Gender: includes psychosocial components that characterize us as masculine or feminine Gender Identity: an individual’s personal, internal sense of maleness or femaleness Gender Role: expectations about attitudes and behaviors based on whether male/female

Key Concepts Masculinity: constellation of traits traditionally associated with men: Aggressiveness Independence Dominance and competence Femininity: constellation of traits traditionally associated with women: Passivity and dependency Sensitivity and emotionality

Bem Sex-Role Inventory Feminine MasculineUndifferentiated Masculine Traits Feminine Traits High Low -assertive -athletic -competitive -dominant -independent -leadership -soft spoken -affectionate -cheerful -compassionate -gentle -sympathetic Bem, 1995 Androgynous

Traditional Patterns found in Dating & Marriage Traditional Men are initiators Woman take husband’s name Live apart prior to marriage No premarital sex Roles are rigid Men are providers— head of household Women—supporters and nurturersContemporary Women & men initiators Woman keeps own name Cohabitation acceptable Premarital sex acceptable Roles are flexible Both partners share in household tasks Both partners initiate sex Career of both important

Gender Differences Found in Families “Second Shift”—women take on primary responsibility for housework: Women have higher standard Women feel responsible for housework Women ask men to “help out” Source of conflict in relationships

International Perspective on Gender Bias Percent in Agreement That Their Society Favored Men over Women Gallop Poll, 1996

International Perspective on Traditional Gender Roles Percent That Support Traditional Gender Roles Gallop Poll, 1996

Multicultural Perspectives on Gender Mexican American Stereotype of male machismo African American Egalitarian marriages Economic marginalization American Indian Communal orientation Asian American Filial piety Segregated sex roles

Gender and Socialization Theories

Social Learning Theory Cognitive Development Theory Family Systems Theory Feminist Theory

Social Learning Theory Learn sex appropriate behavior: consequences control behavior Learning involves: Observation Imitation Reinforcement Understanding standards and rules

Cognitive Development Theory Learning changes with maturation Children create: Gender identity Gender role stereotypes Gender values Once learn — seek congruence

Criticisms of Social Learning & Cognitive Approaches Assumes children of same sex develop similar identities Favors traditional role identities as desirable Focus is on childhood processes— overlooking adult processes

Family Systems Theory Gender role development and change occurs within family context Change difficult Balanced families more open to change Unbalanced families resist change and independence

Feminist Framework View that women have been exploited, devalued and oppressed Focus on institutional restrictions on women’s development Focus on changing conditions

Gender Inequalities Around the World Mortality Natality Institutional Opportunity Professional Ownership Household Nobel laureate Amarta Sen, 2001

Power in Families

Family Power… Ability of an individual to change the behavior of other family members System property versus individual Dynamic, not a static process Multiple perspectives

Why People Want Power Self Actualization Social Expectations Family of Origin Influences Psychological Need

Bases of Family Power Power Bases or Resources Power Processes Power Outcomes

Power Bases or Resources Resource theory of family power Power balance relative to resources each partner brings to relationship “more resources equals more power” Principle of Least Interest Person with least interest in relationship has most power in relationship

Power Bases and Resource Coercive punishment Reward Ability to provide rewards Legitimate authority Expert special knowledge Referent Respect and/or love Informational knowledge Raven, Centers & Rodriguez, 1975

Family Power Processes Interaction techniques that occur during decision making Assertive Expression of wants or desires Aggression Demands of conformity Control Effectiveness of attempts to change behavior of others

Family Power Outcomes Focuses on who makes decisions Focuses on who are the “winners” Research often examines ratios of assertive statements and responses

Marital Power Balances Husband-dominant Man is the boss Wife-dominant Woman is the boss Syncratic Authority shared; joint decision making Autonomic Equal authority but in different arenas Herbst, 1952

Power Patterns in Marriage

Power Dynamics in Couples Symmetrical couples send similar messages to control how the relationship is defined Three subtypes that both partners utilize: Competitive Submissive Neutralized Complementary one is dominant, the other submissive Fitzpatrick, 1988