Unit 2 Chapter 4, Section 4 Gender Roles and Differences Mr. Young Psychology

Gender One of the first questions parents ask is, “Is the baby a boy or a girls?” One of the first questions parents ask is, “Is the baby a boy or a girls?” Gender greatly influences how you dress, move, work, and play Gender greatly influences how you dress, move, work, and play

Gender Roles Gender identity- physical and biological makeup Gender identity- physical and biological makeup Ages 2-3, children label themselves as either boys or girls Ages 2-3, children label themselves as either boys or girls Age 5, most children have learned how to act like their gender Age 5, most children have learned how to act like their gender

Gender Role Cont Gender Role- set of behaviors that society considers appropriate for each sex Gender Role- set of behaviors that society considers appropriate for each sex Defined mainly by society and culture Defined mainly by society and culture How each person is suppose to act How each person is suppose to act Gender roles can change from society to society and over time Gender roles can change from society to society and over time

Gender Roles

Cont. Men viewed as dominant, competitive, and emotionally reserved

Cont Women viewed as submissive, cooperative, and emotionally responsive Women viewed as submissive, cooperative, and emotionally responsive

Cont Gender Stereotypes- oversimplified or prejudiced opinions and attitudes concerning the way men or women should behave Gender Stereotypes- oversimplified or prejudiced opinions and attitudes concerning the way men or women should behave

Cont. Androgynous- combining or blending traditionally male and female characteristics Androgynous- combining or blending traditionally male and female characteristics Psychologist Sandra Bem Psychologist Sandra Bem Argues that androgyny should be our ideal characteristic Argues that androgyny should be our ideal characteristic

Cont. Androgyny is becoming and accepted idea in our culture Androgyny is becoming and accepted idea in our culture Adolescence have more choices in the way they define themselves Adolescence have more choices in the way they define themselves Young people can now express themselves according to their talents, temperaments, and values Young people can now express themselves according to their talents, temperaments, and values

Gender Differences in Personality Males more confident than females, especially in academic areas or in tasks stereotyped as masculine, such as math and science Males more confident than females, especially in academic areas or in tasks stereotyped as masculine, such as math and science Female self-confidence rises when they perform tasks in which they receive clear and direct feedback Female self-confidence rises when they perform tasks in which they receive clear and direct feedback

Males Males Females Females

Male and Female Aggression Aggression has the most significant Aggression has the most significant Females, more verbal aggressive Females, more verbal aggressive Males, more physical aggressive Males, more physical aggressive Females feel guilty or have more anxiety about the dangers involved in aggressive behavior Females feel guilty or have more anxiety about the dangers involved in aggressive behavior

Aggression Cont. Males, use mock fighting and rough play Males, use mock fighting and rough play Females, indirect forms such as talking about, rejecting, ignoring, or avoiding aggression Females, indirect forms such as talking about, rejecting, ignoring, or avoiding aggression

Male and Female Communication Women usually considered more talkative Women usually considered more talkative Men actually talk more and interrupt women while talking Men actually talk more and interrupt women while talking Women use hedges (“kind of” or “you know”), disclaimers (“I may be wrong” or “I am not sure”), and tag questions (“Okay?”) Women use hedges (“kind of” or “you know”), disclaimers (“I may be wrong” or “I am not sure”), and tag questions (“Okay?”)

Gender differences in Cognitive Abilities No measurable differences in verbal skills exist between males and females No measurable differences in verbal skills exist between males and females No significant differences in math No significant differences in math Men do better on spatial abilities Men do better on spatial abilities Women are better at tracking objects Women are better at tracking objects

Male Male Female Female

Biological Theory Emphasizes the roles of anatomy, hormones, and brain organizations Emphasizes the roles of anatomy, hormones, and brain organizations Boys prefer trucks and girls prefer dolls Boys prefer trucks and girls prefer dolls Has evolved from the early men and women and how they acted Has evolved from the early men and women and how they acted

Psychoanalytical Theory Sigmund Freud, children identify with the same sex parent Sigmund Freud, children identify with the same sex parent Boys identify with fathers, girls with mothers Boys identify with fathers, girls with mothers

Social Learning Theory Children learn their gender roles by observing and imitating models, such as parents, friends, peers, teachers Children learn their gender roles by observing and imitating models, such as parents, friends, peers, teachers Parents can reward or discourage behavior based on traditional gender roles Parents can reward or discourage behavior based on traditional gender roles

Cognitive-Developmental Theory Acquire gender roles by interacting with their environment and thinking about those experiences Acquire gender roles by interacting with their environment and thinking about those experiences Children must first see themselves as that gender Children must first see themselves as that gender Form gender scheme- a mental representation of behavior that helps a child organize and categorize behaviors Form gender scheme- a mental representation of behavior that helps a child organize and categorize behaviors

Changing Gender Roles Most women now have jobs outside the home Most women now have jobs outside the home Work provides income and a sense of accomplishment Work provides income and a sense of accomplishment Women do not advance as quickly in the workforce, maybe because of discrimination or because of childbearing Women do not advance as quickly in the workforce, maybe because of discrimination or because of childbearing