1. Gender and Gender Roles
Chapter 5
Gender and Gender Roles

2. Sex, Gender, and Gender Roles
Sex: whether one is biologically female, male, or intersex
Genetic sex: chromosomal and hormonal sex characteristics
Anatomical sex: our physical sex; gonads, uterus, vulva, vagina, or penis
Gender: social and cultural characteristics associated with being male or female
Gender identity: gender one believes self to be 2

3. Sex and Gender Identity
Assigned gender
Gender variations
Gender identity
Gender role 3

4. Gender-Roles Gender-role stereotype Gender-role attitude
The belief concerning what’s appropriate for male or female traits
Gender-role behavior
Activities or behaviors a person engages in as a female or male 4

5. Masculinity and Femininity
Sexes seen as polar opposites in traditional Western view, e.g. “opposite sex”
Different qualities associated with different genders
Sexism
Some qualities are biologically based, some culturally based

6. Gender and Sexual Orientation
Gender, gender identity, and gender role are conceptually independent of sexual orientation
Heterosexuality has been assumed to be part of masculinity and femininity

7. Gender Theory
Developed in the ’80s and ’90s to explore the role of gender in society
Seeks to understand society through understanding how its organized by gender
Views gender as a basic element in social relationships

8. Gender Theory in Psychology
How gender is created and its purposes
How specific traits, behaviors, and roles are defined as male or female
How gender creates advantages and disadvantages
Rejects the idea that gender differences are primarily biologically-driven
Operates from a social-constructivist framework

9. Theories of Socialization
Social learning theory
Cognitive development theory

10. Cognitive Social Learning Theory
Emphasizes consequences as shaping gender related behavior
Cognition: Mental processes such as evaluation and reflection
Includes ability to use language
Anticipate consequences
Modeling

11. Cognitive Development Theory
Focuses on children’s active interpretation of gender
After age 6 or 7, motivation to act like one’s gender is primarily internal, and that gender-role behavior is intrinsic

12. Social Construction Theory
Gender expression is an outcome of
Power
Language
Meaning
Relationship to sexual orientation
Women
Men

13. Gender-Role Learning: Childhood and Adolescence
Parents as socializing agents
Manipulation
Channeling
Verbal appellation
Activity exposure
Connections between sons and mothers
Ethnic groups

14. Gender-Role Learning: Childhood and Adolescence
Teachers as Socializing agents
Females are more common
Bias in presentation of topics
Peers as socializing agents
Play
Approval
Perceptions
Media

15. Gender Schemas: Exaggerating Differences
Interrelated ideas help information processing
Cognitive organization of world by gender
Emphasize dichotomy
Minimize valuing of the individual

16. Contemporary Gender Roles
Women’s roles have changed
Men’s roles have changed
Must include diverse groups
Egalitarian approach to gender roles

17. Traditional Male Gender Role
Aggressiveness
Emotional toughness
Independence
Feelings of superiority
Decisiveness
Power orientation
Competitiveness
Dominance
Violence

18. Traditional Male Sexual Scripts: Zilbergeld
Men should not have or express certain feelings
Performance is the only thing that counts
The man is in charge
A man always wants sex and is ready for it
All physical contact leads to sex
Sex equals intercourse
Sexual intercourse leads to orgasm

19. Traditional Female Gender Role
American middle-class Whites: women as wives and mothers. Recently includes work outside the home
African Americans: more egalitarian roles for men and women
Latinas: women subordinate to men out of respect; Gender role affected by age

20. Traditional Female Sexual Scripts:
Sex is good and bad
It’s not okay to touch yourself “down there”
Sex is for men
Men should know what women want
Women shouldn’t talk about sex
Women should look like models
Women are nurturers: they give, men receive
There is only one right way to have an orgasm

21. Changing Gender Roles Egalitarian position
Androgyny: flexibility in gender roles, combining elements of each traditional role

22. Contemporary Sexual Scripts
Sexual expression is positive
Sexual activities involve a mutual exchange of erotic pleasure, and both partners are equally responsible
Legitimate sexual activities are not limited to intercourse but include masturbation and oral sex
Sexual activities may be initiated by either partner
Both partners have a right to experience orgasm, whether through intercourse, oral sex, or manual stimulation
Non-marital sex is acceptable within a relationship context

23. Androgyny Unique combination or instrumental and expressive traits
Difficulties with expression and expectation

24. When Sex is Ambiguous
Intersexuality
Tran sexuality
Transgenderism 5

25. Intersexuality
Possess mixtures of male and female genitalia or reproductive physiology
Known until recently as “hermaphrodites”
Shrouded in secrecy by families and medical establishments in the past

26. Intersexuality Hermaphrodites: Old terminology
Ambiguous genitals: 1/2000 births
Blended gonads or both gonads
One ovary and one testis, or testes containing ovarian tissue

27. Chromosomal Anomalies: Turner Syndrome
Females who lack a chromosome: XO rather than XX
Occurs in 1/1666 live births
Female external appearance
No ovaries
Hormonal therapy
Assisted fertility

28. Chromosomal Anomalies: Klinefelter Syndrome
Males who have extra X chromosomes: XXY, XXXY, or XXXXY rather than XY
Occurs in 1/1000 live births
Variable effects; many men never diagnosed.
Small firm testes; some female physical traits
Lower testosterone levels

29. Hormonal Disorders: Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome
Inherited condition occurring in 1/13,000 individuals
Genetic males whose tissues do not respond to testosterone
Female genitals, no female internal organs
At puberty, develops hips and breasts, no pubic hair and no menstruation
Many experience female gender identity

30. Hormonal Disorders: Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
A genetic female with ovaries and a vagina develops externally as a male
Due to malfunctioning of adrenal gland
Occurs in 1/13,000 live births
At birth, ambiguous genitalia
In the past, doctors and families choose to assign female gender at birth

31. Hormonal Disorders: DHT deficiency
Internal male organs
Clitoris-like penis at birth
Undescended testes at birth
Testes descend at puberty and penis grows
Socialization

32. Hypospadias Urethral opening is not in correct location
Exists on underside of glans
Occurs in 1/770 male births
Repair is possible

33. Gender Identity Disorder
A strong and persistent cross-gender identification and persistent discomfort about one’s assigned sex
Diagnosis not associated as hormonal or physiological
Requires experience of distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning 6

34. Gender Identity Disorder
Lasting personal comfort with the gendered self
Treatment is individual and multifaceted
Psychotherapy
Real-life experience living externally as desired gender
Hormonal therapy
Sex-reassignment surgery

35. Transsexuality Gender identity and sexual anatomy are not congruent
Estimated 1/50,000 people over 15 yrs
May occur with heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual orientations
Gender reassignment

36. Transsexual Phenomenon
Embraces possibility of numerous genders and multiple social identities
Other cultures recognize more than 2 genders
Paradigm shift of gender dichotomy
Employment protection