1. Chapter 12 Gender ED502-Child and Adolescent Psychology By Terri Pardo

2. What Is Gender? Gender refers to male and female characteristics. Gender identity includes the knowledge, understanding and acceptance of being male or female. Gender roles are the expectations of how males and females should think, act and feel. Gender typing is the acceptance of a feminine or masculine role.

3. Biological Influences Humans normally have 46 chromosomes: – A 23 rd pair with two X shaped chrosomes is a girl – A 23 rd pair with an X and a Y chromosome is a boy

4. Hormones ( Found in BOTH males and females) Estrogens : – Primarily influence the development of female physical sex characteristics and help regulate the menstrual cycle, produce ovaries. Androgens : – Primarily promote the development of male genitals, secondary sex characteristics. *Testosterone is an important androgen.

5. Social Influences What causes psychological gender differences? Why this….

6. Why not this?...

7. Social Role Theory (Alice Eagly) Gender differences result from the contrasting roles of women and men. Causes of gender differences occur as a result of differences in power, assertiveness and nurture.

8. Psychoanalytical Theory of Gender Stems from Freud’s view that preschool children have sexual attraction to the opposite sex parent and in turn identify with same sex parent.

9. Social Cognitive Theory Gender develops through rewards and punishments of positive and negative behavior by adults and peers Observation and imitation of masculine and feminine role models – * Parents influence children through action and example. – *Mothers more often socialize daughters and fathers more often socialize male children.

10. Gender Schema Theory Gender typing emerges as children gradually develop schemas (cognitive structures) of what is gender-appropriate and gender inappropriate in their culture. As children grow older, they most often play and socialize in same sex groups of peers.

11. Gender Stereotyping Generalizations or impressions about males and females. Examples of gender stereotypes: Men are strong Women are weak Men don’t cry Woman are too emotional Men make better engineers Women make better caregivers Woman are better conversationalists

12. Traditional Masculinity and Femininity Traits associated with males: – Instrumental – Aggressive – Powerful Traits associated with females: – Expressive – Sensitive – Nurturing

13. Developmental Changes in Stereotyping What age do children begin to gender stereotype? – Research suggests that children begin to gender stereotype as early as 2 years old. – Gender stereotypes continue to increase, but become more flexible by late adolescence.

14. Gender Similarities and Differences

15. Physical Similarities and Differences Female brains are smaller than male brains, but have more folds (called convolutions) Part of hypothalamus (involved in sexual behavior) tends to be larger in males Women have twice the body fat of men Women are less likely to develop physical or mental disorders Women have longer life expectancy Males tend to be more aggressive

16. Cognitive Similarities and Differences Boys and girls have similar achievement in math Boys have slightly better visuospatial skills Girls typically perform better in writing and reading Females are likely to show more interest in children

17. “Brain Structure ~ Size Does Matter” http://gypsumgirl.hubpages.com/hub/Gender-Differences-In-Brain-Development

18. Why Can’t We Just Get Along… Females have larger frontal lobes (responsible for problem solving). Males have larger amygdalas (responsible for regulating sexual behavior). Men have 6.5 times more gray matter in their brains (associated with processing information). Women have an increased level of serotonin receptors (which is closely related to moods and depression). http://gypsumgirl.hubpages.com/hub/Gender-Differences-In-Brain-Development

19. Gender-Role Classification Traditionally, boys were expected to be independent, aggressive and powerful. Girls were expected to display the opposite characteristics. In the 1970s, males and females strayed from these stereotypical roles and took on some characteristics of the opposite gender. This led to androgyny, the presence of feminine and masculine traits. Androgynous individuals are considered more flexible, competent and mentally healthy, according to gender expert Sandra Bem.

20. Masculinity in Childhood and Adolescence Boys have been raised to show little or no emotion and to act tough. This “boy code” is learned from “…parents, peers, coaches, teachers and other adults.” Male adolescents believe they should participate in premarital sex, drink alcohol, take drugs and participate in illegal delinquent activities to validate their masculinity.

21. Gender-Role Transcendence Gender-role transcendence is the concept of thinking of each person as an individual with no focus on femininity, masculinity or androgyny. Gender-role classification results in stereotyping. Parents should raise their children to be competent individuals, without focus on male, female or androgynous characteristics.

22. Gender in Context Gender-role classifications can involve situations rather than individual traits. Females are thought of as being more helpful but a male is often more helpful when he can demonstrate his competence or disregard danger. Females are more likely to display emotions of fear or sadness while males are more likely to show anger, especially towards male strangers or when they feel challenged.

23. References Santrock, J. W. (2011). Child development. (13 th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. International Edition. www.http://gypsumgirl.hubpages.com/hub/Gen der-Differences-In-Brain-Development