Gender is more than just sex- a system of meanings
related to power & status. Individual, interactional
& cultural levels to structure people’s lives.
Individual: gender identity & gender typing
Interactional: stereotypes, attributions & self
fulfilling prophecies
Cultural: media representations, laws & religious
teachings
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Language & naming as sources of
power
Use of “generic he”
Specialised language
of physical construct
(“premenstrual
syndrome”)
Ongoing language
change making
women’s experience
more visible
Thinking critically
about language that
affects gender
system
Empowerment,
decision making
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Women are not all alike: Differences in Social
Class, Ethnicity, Age, Sexual Orientation,
(dis)ability & Culture.
How these differences affect women’s
experiences – gender socialization, adult
relationships, psychological distress & disorder.
Use of cross cultural data to reflect the
transformation of psychological knowledge from
its formerly white, N. American, middle class
perspective.
Avoiding ethnocentric view.
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Psychological research on
Gender
Emphasis on change can foster
social change why?
Many of the problems women &
girls face are the results of social
structures that disadvantaged
them
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What is Feminism? The start of
Feminist Psychology
1.
Socialist Feminism-acts of discrimination based on social class, race, & gender
are equally wrong. Sexism, racism & racism reinforce each other. Being poor &
colored is triply disadvantaged.
2. Women of color feminism -white women’s movement excluding women of
color & issues important to them: poverty, racism, healthcare, jobs. They join
forces (Asian American) to fight racism & classism
3. Radical feminism- male control & domination of women throughout history.
Women as a group are oppressed by men as a group- gives rise to research on
violence against women & on sexuality, the sources & consequences of males’
greater power.
4. Liberal feminism- beliefs about equality – an orientation that connects to political
liberalism. Believes that women are entitled to full legal & social equality with
men, favors changes in laws, customs & values to achieve the goal of equality.
Research on gender socialization, sex discrimination in employment, gender
mainstreaming.
.
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5. Cultural feminism-differences bet women &
men that characteristics of women being
devalued & should be honored & respected in
society. Understanding the importance of
unpaid work by women –child care, elderly
care. How women tend to be more nurturing
& caring than men.
6. Global feminism—how sexist practices are
related across cultures, connected to global
capitalism. Factory/assymbly work condition,
forced prostitution
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How Gender Develops & Impacts
the Workplace? (Chap 4 Main Text)
How do u see women at workplace?
Who are these women?
Managers, supervisors, secretaries?
How do they behave?
Are these work behaviours different
from men?
Do they bring different skills and
abilities to work? Why?
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Gender Development Theories.
Gender stereotypes – starts early by gender
inequity researchers, Myra & David Sadler (94).
How boys & girls feel about their own gender.
Gender roles –societal promotion
“sets of norms that communicate what is
generally appropriate for each sex” (Eagly 77)
Cultural social forces teaching children their
natural role.
RESEARCH ON WHAT MEN &
WOMEN DREAMT (BURSIK, 98)
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Gender Roles & Biological Determination
* Evolutionary science –scientifically
determines, shapes & informs a person’s role
in due based on a child’ sex
Ascribed childbearing as endurance, more
committed to relationship & sexual partners,
more connected to children, more nurturingsuited careers in social services, teaching &
nursing.
* Women’s menstrual cycle – biological
changes in behaviour: swings in mood, self
esteem, energy level.
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*Human Brain- hypothalamus (brain
base) more delicate in women than in
men. Reaction to severe emotional
trauma or shock is stronger for
women.
Corpus callosum, connecting the right and left
brain hemispheres- more pronounced in men
than in women. For women, the other way
around.
Different callasum size makes men more left
brain dominant whereas more use them equally.
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Social Constructionism
Albert Bandura –Social Learning Theory (63).
How children learn:
1. Imitation & modeling behaviours observed
from their parents, teachers, peers, media
2. Parroting gender specific behaviours from
generation to generation- a continuing process of
learning
3.The Bem Sex Role Inventory (74) as gender role
determinant- traits associated with nurturing &
expressiveness were feminine, assertive &
directive behavioural traits were masculine
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