Social Role Theory
Leah Hyde
Gender Stereotypes
–
–
–
–
–
–
Aggressive
Direct
Independent
Active
Not emotional
Objective
-
Dominant
Acts as a leader
Never cries
Logical
Worldly
Gender Stereotypes
–
–
–
–
–
–
Gentle
Tactful
Quite
Religious
Neat
Aware of others’
feelings
– Easily expresses
tender feelings
– Enjoys art and
literature
– Need for security
Why do women and men differ
in their social behavior?
• Eagly’s Social Role Theory of sex differences in
social behavior
– Social Role Theory- suggests that almost all
behavioral differences we know about between males
and females is the result of cultural stereotypes about
gender (how males and females are supposed to act)
and the resulting social roles that are taught to young
people.
Alice Eagly
• a social psychologist whose interests are
mainly in two areas-the psychology of
attitudes and the psychology of gender
• new research is on sex differences in attitudes
on social and political issues
• Recently published over 20 books
• Currently a professor at Northwestern
• Enjoys the arts, especially classical music,
theater, dance, and painting
Her Argument
• “The gender roles that emerge from a society’s
division of labor by sex are thus not arbitrary
cultural constructions.”
• “Gender roles are thus emergents from the
productive work of the sexes; the characteristics
embodied in these roles become stereotypic of
women and men and facilitate the activities
typically carried out by the workers of each sex.”
This implies…
• … that is because of a division of labor that
women and men are different and not because of
evolutionary psychology characteristics.
• … because of the division of labor, women came
to be regarded as housewives, not being able to
work with men, but rather doing house related
duties such as taking care of the children and
cooking.
( supports social role theory and not evolutionary theory)
So what are the actual
differences in social behavior?
(Eagly and Wood 1991)
• 9 differences in adults observed across
many studies
1- Women are better at sending and receiving
messages non-verbally
2- Women conform to group pressures more
then men
3- Women act more friendly and agree more
with other group member in small groups
…Actual differences…
4- Men are more strictly task-oriented in work
groups
5- All female groups typically perform better than
all male groups
6- Men are more likely to emerge as leaders in
initially leaderless groups
7- Men are more helpful in short-term interactions
with strangers
…Actual Differences…
8- Men behave more aggressively to others
than women, particularly when the
aggression brings about physical harm or
pain
9- Women report more life satisfaction and
happiness then men
How are these differences are
produced?
• Social Role Theory and not because of
evolutionary theory
• Pregnancy of women causes a difference
– If men were getting pregnant, then women would have
been the ones that provide everything that is necessary
for the baby to live.
• Differential treatment of girls and boys, which is
still evident in the way children are raised
(but steadily disappearing with the growing number
of educated women)
The End