Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Gender Roles and Sexuality
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Male and Female
• Genetic: XX=female; XY=male
• Gender roles: behaviors
– Communality vs. Agency
• Gender role norms: expectations
• Gender-role stereotypes:
– Overgeneralizations, inaccuracies
• Gender typing: acquiring the role
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Gender Differences
• Verbal: Females slightly higher
• Spatial: Males higher
• Math: Males highest and lowest
• Aggression and riskiness: males
• Compliant, tactful, cooperative: females
• Nurturant, empathic, anxious: females
• Vulnerability: males
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Figure 12.1
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Social-role Hypothesis (Eagly)
• Roles create stereotypes
• Context and culture important
• Changes occurring today
• Psychological differences
– Few and small
– Important
• Differential roles continue
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Infancy
• Differential treatment
• Differential expectations
• By 18 mo: categorical self
• By 21/2 yr: gender identity
• 18-24 mo: gender toy preference
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Childhood
• 3 yrs: gender stereotypes acquired
• Gender rigidity until age 6
• Gender constancy: by ages 4-6
• Gender typed behavior by age 2 1/2
– Greater by age 6
– Stronger rules for boys
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Adolescence
• Gender intensification
– Pubertal hormonal changes
– Preparation for reproductive activities
• Gender and peer conformity
• Later adolescence more flexible thinking
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Biosocial Theory
• Money and Ehrhardt
• Biological development
– Presence of Y chromosome
– Testosterone masculinizes brain and
nervous system
• Social influences and labeling at birth
• Gender behavior through social interaction
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Figure 12.3
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Psychoanalytic Theory
• Oedipus (boy) and Electra (girl) Complex
• Research supports
– Identification with same-sex parent
– Preschool years important
– Importance of father for both
– Stronger male reaction
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Social Learning Theory
• Differential reinforcement
• Observational learning
• Fathers differentiate most
• Internalization of parent views
• Peers, media, books, etc
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Cognitive Theories
• Kohlberg: self socialization
• Stage-like changes
– Gender identity: ages 2-3
• Label themselves correctly
– Gender stability: ages 3-4
• Stable over time
– Gender consistency: ages 5-7
• Stable across situations
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Gender Schema Theory
• Information processing
• Gender schemata by ages 2-3
– In-group/out-group schema
– Own-sex schema
• Child looks for confirming information in the
environment
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Adulthood
• Gender roles over the life-span
– At marriage: greater differentiation
– Birth of child: it increases more
• Parental imperative
– Middle age and older: Androgyny
• Shift - does not mean switch
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Figure 12.5
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Sexuality Over the Life Span
• Infant sexuality: CNS arousal
• Childhood
– Learn about reproduction
– Curiosity and exploration
– Sexual abuse: like PTSD
• Adolescence: sexual identity, orientation
• Double standard: decline?
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Adult Sexuality
• Most are married
• Gradual declines
– Individual differences
– Married have more sex
• Males sexual peak: age 18
• Female sexual peak: age 38
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 12
Older Adults
• Stereotype: Asexuality
• Reality: decline
– Diseases and disabilities
– Social attitudes
– Lack of a partner
• Physiologically able in old age