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Gender Gender – Nature or Nurture? Biology or Learning? Such simple dichotomies are misleading. Biology ______________________________ Environment Interactions between Biology and Environment Biology · Physical differences,eg height and muscular development, genitalia, voice pitch. The ability to bear children and breast-feed, or to inseminate. · Sex hormones influence the fetus, giving rise to male and female characteristics in the child. · Genetic evolutionary theory suggests that behaviour patterns such as nurturing responses in females and aggression or social dominance in males are the result of biologically different processes in the sexes. · Social psychologists believe that social forces and the nature of group living can modify basic biological dispositions – strong social norms and equal status for women can prohibit violence. · Other social influences such as more efficient birth control and safer childbirth have modified biological basics by bringing more women into the workplace and enabling women to live longer than men. Gender Socialisation · Beginning in childhood, people learn about gender and acquire “gender-appropriate” behaviour. They learn that society has different expectations and standards for the behaviour of males and females. · Young children tend to segregate themselves into gender groups, and play with different toys, often encouraged by parents. · Television and other media present many stereotypes about gender roles. Barbie and Action Man toys reflect idealised images of masculinity and femininity, and convey cultural messages about gender roles. · Social experiences of boys and girls (from parents, teachers, peer groups and media) lead to relatively enduring sex differences in attitudes, interests, skills and personalities that continue into adulthood. Gender Social roles · People’s behaviour is strongly influenced by their social roles, eg roles as family members, workers and community members. · Social roles are defined differently for the two sexes. · Social roles perpetuate gender-based division of labour, particularly the experience that men have higher status and authority than women. · The effects of gender-based social roles may spill over into new situations and become self-fulfilling prophecies. People therefore conform to the role expected of them. · When men and women occupy the same roles, their attitudes and behaviour are often similar; men as caregivers may be equal to women in terms of nurturance or parenting skills; women as leaders may be as authoritative as men. Social situations · Social setting is a major influence on gender-type behaviour. · Men and women CAN behave the same way, but they may CHOOSE not to do so, depending on the social context. · When we want people to like us, we try to conform to their expectations of us in terms of gender-appropriate behaviour. Gender Social behaviour Aggression · Males tend to be more aggressive than females. · This applies to both verbal and physical aggressions, although the gender gap is wider for physical aggression. · Society is more tolerant of aggression in males · Females consider more than males the harm that aggression can do. Helping behaviour 1. Men are more likely than women to offer assistance. This has important qualifiers: Females tend to help in ways that are nurturant and caring; men help in ways which are heroic and chivalrous. 1. Men are more likely than women to help a stranger, especially when the person needing help is female. 2. Men are more likely than women to help when there is an audience. 3. Men are more likely than women to help in situations that are perceived as dangerous. 4. Women are more likely than men to do personal favours for friends. 5. Women are more likely than men to provide advice about personal problems. 6. Women are more likely than men to provide social support for others. 7. Women are more likely than men to be the primary caregivers for the family.
Approximate Word count = 2489
Approximate Pages = 10
(250 words per page double spaced)
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