5 Gender Development 2024 slides.pdf

8/17/24 Sex versus Gender Genetic Sex Lecture 5...

8/17/24 Sex versus Gender Genetic Sex Lecture 5: Gender Development Professor Rachel Zajac office: 413 William James Building phone: 479 3988 email: [email protected] 1 2 Sex versus Gender Genetic Sex X Morphological Sex Y 3 4 Sex versus Gender Sex versus Gender Gender Identity – one’s private sense of Gender Identity – one’s private sense of male- or female-ness male- or female-ness Gender Roles – cultural expectations about ways in which men and women should behave Gender Stereotypes – beliefs about differences in the behaviours, abilities and personality traits of males and females 5 6 1  8/17/24 7 8 9 10 The Development of Gender 11 12 2  8/17/24 The Development of Gender The Development of Gender Age 18 months: Age 18 months: Beginnings of gender typed preference Beginnings of gender typed preference Age 3: Age 3: Knowledge of own gender. Knowledge of own gender Preference for different toys and friends of own sex. Preference for different toys and friends of own sex Ability to assign gender to pictures is limited Age 5: Knowledge of gender constancy 13 14 Biological Explanations for Gender Differences 15 16 Biological Explanations Exposure of the developing brain to male sex hormones has behavioural effects: Gandelman, Vom Saal, & Reinisch (1977) Prenatal exposure to testosterone results in more “male-like” behaviour in females 17 18 3  8/17/24 Biological Explanations Exposure of the developing brain to male sex hormones has behavioural effects: Gandelman, Vom Saal, & Reinisch (1977) Prenatal exposure to testosterone results in more “male-like” behaviour in females Ward (1972) Males deprived of prenatal testosterone behave more like females 19 20 Biological Explanations Biological Explanations Physical aggression in males appears to be Physical aggression in males appears to be biologically predisposed biologically predisposed The anatomy of the human brain shows some sex differences thought to be due to different patterns of hormone exposure during development 21 22 23 24 4  8/17/24 Biological Explanations Biological Explanations Physical aggression in males appears to be Testosterone may also play a role in spatial biologically predisposed ability The anatomy of the human brain shows some sex differences thought to be due to different patterns of hormone exposure during development Sex differences in cognitive ability (e.g., verbal and spatial ability) are at least partly due to differences in the brain 25 26 Biological Explanations Testosterone may also play a role in spatial ability > Males with low testosterone levels > Females with high testosterone levels > Fluctuations during the menstrual cycle 27 28 Biological Explanations Biological Explanations Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Evolutionary Theories – propose that men and women have evolved to behave differently, depending on their roles in society e.g., primitive women stayed home and did activities that required fine coordination with small nearby objects. Men hunted and therefore required a greater level of spatial ability 29 30 5  8/17/24 Biological Explanations Biological Explanations The case of Bruce Reimer The case of Bruce Reimer 31 32 Environmental Explanations for Gender Differences 33 34 35 36 6  8/17/24 Math class is tough. Want to go shopping? Meet me at the mall! 37 38 39 40 41 42 7  8/17/24 43 44 45 46 47 48 8  8/17/24 From The Horn Book Magazine, 1970: “He’s glad he’s a boy and she’s glad she’s a girl. In this warmly humorous book, they tell each other why and conclude that the best reason of all is — because they need each other!” From the “Books for Children” section in Childhood Education, 1970: “Simple drawings with line captions designed to help the young child discover his or her appropriate sex role.” 49 50 Environmental Explanations Montemayor (1974) 6- and 8-year-old boys and girls were invited to play a game 51 52 How Much Did Children Like the Environmental Explanations Game? 6 Montemayor (1974) 5 6- and 8-year-old boys and girls were invited 4 to play a game 3 Game labeled as gender-appropriate, Boys gender-neutral, or gender-inappropriate 2 Girls 1 0 "Boys' Game" "Game" "Girls' Game" 53 54 9  8/17/24 How Well Did Children Play the Environmental Explanations Game? 12 Montemayor (1974) 10 6- and 8-year-old boys and girls were invited 8 to play a game 6 Game labeled as gender-appropriate, Boys gender-neutral, or gender-inappropriate 4 Girls Children found the game more enjoyable if 2 it was labeled as gender appropriate or neutral 0 "Boys' Game" "Game" "Girls' Game" 55 56 Environmental Explanations Environmental Explanations Much gender socialisation begins with a Montemayor (1974) child’s parents Children’s performance was highest when Morrongiello & Dawber (1999) the game was labeled as gender- appropriate and lowest when the game Examined mothers’ and fathers’ was labeled as gender-inappropriate communications to sons and daughters aged 2 to 4 years: – During free play – When teaching a playground safety behaviour 57 58 Environmental Explanations Average Frequency of Parent Verbalisations to Child 15 Mothers and fathers did not differ in their communications 12 Boys Girls Sons received more directives, fewer 9 explanations, and more physical pressure than girls 6 3 0 Caution Stop Encouragement 59 60 10  8/17/24 Environmental Explanations Environmental Explanations è Parents Smith & Lloyd (1978) communicate with young children in a Mothers of young infants introduced to a 6- way that may month-old infant and asked to play promote increased risk-taking by boys Infant’s gender label was manipulated and greater perceived vulnerability among girls BOY GIRL 61 62 Environmental Explanations Environmental Explanations Smith & Lloyd (1978) Smith & Lloyd (1978) Mothers of young infants introduced to a 6- è Even when there are no differences in month-old infant and asked to play appearance or outward behaviour, parents treat children according to gender label Infant’s gender label was manipulated Participants behaved differently according to the assigned gender label 63 64 Environmental Explanations Weisner & Silson-Mitchell (1990) Parents who do not subscribe to gender differences in socialisation have children whose attitudes and behaviour reflect fewer gender stereotypes 65 66 11