eating_and_culture.pptx | |
File Size: | 177 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
obesity.pptx | |
File Size: | 176 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
sexual_selection.pptx | |
File Size: | 526 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
EXPLANATIONS FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL ANDROGYNY INCLUDING RELEVANT RESEARCH (i.e. they could specifically ask you for research so will need to have more than usual amount!)
Background Info…
Bem is a feminist who points out that gender schemas become the lenses through which we view the world. These ‘lenses’ lead to three main beliefs held in Western society: men and women differ psychologically and sexually, men are the dominant and superior sex and these differences are natural. The repercussion of viewing things through these lenses is that society is structured in a way that empowers men but not women.
In contrast to this, Bem takes an interactionist viewpoint whereby the similarities between the sexes outweigh the differences. Society should be gender depolarized through the redefinition of our gender traits and the perception of what it is to be human rather than what it is to be male or female.
Bem's Explanation for Psychological Adrogyny (A01)
Bem (1974) challenged the traditional idea that there are only 2 gender identities by adding ANDROGYNOUS to the masculine and feminine identities. By PSYCHOLOGICAL ANDROGYNY she was referring to individuals having behavioural and emotional traits rather that a physical androgyny (i.e. not just appearing androgynous; thinking a feeling that way).
According to Bem, there are costs involved in the maintenance of gender role stereotypes. These costs include limiting opportunities for boys and girls, ignoring talent and perpetuating unfairness in our society. Bem therefore felt it was best to be androgynous as one could be more adaptable to the demands of modern life and take the opportunities that are open to both boys and girls…
For Bem, psychological androgyny means taking on whichever quality best fitted the situation- whether it was masculine or feminine. It is far more adaptive than the traditional stereotyped gender identities of ‘boy’ or ‘girl’.
Bem designed the SRI (Sex Role Inventory) questionnaire to test her ideas and found that 34% of male participants and 27% of females participants were androgynous. These individuals were found by a number of researchers to be more adaptable to situations and a greater sense of well being.
Indeed, the benefits of androgyny have been illustrated by a number of researchers…
Evaluation (A02)
IDAs…
Don’t forget can get A03 by criticizing the questionnaires used by researcher to test for androgyny…demand characteristics, social desirability bias etc.
Bem is a feminist who points out that gender schemas become the lenses through which we view the world. These ‘lenses’ lead to three main beliefs held in Western society: men and women differ psychologically and sexually, men are the dominant and superior sex and these differences are natural. The repercussion of viewing things through these lenses is that society is structured in a way that empowers men but not women.
In contrast to this, Bem takes an interactionist viewpoint whereby the similarities between the sexes outweigh the differences. Society should be gender depolarized through the redefinition of our gender traits and the perception of what it is to be human rather than what it is to be male or female.
Bem's Explanation for Psychological Adrogyny (A01)
Bem (1974) challenged the traditional idea that there are only 2 gender identities by adding ANDROGYNOUS to the masculine and feminine identities. By PSYCHOLOGICAL ANDROGYNY she was referring to individuals having behavioural and emotional traits rather that a physical androgyny (i.e. not just appearing androgynous; thinking a feeling that way).
According to Bem, there are costs involved in the maintenance of gender role stereotypes. These costs include limiting opportunities for boys and girls, ignoring talent and perpetuating unfairness in our society. Bem therefore felt it was best to be androgynous as one could be more adaptable to the demands of modern life and take the opportunities that are open to both boys and girls…
For Bem, psychological androgyny means taking on whichever quality best fitted the situation- whether it was masculine or feminine. It is far more adaptive than the traditional stereotyped gender identities of ‘boy’ or ‘girl’.
Bem designed the SRI (Sex Role Inventory) questionnaire to test her ideas and found that 34% of male participants and 27% of females participants were androgynous. These individuals were found by a number of researchers to be more adaptable to situations and a greater sense of well being.
Indeed, the benefits of androgyny have been illustrated by a number of researchers…
- Androgynous individuals have been found to have higher self esteem (Lundy and Rosenberg, 1987)
- They have more flexibility in dating and love relationships (DeLucia, 1987)
- Witt (1997) suggested that androgynous gender role orientation may be MORE BENIFICIAL to children that strict adherence to tradition gender roles as it opens up more opportunities.
Evaluation (A02)
- Bem's ideal world would be one where everyone can live up to their potential without being tied to gender expectations. Woodhill and Samuels (2003) argue that there must be negative traits to androgyny, because it is a combination of masculinity and femininity and all their positives and negatives. Androgynous people are sensitive to both masculine and feminine cues and as such may respond to a wider range of positive or negative stimuli than traditional people. A negatively androgynous person would have a bigger repertoire of undesirable behaviors from which to choose a response.
- Nevid and Rathus (2005) research challenge to androgyny is the belief that masculinity, not androgyny, accounts for greater self-esteem. They believe that the relationship between psychological androgyny and self-esteem in both men and women is not based on the combination of masculine and feminine traits, but rather on the presence of masculine traits.
IDAs…
- Evolutionary theory would strongly challenge Bems theory, as gender roles are necessary for the survival of the species and reproduction. If women were to undertake risky hunting they could jeopardize pregnancies and lessen chances of survival of the group; even today women must carry babies.
- Historical Bias- Bem was writing in 1974 and today due it increases in sex equality most people may be seen as ‘androgynous’ today e.g. women working and stay at home dads.
- Beta bias- minimizes the differences between males and females.
Don’t forget can get A03 by criticizing the questionnaires used by researcher to test for androgyny…demand characteristics, social desirability bias etc.