Test 4 Study Guide DEP 3103 04 Fall 2011 Chapter 13 13 1 Discuss the development of gender stereotypes across childhood and adolescence and summarize individual and group differences in gender stereotyping pp 526 530 What are expressive and instrumental traits and what are examples of these trait How does culture generally view these traits In terms of femininity and masculinity In a positive or negative light How do gender stereotypes change across development toddlerhood early childhood middle childhood adolescence 3 questions Instrumental traits are known to be MASCULINE Expressive traits are known to be FEMININE think females express themselves better Instrumental traits reflect competence rationality and assertiveness were regarded as masculine Expressive traits emphasize warmth caring and sensitivity were viewed as feminine Cross cultural research conducted in 30 nations reveals that the instrumental expressive dichotomy is a widely held stereotype around the world Besides personality traits other gender stereotypes exist These include physical characteristics tall strong and sturdy for men soft dainty and graceful for women occupations truck driver insurance agent and chemist for men elementary school teacher secretary nurse for women the variety of attributes consistently identified as masculine or feminine their broad acceptance and their stability over time suggest that gender stereotypes are deeply ingrained patterns of thinking They cast men in a generally POSITIVE LIGHT the traits activities and roles associated with the male gender are more numerous diverse and desirable than those associated with the female gender They cast women in a generally NEGATIVE LIGHT feminine attributes in contrast are mostly unfavorable and low status EARLY CHILDHOOD TODDLERHOOD ages 1 3 Stereotypes begin around 18 months Strengthen and become rigid through early childhood which demonstrates cognitive limitations During early childhood stereotypes strengthen to where many children apply them as blanket rules When asked whether gender stereotypes could be violated half or more of 3 and 4 year olds answered no to clothing hairstyle and play with certain toys such as barbies and G I Joes Most preschoolers do not yet realize that characteristics associated with being male or female activities toys occupations hairstyle and clothing do not determine a person s sex Between 18 months and 3 years children sort out what boy girl woman man means in terms of activities and behaviors gender stereotypes appear and expand rapidly Before age 2 children begin to acquire subtle associations with gender that most of us hold men as rough and sharp women as soft and round Preschoolers associate toys articles of clothing tools household items games occupations colors pink and blue and behaviors with one sex or the other MIDDLE CHILDHOOD ADOLESCENCE they extend stereotypes to include personalities and school subjects they are more flexible about behavior because older children realize that gender stereotypic attributes are associated but not defining features of gender By age 5 gender stereotyping of activities and occupations is well established During middle childhood and adolescence knowledge of stereotypes increases in the less obvious areas of personality traits masculine tough rational cruel females gentle affectionate dependent and achievement girls good at reading spelling art and music boys math sports mechanical skills girls also adopt a stereotype boys are smarter than girls although they are just as smart School age children develop a more open minded view of what males and females can do a trend that continues into adolescence The early period early childhood regardless of the gender stereotype rigidity this is short lived and children differing in strength of rigidity became equally flexible in middle childhood Nevertheless acknowledging that boys and girls can cross gender lines does not mean that children always approve of doing so They tend to take a harsh view of certain violations boys playing with dolls and wearing girls clothing girls acting noisily and roughly The various components of gender stereotyping activities behaviors occupations and personality traits do not correlate highly a child may be very knowledgeable in one area without being knowledgeable in the others Boys hold more rigid gender stereotyped views than girls throughout childhood and adolescence African American children hold less stereotyped views of females than do Caucasian American children In adolescence and adulthood higher SES individuals tend to hold more flexible gender stereotyped views than their lower SES counterparts 13 2 Discuss the role of biology in gender stereotyping and gender role adoption including cross cultural similarities in gender stereotypes and gender role adoption and hormonal influences on gender role behavior pp 530 531 How do androgens influence the behavior of both males and females Who was David Reimer and how does his situation demonstrate the role of biology in gender role adoption What was the long term outcome of his situation 2 questions Androgens male sex hormones increase active play in both males and female mammals Androgens also promote male typical sexual behavior and aggression and suppress maternal caregiving in a wide variety of species Prenatal androgen exposure influences certain aspects of masculine gender role behavior CAH congenital adrenal hyperplasia a disorder in which a genetic defect causes the adrenal system to produce unusually high levels of androgens from prenatal period onward Compared with other girls girls with CAH tend to be higher in activity level to like cars trucks and blocks better than dolls to prefer boys as playmates and to be more interested in masculine careers such as truck driver soldier or pilot David Reimer was a boy who was reared as a girl Although he underwent the first sex reassignment he she still acted like a boy which confirms the impact of genetic sex and prenatal hormones on a person s sense of self as male or female His gender reassignment failed because his male biology overwhelmingly demanded a consistent sexual identity The long term outcome of his situation was that he returned to his biological sex as a male he started androgen hormone testosterone injections underwent surgery to remove his breasts and to reconstruct a penis He eventually fell in love and got married but at 38 Although David tried to surmount his tragic
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