II. Gender and Other Identities

II. Gender and Other Identities Powell pages 3-16

Remember: Sex vs. Gender • Sex?? • Biological property of individuals • Sexual characteristics • Gender?? • psychological and social ramifications of being male or female • Girly, macho, emotional, dominate…

General Theory • Men and women differ in nature so should their roles in society • Comes from: • Women’s capacity to bear children

Question • If general theory is correct, how do men and women differ beyond child bearing? • Should humans of the male (female) sex (biological) be forced to “act” as the male (female) gender (psychological)? • Time Magazine “His name is Aurora” 09/19/00

How do we examine gender? • Examination? • Questions? • Set up a Model of gender…

Model • What is this?

Uni-dimensional Model of Gender • Two extremes • Male (more masculine) • Female (more feminine) • What about “tom boys”? Male Masculinity Female Femininity

Problems with “simple” model • Leads to continuation of sex segregation • Society really have high degrees of androcentrism (characterized by masculine interests or point of view) • Male seen as dominate gender • Gender shift with WWII • Thus uni-dimensional model is outgrown

Earliest references to Male vs. Female Worth • Book of Leviticus, where it is stated “the value of a woman shall be assessed as three fifths the value of a man” (27: 1-7).

Biodimensional Model(Sandra Bem pages 155-162) • Gender composed of two independent dimensions Masculinity low high Androgynous Androgynous Masculinity Femininity low high Femininity

Bio-dimensional Model cont. • Masculine and Feminine are independent of biological sex • Remember Gender is psychological while sex is biological (distinct) • Uni-dimensional model had sex and gender defining the same aspects of a person

Gender-Role Identity • The degree a person has male and female traits • A person with both male and female traits is said to be androgynous • Remember --- PSYCHOLOGICAL NOT PHYSICAL

How measure? • Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) • Categorizes people as to their gender role orientation • Categorized as male or female if large differences occur between the male and female scores • Categorized as androgynous if the male and female scores are balanced • Three distinct categories!!

Your Personal Qualities • “The measure of psychological androgyny” • Sandra Bem • Includes views from society of desirable behavior for men/women.

In-Class Activity #6 • Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI) • CONFIDENTIAL worksheet • Given 40 characteristics rate (1 to 7) each as to how it describes your general behavior • 1 = never or almost never true • 7 = always or almost always true • Really think about each characteristic pertains to you

BSRI Calculations • What we want to find is if a person’s masculine attributes differs significantly from his/her feminine attributes • Sum each column • REMEMBER—if your numbers are high for the “other” gender it doesn’t mean you are any less of a man/woman. DON’T FREAK OUT!!

BSRI Rating • Androgyny Score = Column 2 – Column 1 • Androgyny Score * 2.322 = BSRI Rating • t-ratio can be estimated by 2.322 • Range –278.64 to +278.64 • -278.64 = high masculine characteristics • +278.64 = high feminine characteristics • My score = 9.288 => Androgynous with more feminine characteristics (because it is positive)

Findings • On average most of the population cluster around the 0 mark • Found to be a more accurate assessment of leadership than male or female alone

Is the Bio-dimensional model broad enough? • Many researches argue No… • Multi-dimensional model really necessary where separate frameworks exist for attitudes, sexual orientations, gender identity and personality traits.

Are the definitions of male and female gender correct? • Some argue definition is too narrow • Why? • Too many have sex (biological) linked connotations

Do more positive things happen to men? • Research has shown more positive outcomes are associated with being male and TASK ORIENTED OUTCOMES (when asked what can you do) • Less distinction is made with INTERPERSONAL OUTCOMES (show me what you can do)

Are we clear on Sex and Gender?

When do we use Sex vs. Gender? • Sex – To access others perceptions or attitudes towards a target person or group • Visually looking a person or how others view someone (outside) • Gender – To access an individuals aspirations, motives, attitudes, and personality • How you see yourself (inside)

Now want to expand this understanding to other races and cultures • Gender is easy to examine • People differ within genders as well as within races and cultures • Research on “other races” are predominately on white/black differences • Minorities are usually defined as anyone other than the white male • This is really a large group

Is Race and Gender really important? • Much emphasis within society on treating people equal • Is all this hype helping or increasing the problem?

Advertisements • Advertisements convey messages about the roles that women and men play in the workplace as well as in society. • Several stereotypes of women’s roles occur regularly • Women’s place is in the home • Women are sex objects • Women need protection

Advertisements cont. • Men have stereotypes as well • Ready to drink beer (“this bud’s for you” only has men drinking the beer…the women serve it, but the men drink it) • Women’s jeans advertisements emphasize looking good • Men’s jeans advertisements emphasize being an individual, comfortable, and getting the job done

Advertisement cont. • Why the difference? • What about the addition of race and culture? • Are advertisements influential?? • Top advertisements of the century…

Can you name them?? • You deserve a break today • McDonalds • Tastes great, less filling • Miller Lite • We try harder • Avis • Good to the last drop • Maxwell House • Mmm mm good • Campbell Soup • Look, Ma!! No Cavities • Crest • Melts in your mouth not in your hands • M&ms • Breakfast of champions • Wheaties

II. Gender and Other Identities