Biosocial Approach Gender Development

GenderCharacteristics, whether biological or socially influenced, by which

people define male and female

• Women • Men• Describe themselves in

more relational terms• Experience more

relationship-linked emotions

• More empathetic • Gravitate toward jobs that

reduce inequalities

• Focus on tasks and on connections with large groups

• Respond to stress with “fight or flight” response

• Gravitate toward jobs that enhance inequalities

Division of labour

Why are men seen as the “breadwinners” or hunter gatherers?

Why are women often given the role of homemaker and child minder?

Does our society today still benefit from gender roles or is it becoming more similar?

Exceptions

Agta Tribe(Philippines)

Aka Tribe(Africa)

DianaHunting Goddess

Women during the Wars

• Mechanics • Engineers • Tank drivers • Building ships • Working in factories -

making bombs and aircraft parts

• Air raid wardens • Driving fire engines • Plumbers • Ambulance drivers • WRVS volunteers • Nurses

Biosocial Theory

Money and Ehrhardt (1972)

Parental expectations

Social Role Theory

Eagly and Wood (1999)

What about sex differences in mate choice?

• Resources• Domestic• Compliment each other

• Gender and Mating Preferences– Men seek out quantity• Spreading genes widely

– Women seek out quality• Protecting and nurturing of offspring

• Equal Pay

• Maternity cover

Hormonal differences

Are these differences a cause or an outcome?

Eagly and Wood (2002) – hormonal differences may be an outcome of social roles e.g. testosterone as a result of engaging in more active and competitive activities

• Gender and Hormones– Gender gap in aggression seems influenced by

testosterone – As humans age they become more androgynous• Mixing both masculine and feminine characteristics

Social Constructionist Approach

Eagly and WoodHuman behaviour is

mainly an invention or outcome of a particular society or culture

Behaviours are best explained in the context in which thy occur

Luxen (2007)High ethical appeal if sex

roles are perceived as more flexible

Buss (1989)37 cultures examined10,000 people Women desire mates

with good financial prospects

Men placed more evidence on physical attractiveness and youth- fertility and obedience

Both look for intelligence, kindness and loyal/dependable

(supports evolutionary)

Eagly & Wood (1999) Used Gender

Empowerment Measure When women had

higher status (more equal) – mating preferences become less pronounced

Therefore social roles are driving force in psychological sex differences

However, Gangestad et al (2006)Re-examined same data Gender equality not related to sex differences.Therefore evolutionary theory better explanation

Culture

• Peer-Transmitted Culture– 50 percent of individual

variations in personality traits is by parental nurturing

– The other 50 percent is peer influence

• Gender Role•Set of behavior expectations (norms) for males and females•Gender roles vary over culture•Gender roles vary over time