-
"battle between the sexes"
who is more boring - men or women?
-
What are the theoretical perspectives?
essentialist perspective
constructionist perspective
biosocial perspective
-
Constructionist perspective
product of social construction
-
Sexual division of labor
consistent across cultures
women provide care
men work
-
Sabine Durrant
2008
contends that men have become unbearably dull
cited statistic that women talk more than men
-
Neil Tweedie
2008
accuses women of being even more dull
wishes that women do not talk more than men
-
"hard-wired" gender differences
- women's and men's brains have evolved in
- different ways that furnish modern humans
-
Essentialist view
- some "essence", or underlying biological component, makes men
- and women different
- the differences
- between men and women are biological, fixed and invariant
-
Kira Cochrane
2008
the gender stereotypes expressed by Durrant and Tweedie are boring
- those who take the position strive "to assert that men and women each have their own place and quite separate characteristics, and that these are defined not simply by
- social structures and norms, but by biology"
-
Evolutionary psychology
- women and men are born with biological differences that dictate the
- basis for different traits and behaviors
women are the "opposite sex" - at the opposite end of the spectrum of wherever men are
-
Biosocial view
Kira Cochrane
draws from research in psychology, sociology, biology and anthropology
the differences between men and women is a complex puzzle with many pieces
-
Minimalist view
- the belief that the differences between men and
- women are few
-
Maximalist
the belief that men and women are virtually different species
often coupled with essentialist view
-
Wilhelm Wundt
- credited with founding modern psychology (in 1879 at University of
- Leipzig)
- wanted to establish a
- natural science of the mind to investigate the nature of human thought
- processes through experimentation
-
Structuralist approach
approach to psychology by Wundt and others
- used chemistry as the
- model to devise a psychology based on an analytical understanding of the
- structure of the conscious mind
-
Wundt and Others
created structuralist approach
- believed psychology
- could not be applied to children, the feebleminded, or species of nonhuman
- animals
-
Structuralists
interested in investigating the "generalized adult mind"
individual differences were of no concern
- generalization drawn
- from data collected from and by men
-
Where virtually all US psychologists received
their training
Germany
-
View of German psychology by US psychologists
found it too limiting and impractical
-
Functionalism
- a school of psychology that emphasized how the mind functions rather
- than its structure
grew from German psychology into a more practical nature
- drew a wider variety of subjects into psychological research and
- theories
children
women
nonhuman animals
influenced by Darwin and theory of evolution
- tended to look for
- biologically determined differences
-
Areas of interest in functionalist psychology
issues of adaptability
issues of intelligence
- prompted the
- development of intelligence testing and comparison of individual differences in
- mental abilities and personality traits
-
Studies and writings of functionalists
- demonstrate that women are less intelligent, benefit less from
- education, have strong maternal instincts, were unlikely to produce examples of
- success or eminence
- people not white were
- also considered less intelligent and less capable
-
Helen Thompson Woodley
1910
- contended that the
- research on sex differences was full of researchers' personal bias, prejudice
- and sentiments
-
Leta Stetter Hollingworth
took a stand against functionalist view of women
- said that women's
- potential would never be known until they had the opportunity to choose the
- lives they would like
-
When did functionalist view diminish?
1920's
-
Behaviorism
gained prominence when functionalist view diminished
- emphasized observable behavior rather than thought processes or
- instincts
tough-minded and combative
interest in research on sex differences sharply decreased
interested in the areas of learning and memory
- concentrated on
- studies with rats as subjects
-
"womanless" psychology
- an approach that failed to include women as participants or failed to
- examine gender-related factors when both men and women participated in research
- created when
- psychologists ignored gender
-
Freudians
theorists with a psychodynamic orientation
- had an interest in
- sex differences during the time when behaviorism dominated
-
Sigmund Freud
his work did not originate within psychology
psychodynamic theory of personality development
psychoanalytic approach to treatment
his approach gained popular interest in early 1920's
- acceptance by
- academicians came later
-
Freud's beliefs
emphasized role of instinct and physiology in personality formation
hypothesized that instincts provide basic energy for personality
- hypothesized that the child's perception of anatomical differences
- between boys and girls is a pivotal event in personality formation
- looked to early childhood experiences within the family to explain how
- physiology interacts with experience to influence personality development
- held negative views
- about women; felt they were inferior to men both intellectually and morally
-
Perception of anatomical differences between
boys and girls
critical event for Freud
this knowledge forms the basis for personality differences
- lead to conflict in family, which is resolved through identification
- with same-sex parent
- believed boys
- experience more conflict and trauma during this development
-
Freud's theory and feminism
women...
- inferior, less ethical, more concerned with personal appearance, more
- self-contemptuous, jealous of men's accomplishments, jealous of men's penises
- women must accept
- their femininity or were candidates for therapy
-
Freud's theory and development of masculinity
- boys must experience severe anxiety during early childhood and develop
- hatred for their father
- boy will be led to identify with his father out of fear and experience
- advantages of the male role
- must make a
- sufficiently complete break with their mothers to become fully masculine
-
Freud's theory in current day
continues to capture attention and imagination
- has been and remains
- a force in conceptions of sex and gender
-
Structuralism (emphasis and role of gender)
understanding the structure of the human mind
-
Functionalism (emphasis and role of gender)
comparative studies
developmental studies
Darwin and evolutionary theory
understanding the function of the mind
- sex differences are
- one type of individual difference
-
Differential psychology
gender differences
ethnic differences
- european american
- male norm
-
Behaviorism (emphasis and role of gender)
studying behavior in a scientific way
- behavior varies with
- individual experience
-
Psychoanalysis (emphasis and role of gender)
studying normal and abnormal personality development and functioning
- biological sex
- differences and their recognition are motivating forces
-
The beginning of women's studies
as a result of political, social and intellectual developments
- began in 18th century
- and continue to present
-
Feminist movement
1960s
prompted development of women's studies
the "second wave of feminism"
- grew from civil
- rights movement
-
First wave of feminism
early 20th century
began with campaign changes in women's roles and legal status
- focusing on voting
- rights for women, availability of birth control, ways to improve social and
- economic status
-
Prominent changes from feminist movement
- women's entry into the workforce in record
- numbers
-
Liberal feminism
- included people who wanted to end discrimination
- based on sex and extend equal rights to women
-
Radical feminists
- believed that women have been oppressed by men and that this oppression
- has served a s a model for racial and class oppression
- believed the entire
- social system required major change
-
Cultural feminism
advocates social change
- inspired by Carol Gilligan's In a
- Difference Voice
- advocate moving toward an acceptance and appreciation of tradiitonally
- feminine values
- believed that many of
- the world's problems would disappear if they were in charge
-
Women's studies as an academic discipline
- developed when women went to universities and
- colleges to pursue interest in topics related to women
-
Sex differences
term used to describe their work
- objected by those who contend that it carries implications of
- biological basis for these differences
- said to have been
- used too extensively and with too many meanings
-
Gender
alternative term to "sex differences"
proposed by Rhoda Unger
- describes the traits and behaviors that are regarded by the culture as
- appropriate to women and men
social label (not a description of biology)
- consistent usage has
- not been used, confusion remains
-
Sex
biological differences between men and women
-
National Council of Women Psychologists
founded in 1941
to further the work of female psychologists in the war effort
became International Council of Women Psychologists in 1944
- rejected from
- American Psychological Association
-
Naomi Weisstein
- presented "Kinde, Kuche, Kirche' as Scientific Law: Psychology
- Constructs the Female"
- argued that psychological research had revealed almost nothing about
- women because research had been contaminated by biases, wishes and fantasies of
- male psychologists
- "present
- psychology is less than worthless in contributing to a vision which could truly
- liberate - men as well as women"
-
Important discovery of 1970s
-
"humans are gendered beings whose lives and experiences are
(most likely) influenced by their gender"
-
Association for Women in Psychology
group that demonstrated against sex discrimination
- advocated for an
- increase in feminist psychological research
-
Division 35, Society for the Psychology of Women
for the promotion of women in psychology
- for the advancement
- of research on women and issues related to gender
-
Men's Movement
1975 men and masculinity conference
"men as men" rather than nongendered humans
began during the 19th century women's suffrage movement
- men felt threats to their masculinity, by women entering the work
- force, by increasing demands for education
- lacks cohesion, exists in many different versions with diverse goals
- and views
Pleck, Bly and Keen
-
R.W. Connell
2001
argued that societal roles constrain men
- explained that men
- are necessary for the reform of gender roles
-
National Organization for Women
men joined, proclaiming themselves to be feminists
-
National Organization for Men Against Sexism
profeminist men's organization
- works to obliterate
- racism and prejudice against gay men
-
Division 51 of APA
Psychological Study of Men and Masculinity
joined 1955
promotes study of how gender roles shape and constrict men's lives
help men to experience their full human potential
- erode the definition
- of masculinity that has inhibited men's development and has contributed to the
- oppression of others
-
National coalition for Men
group that opposes sexism
sees feminist groups as sexist
- argue that sexism
- oppresses men more than women
-
Variations of the Men's Movement
feminism
promote a return of "the good old days"
to find a masculine identity
- to change laws such
- as those regarding divorce and child custody
-
Robert Bly and Sam Keen
- contend that modern society has left men with no easy way to form a
- masculine identity
- men lack models and
- become inappropriately aggressive and poorly fitted to live in society
-
The straight edge
sXe
- consist of young, single, white men who follow punk rock music but
- reject drug use, violence and sexual exploitation
- committed to creating an alternative masculinity that is more
- compassionate and accepting
- a version of the
- men's movement that has spread world wide
-
The Promise Keepers
arose during 1990s
- men with a shared vision of godly manhood - part of neoconservative
- evangelical Christianity
urged men to reclaim their position as head of the family
rejects racism
- does not accept
- homosexuality or equal partnerships with women
-
Catholic Men's Movement
modeled after the promise keepers
- supports men who
- attempt to become more nurturant, involved fathers
-
Androcentric bias
psychological characterization in early 20th century
comparing women to male norm
lack of diversity allowed men to be used as the standard
- this makes women
- appear deficient when they differ from that standard
-
Women in research
white, privileged women have constituted the standard
- when women from other
- ethnic groups are included, they are compared to White women
-
Women of color and the feminist movement
- focused on ways that they experienced oppression
- and found routes to organize into groups and promote change
-
Multiracial feminism
- women of different colors who oppose racism and
- sexism and interact with one another
-
Hip hop feminism
- draws from the energy of hip-hop culture to lead
- young women to a critical analysis of the sexism and racism that continues in
- U.S. society
-
Civil rights movement for Hispanics
Latina women in US were important part
1960's
- many latina's did not
- join feminist groups as they were more interested in cultural and ethnic
- discrimination
-
First National Chicana Conference
1971
focus on gender issues rather than racism
- almost half of the
- people attended walked out - did not like the topic
-
Native American Women
faced racism, sexism and violence from men
- avoided the word feminist as
- they received criticism from men for speaking out
- form groups revolving
- around prevention of domestic violence and child welfare
-
Asian American Women
difficulty identifying themselves as feminist
criticism of rejecting their heritage
experienced stereotyping
-
Nancy Felipe Russo
- "Feminist psychology is now beyond simply
- critiquing yesterday's findings. The challenge now is to build a knowledge base
- of theories, concepts, and methods to examine women's lives in all of their
- diversity."
-
Feminist psychologists
value an inclusive psychology
- diversity is now a
- major focus for the women's movement and psychology
-
Woolley
variability hypothesis
said the variability hypothesis is a bunch of crap
believes men and women to have same variability
- contradictory with
- Darwin (who believed men showed more variability)
-
Variability in genetics
- genetically, women have more variability because of having two X
- chromosomes, one from both parents
- men only have one X
- chromosome, from father
-
-
Civil Rights Act, Title VII
1964
- race, religion,
- national origin, sex
-
Second wave of feminism
liberal feminists
radical feminists
socialist feminists
cultural feminists
-
Issues of Inherent biases
neglect power differentials (*sex is confounded with power)
assume homogeneity among men/women
ignore social context
-
Diversity in Men's Movement
liberal profeminist perspective
promasculinist perspective
socialist perspective
male spiritualist (mythopoetic) perspective
promise keepers
million man march
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