PSYC 3480 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Gender Role, Cultural Feminism, Ageism
10 Jan 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
PSYC 3480 – PSYCH OF WOMEN 2015-09-15 5:35:00 PM
Why a psychology of women?
Gender roles – sex and gender
Role of women in society
psychological factors in development
Motherhood
Gender stereotypes
Equality – theoretical perspective very imp → lack of equality is the reason
behind the research
Violence against women
Women and aging
Women in the workforce
discrimination b/w men and women
Women and health
Central concepts of the psychology of women:
Difference b/w sex and gender – in born physiological differences
Sex: a relatively narrow term → inborn physiological characteristics – related
to reproduction
Gender: a broader term → psychological characteristics, social categorization
Central Concepts:
Sex and Gender → often used interchangeably in the past – no clean
absolute separation is possible
Unger 1979:
sex – a person’s biological maleness or femaleness
Gender: a no physiological
Similarities and Differences:
1. Similarities perspective:
emphasize how similar women and women
2. Men and women are diff why?
due to social construction explanation → we don’t see those similarities
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
WE build our version of reality - based on what we have experienced before
and whom we interact with and what we believe
example: women are good drivers (Stats show) – however men will say
women are not good drivers – I had a run-in with a women driver
example: men are not good with children when in reality – stats show men
are really good with
3. Difference perspective:
women and men generally differ intellectually and in social skills
emphasize positive characteristics of each → ex. Women aren’t as good
intellectually but are really good with children THEREFORE → emphasize the
positive.
Often what happens is – the positive that are emphasizes are undervalued
when associated with women
Explanation of difference perspective is: ESSENTIAL EXPLANATION
- gender is a basic stable characteristic
all women share same psychological characteristics diff from men.
SOCIAL BIASES:
Sexism: biased based on which half of the human race a person belongs M
or F
example: a person doesn't know anything about u and will make biased
judgement about u based on if you are a M or a F.
Beliefs and decisions are based on that bias
- in an article – women cold not get promotions b/c they were women
Other Biases:
AGEISM – beliefs or decisions based on their age – being older and you can
also have ageism if they are younger
(Young male drivers are also another example – insurance)
(example - younger doctors or physicians – we think they don’t know what
we are dong)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Role of women in society psychological factors in development. Equality theoretical perspective very imp lack of equality is the reason behind the research. Women in the workforce discrimination b/w men and women. Difference b/w sex and gender in born physiological differences. Sex: a relatively narrow term inborn physiological characteristics related to reproduction. Gender: a broader term psychological characteristics, social categorization. Sex and gender often used interchangeably in the past no clean absolute separation is possible. Unger 1979: sex a person"s biological maleness or femaleness. Similarities and differences: similarities perspective: emphasize how similar women and women, men and women are diff why? due to social construction explanation we don"t see those similarities. Women aren"t as good intellectually but are really good with children therefore emphasize the positive. Often what happens is the positive that are emphasizes are undervalued when associated with women. Gender is a basic stable characteristic all women share same psychological characteristics diff from men.
