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Theoretical Approaches to Gender. Theory = way to describe, explain, predict relationshipsTheories shape how we act and expect others to actTheories are practical. Theoretical Approaches to Gender. Use theories to make sense of behaviorsTheories about sex and gender affect thoughts and behaviors
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1. Gendered Lives,Eighth Edition Chapter 2
Theoretical Approaches to Gender Development
2. Theoretical Approaches to Gender Theory = way to describe, explain, predict relationships
Theories shape how we act and expect others to act
Theories are practical
3. Theoretical Approaches to Gender Use theories to make sense of behaviors
Theories about sex and gender affect thoughts and behaviors
Theories influence how see yourself
Theories help develop awareness
4. Theoretical Approaches to Gender Four types of gender theories:
Focus on biology
Emphasize interpersonal origins
Concentrate on cultural influences
Offer critical perspectives
5. Biological Theories of Gender Biological characteristics of sexes are basis of differences
Influence of sex chromosomes
Most females XX
Most males - XY
6. Biological Theories of Gender Several genes controlling intelligence located only on X
Some aspects of male intelligence only inherited from mother
Females may inherit intelligence from both parents
7. Biological Theories of Gender Primary gene responsible for social skills only on X
Women more adept in social situations
8. Biological Theories of Gender X carries genes that influence intelligence and susceptibility to hereditary conditions
9. Biological Theories of Gender Ys function is ensuring egg will evolve into male
Larger variety in X
More variation among women
10. Biological Theories of Gender Role of hormonal activity
Estrogen primarily female
Produce good cholesterol
Blood vessels more flexible
Strengthens immune system
11. Biological Theories of Gender Role of hormonal activity
Estrogen primarily female
Causes fat tissue to form around hips
Impede liver function
12. Biological Theories of Gender Men have hormonal cycles
Testosterone primarily male
Drug use, violent behavior
Jockeying for power
Attempts to dominate
Physical expression of anger
13. Biological Theories of Gender Hormones influence cognitive abilities
Mens hormonal change is more gradual than womens
14. Biological Theories of Gender Testosterone deficiency can lead to:
Increase in body fat
Moodiness and depression
15. Biological Theories of Gender Hormones influence skills and tendencies
Girls favor trucks if mother had high levels of testosterone during pregnancy
16. Biological Theories of Gender Hormones influence skills and tendencies
Males given estrogen experience:
Decline in spatial skills
Increase in verbal skills
17. Biological Theories of Gender Biological theories differences in brain structure and development
Each sex specializes in one side of brain
18. Biological Theories of Gender Men better developed left lobes
Linear thinking
Sequential information
Spatial skills
Abstract, analytical reasoning
19. Biological Theories of Gender Women better developed right lobes
Aptitude for imaginative and artistic activity
Holistic, intuitive thinking
Visual and spatial tasks
20. Biological Theories of Gender Women use both sides of brain for language tasks
Prefrontal cortex larger
Restrains aggression
Insula is larger
Affects intuition and empathy
21. Biological Theories of Gender Male amygdala is larger
Controls emotions like anger and fear
22. Biological Theories of Gender Corpus callosum links two lobes of brain
Women have greater ability to use
Men listen with left brain
23. Biological Theories of Gender Corpus callosum links two lobes of brain
Women listen with both sides
Men better able to use left side for directions
24. Biological Theories of Gender Splenium fold of connecting tissue in corpus callosum
Larger in women
Increased verbal abilities
25. Biological Theories of Gender Forces of biology evident in gender re-assignment cases
David Reimer
Penis amputated in surgery
Could not accept self as girl
Later surgically returned to male
26. Biological Theories of Gender Controversy about strength of biological forces
Those with extreme view biological factors determine abilities and behaviors
Others argue biology edited by environmental factors
27. Psychodynamic Theories of Gender Development Psychodynamic theories assume relationships are central to human development
28. Psychodynamic Theories of Gender Development The first important relationship is with primary caregiver
Influences how infant comes to define identity
29. Psychodynamic Theories of Gender Development Infants develop sense of self and gender identity as internalize views of others
Internalizing creates basic structure of psyche
30. Psychodynamic Theories of Gender Development Mother may act differently toward daughters and sons
Infants follow distinct paths that reflect relationship with mother
31. Psychodynamic Theories of Gender Development Fundamental likeness between mother and daughter
Interact more with daughters
Keep daughters closer
More nurturing
Allows infant girl to import mother into her self
32. Psychodynamic Theories of Gender Development Full identification between mother and son less likely
Encourage more independence
Talk less about emotional matters
To establish identity boy differentiates himself from mother
33. Psychodynamic Theories of Gender Development Identity is not static
Grows and changes as we interact with others
As infants mature, carry with them basic identity formed in first relationship
34. Psychological Theories of Gender Development Focus on interpersonal bases of gender
Do not emphasize intrapsychic process
Highlight influence of communication on gender
35. Social Learning Theory Learn by imitating others and getting responses to behavior
Behaviors that are rewarded reinforced
Behaviors that are punished or seen as neutral rejected
Social world amplifies personal inclinations
36. Social Learning Theory Views children as passive in process
Suggests reinforcement process continues through lifetime
37. Cognitive Development Theory Children play active role in developing gender identity
Pick models to teach themselves competency in masculine or feminine behavior
38. Cognitive Development Theory Children go through several stages in developing identity
Birth to 24-30 months search communication for labels to apply to self
39. Cognitive Development Theory Children go through several stages in developing identity
3 or earlier realize being boy or girl not temporary
Gender constancy
40. Cognitive Development Theory As children mature, continue to seek role models
Boys learn aggressiveness is masculine
41. Cognitive Development Theory Girls learn being physically attractive is feminine
Children who witness violence may follow model
42. Cultural Theories of Gender Focus on understanding gender from cultural perspective
Do not dispute biological or interpersonal factors
Assume qualified by influence of culture
43. Anthropology Views of gender in 21st century America clarified by viewing how other cultures express gender
44. Anthropology Tahitian men gentle
Aboriginal fathers no say in daughters marriages
Samoan males tattoo lower body
Mbuti dont discriminate
45. Anthropology Mukogodo higher value on females
Orango Island women choose mates
Dominican Republic some males born with underdeveloped organs
46. Anthropology Many Native American groups had matrilineal systems
Not necessarily matriarchal
Viewed women as relatively autonomous
Created category of two spirit
47. Symbolic Interactionism Through communication with others we learn who we are
As parents interact with children then tell them who they are
Each label offers child self-image
Children internalize views to arrive at understanding
48. Symbolic Interactionism Views of gender communicated
Through parents responses
Play activities with peers
Through interaction with teachers
49. Symbolic Interactionism Role = set of expected behaviors and values associated with them
External to individuals
Roles assigned by society
50. Symbolic Interactionism One primary way to classify social life gender roles
Women as caretakers
Women represented in service and clerical jobs
Men as breadwinners
Men seen as leaders
51. Symbolic Interactionism Role is internalized
Learn different roles for men and women
Learn unequal values assigned to them
52. Critical Theories Direct attention to structures by which societies classify people
Interested in how dominant groups privilege own interests and impose on less powerful
Understand how oppressed groups can become empowered
53. Standpoint Theory Societies are made of different groups that are organized in social hierarchy
Membership in groups shape what individuals experience
54. Standpoint Theory Dates back to writings of Hegel and Marx
Nature of slavery perceived different if master or if slave
Where power relationships exist, no single perspective
Our work shapes our identity
All views partial
55. Standpoint Theory Social location is not standpoint
Standpoint earned through critical reflection and engaging in struggle
56. Standpoint Theory Powerful have vested interest in preserving their place
Views may be more distorted
Unlikely to develop oppositional politics
57. Standpoint Theory Subordinate groups may have fuller understandings
Have to understand both perspectives
May see world with less bias
58. Standpoint Theory Marginalized perspectives can inform all about how society operates
Understandings of women and men based on location in socially constructed groups
59. Standpoint Theory Demands of role lead mothers to develop maternal thinking
Arises out of location in domestic settings
Men who are primary caregivers
More nurturing and expressive
60. Standpoint Theory Biological influences called into question
Men with higher SES do not display destructive aggression
61. Standpoint Theory Can earn or develop multiple standpoints that overlap and interact
Possibility of developing different standpoints that reflect political awareness
62. Queer Performative Theory Queer performative theory defies conventional categories
Trouble our thinking
Trouble provoke productive
63. Queer Theory Critique of conventional categories of identity and culture views of normal and abnormal
Queer does not refer only to gays and lesbians
Refers to anything that departs from what society considers normal
64. Queer Theory Arose from of gay and lesbian studies
Initial focus heteronormality
Implications for understandings of sexuality
Aims to enlarge appreciation of range of identities
65. Queer Theory Not useful to use terms like women, men, gay, straight
Essentialize by focusing on only one aspect of person
Erase variation among those in categories
66. Queer Theory Assumes identities are not fixed relatively fluid
67. Performative Theory Through performance humans generate identity
Gender comes into being only as expressed
Gender is something we do at specific times
Gender as verb, not noun
68. Performative Theory We express conventional gender through everyday practices
We resist conventional views of gender if act in ways that are inconsistent
Performances are collaborative
69. Performative Theory Queer performative theories integrate views of queers and performative theory
Important are performances that are routine
Political tools that unsettle