Chapter 18 Gender identity formation Defining Gender

Chapter 18 Gender identity formation

Defining Gender n SEX – biological or anatomical differences between men and women n n GENDER – social, cultural and psychological differences between men and women Gender identity – The sense of being either masculine or feminine; usually socially embedded

Gender lenses – i. e. structures that allow for the social construction, perception of gender n Androcentrism (lens 1) • The male experience is the norm or ‘neutral’ standard (female = ‘other’) n Gender polarisation (lens 2) • Perceived difference between male and female is central organising social principle n Biological essentialism (lens 3) • Biological differences between male and female are central to social organisation O p e r a t e t o g e t h e r

Gender stereotypes n Stereotype = structured set of beliefs about group attributes or properties n Although gender stereotypes are widespread, they are not universal – Many countries have gender stereotypes • MALE = strong, active, autonomous, aggressive • FEMALE = weak, passive, nurturing, deferent – These can be very different in societies where for e. g. hunting and fishing are central to the economy, as opposed to industry

Gender identity development n Critical periods (for gender id) – 0 - 3 years Outcome could be convergent • Children label themselves correctly, or and their play is gendered divergent with – Adolescence biological sex • Rapid physiological changes influence gender role development • Rudimentary gender id. develops by 36 months

Gender socialisation & class n Higher income groups – Greater emphasis on individuality, on reasoning and shame for self regulation – Male adults have less physical jobs; more involved in parenting n Weaker gender typing Lower income groups – Emphasis on conformity to social roles – Male adults have more physical jobs; less involved in parenting, but insist on traditional gender typing Stronger gender typing

Explanations of gender id. formation v Biological Child’s physiology will determine gender identity v Psychoanalytic Transition through psychosexual developmental stages v Cognitive developmental Gender identity is the result of cognitive elaboration of gender categories or schemata v Social learning Processes of conditioning and reinforcement produce gender consistent behaviour

Sources of influence in development n Parents – Actively reproduce their own gender roles and stereotypes • Buy gender-appropriate toys and clothes • Reinforce gendered behaviour e. g. rough-&-tumble play n Peers – Reproduce gender identities by rewarding gender consistency & punishing gender inconsistency n Media – Central role in exposing children to gender stereotypes