Gender Differences and Gender Stereotypes from a...

Gender Differences and Gender Stereotypes from a Psychological Perspective Gender Differences and Gender Stereotypes Gender differences and gender stereotypes are fascinating in that one must sift through the theories, assumptions and inevitable confusion to distinguish the reality from the assumption. Men and women are obviously different, especially inherently, but how? And why? And which differences are more individualized than generalized? Even more interesting is to observe how the differences between men and women have evolved, especially over the past 30 years- since the sexual revolution. A generous amount of research has been done since then, and this research is continually updated as men and women evolve themselves.†¦show more content†¦The difference in the degree of aggression between the two genders seems much more obvious in people’s youth. Young boys are known to fight a lot, but there aggression seems to fade as they mature. There have been many studies involving gender differences in aggressive behavior. What causes this behavior? Is it environmental or inbor n? Some believe that aggression is caused by nature, while others believe that it is caused by nurture. Those who argue that aggression is caused by the nature theory argue that the level of aggressiveness differs in the two sexes because of the difference in the level of sex hormone, testosterone. In rebuttal, the nurture side argues that aggressiveness is largely caused by the social structure in which we live. This team believes that as soon as a child recognizes his/her gender, he/she becomes either passive or aggressive, thinking that that is what they are expected to be. Such behavior is encouraged by the media, the parents whom they follow, and other important factors in their lives. In an effort to prove whether the aggressiveness of gender is caused by nature or nurture, some information has been collected. However, even with the data it is hard to come to a conclusion. Self-confidence is another major issue, concerning genders. Psychologists say that women have less self-confidence than men do. When a male student and a female studentShow MoreRelatedGender Roles : Gender And Gender1587 Words   |  7 PagesMany people don’t know the difference between gender and sex. Sex is anatomical and biological. Gender role can be defined as a person’s inner sense of how a male or female should feel and behave. Culture and society are two important factors in relation to this particular topic. This implies that various societies and cultures may produce children and later fully grown men and women who may have diverse perspectives of a man or a woman’s place or role in the world around them; this is often determinedRead MoreExploring the Formation of â€Å"Perspective Fixedness† Through Established Theories1100 Words   |  5 PagesExploring the Formation of â€Å"Perspective Fixedness† Through Established Theories The ability to take different and varying perspectives in any given situation is a strength and often seen as an indicator of intelligence or at least, competence. This fluidity of perspective is a prominent part of many entrance tests for gifted children in schools (McGlonn-Nelson, 2005). In everyday cultural interactions, however, the quality does not seem to be endorsed or encouraged and in looking at the System JustificationRead MoreSex-Role Stereotyping Essay835 Words   |  4 Pagesinescapable, the new generation takes its cues from older generations, and thus, any change in them is slow. Few would argue that some differences do exist between men and women. However, are these differences significant enough to perpetuate male and female stereotypes? More importantly, do such stereotypes serve any benefit to an individual or culture? Jeanne Humphrey Block, author of Conceptions of Sex Role- Some Cross Cultural and Longitudinal Perspectives, uses the term â€Å"sex role† to describe theRead MoreBreaking through the Barriers Essay1649 Words   |  7 Pagesthe definition of the word â€Å"gender† question whether one is male or female, or does it derive from something much deeper than that? Think back to childhood and try to recall some of the most popular toys. Most likely, females were given a baby doll, and males, an action figure of some sort. From early childhood all the way to late adulthood, Americans are taught the differences between a man and a woman by these small gestures. The theory and concepts surrounding gender vary by culture, but as AmericansRead MoreThe Theory Of Equality And Gender Roles1176 Words   |  5 PagesThe world one lives in it happens to grasp that all humans are designed as equals. This is far-off from reality based on how this society is operating. The principle o f equality does not imply that everyone is the same, nevertheless that everyone should be treated as equals unless special circumstances apply. When it comes to the two sexes, everything that comes in its bounds is either biased intentionally or unintentionally, either way it continues. One could be aware of the characteristics andRead MoreModern Day American Society By Aaron Devor s Bros Before Hos : The Guy Code ``1635 Words   |  7 Pages yet it is the root of all gender relations. The widely accepted notion that men naturally evolved to become the superior sex is a myth. Aaron Devor’s â€Å"Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social Meanings of Gender,† and Michael Kimmel’s â€Å"Bros Before Hos: The Guy Code,† both argue that the gender hierarchy America has been built upon is the product of socialization. Devor s essay, written more like a research paper, focuses on explaining the origins of the gender myth through well-researchedRead MoreO bjectification Of Women And Women1462 Words   |  6 Pagesand women and how they are related to levels of sexism and psychological well-being. The literature on objectification has mostly indicated the connection between viewing objectified media representations and women’s body displeasure and motivation to achieve a slim body. The goal of the current study was to further past research by studying the effects of objectified media images –considering both male and female models– on psychological well-being, self-regard, and support of sexist states of mindRead MoreThe Topic Of Sexuality1144 Words   |  5 Pagesphenomenon and is influenced by the interaction of psychological, biological, social, cultural factors and many more. Horrocks (1997), suggests that to try and understand or explain a definitive conclusion about sexuality seems impossible as sexuality has different meanings to so many groups of people. Introduce the perspectives being used in essay (para)- There are a wide variety of models and perspectives relating to sexuality. Many perspectives on sexuality use biology and physiology as the basisRead MoreShould Children Be Exposed From Gender Roles?973 Words   |  4 PagesShould Children Be Exposed To Gender Roles? In modern day America there is an ongoing disagreement between people of all ages about the topic of gender roles in children. According to Barrie Thorne and Zella Luria, the word gender is used to refer to â€Å"cultural and social phenomena- divisions of labor, activity, and identity which are associated with but not fully determined by biological sex† (Sexuality and Gender in Children’s Daily Worlds). Whether or not young males should be able to play withRead MoreLiving In 21St Century United States, Being A Much More1042 Words   |  5 Pagesliberal  and inclusive environment (generally speaking) than prior decades, gender â€Å"roles† and their normalities are being severely questioned and challenged. Americans have defined and established gender stereotypes that have become a critical part of how we look at gender roles and create biases about each gender. Stereotypes assume people who belong to a group will appear, behave, look, speak or sound like o thers from that group. The values, norms, practices, behaviors and traditions associated