Transcript Women*s Lives: Psychological Explorations X/e Claire Etaugh

Chapter 1
Introduction to the Psychology of Gender
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Definitions:
Sex and Gender
Sex: the classification of individuals as female or
male based on their genetic makeup,
anatomy, and reproductive functions
e.g., vagina, penis, breasts, chromosomes
Gender: the meanings that societies and
individuals give to female and male categories\
e.g., colors, clothing, toys, roles, attitudes
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History of the Psychology of
Women
The early years
“Womanless” psychology
Women viewed as different from and inferior to men
First generation of women psychologists conducted research
to challenge assumptions of inferiority
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History of the Psychology of
Women
The recent years
1960s: beginning of the modern feminist movement in the U.S.
Emergence of psychology of women as a separate field of study
Psychology of gender textbooks
Psychology of Women Quarterly, Sex Roles
Today, women represent nearly half of the psychologists in the
workforce
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Studying the Psychology of
Women
Bias in psychological research, continued
Selecting research participants
Are the participants representative of the larger
population?
Is the gender composition specified?
Other sampling limitations: race, socioeconomic status,
sexuality, disability
Selecting the measures
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Studying the Psychology of
Women
Bias in psychological research, continued
Analyzing and interpreting the findings
Statistical significance
Interpreting findings in a way that suggests female
weakness or inferiority
Inappropriate generalization
Assumption that presence of gender differences implies
biological causes
Communicating the findings
Publishing
Avoiding gender-biased language
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Themes in the Text
Theme 1: Intersectionality: The Diversity of
Women’s Identities and Experiences
An individual’s multiple identities interact with each other to
shape the person’s experiences
Examine diversity with respect to ethnicity, social class,
sexual orientation, ableness, age, culture
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Themes in the Text
Theme 2: Gender Differences in Power
Organizational power: ability to use valuable resources to
dominate and control others
Interpersonal power: ability to influence one’s partner within
a specific relationship
Power-over: a person’s or group’s control of another person
or group
Power-to: empowerment of self and others to accomplish
tasks
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Themes in the Text
Theme 3: Social Construction of Gender
Traits, behaviors, and roles associated with females and
males not inherent in one’s sex
Traits, behaviors, and roles shaped by numerous
interpersonal, cultural, and societal forces
Our experience of femaleness and maleness cannot be
separated from our ethnicity and social class or from our
sexual orientation and physical ability/disability
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