The
Study of Gender
Prepared by Ethel Cantu
based on
Gender: Psychological
Perspectives, 3rd Ed
by Linda Brannon
Conflict
of Views
l Evolutionary psychology
–
Essentialist
l Differences
are biologically based
l Difficult
to change
l Bio-social view
–
Constructionist
l Differences
are socially constructed
l Flexibility
is possible
Conflict
of Views
l Minimalist view
–
Few
differences exist between men and women
l Maximalist
–
Large
difference exist between women and men
History
of Study of Gender
l Structuralists
–
Understand
structure of conscious mind
l Discover
“generalized adult mind”
l Method:
introspection
l Data:
collected by and from men
l Standard
was male
History
of Study of Gender
l Functionalism
–
Understand
how the mind functions
l Influenced
by Darwin’s theory of evolution
l Looked
for biologically determined differences
l Ignored
social factors
l Female
considered inferior
History
of Study of Gender
l Behaviorism
–
Understand
how behavior is shaped by environmental factors
l Focused
on immediate environment of rewards and punishers
l Ignored
social factors
l Didn’t
study sex differences
History
of Study of Gender
l Psychoanalysis
–
Understand
different personality development of women and men
l Focused
on interaction of biological factors with early childhood experience
l Women
considered inferior
l Inflexible
standards for men
History
of Study of Gender
l Women’s Movement
–
Understand
social forces that shape gender
l Questioned
assumptions about innate differences
l Questioned
roles and stereotypes
l Included
women as subjects
l Reduced
sexist bias
History
of Study of Gender
l Men’s Movement
–
Understand
changing roles of men
l Multiple
points of view
– Profeminist: end
inequalities
– Promasculinist: find
masculine identity
– Anti-feminist: assert
traditional roles