Chapter 1
Central Concepts in the Psychology of Women
Sex and Gender
Sex: male/ female or sexual intercourse?
Term is ambiguous
Gender: the state of being male or female
“doing gender”-express gender and perceive gender in interaction
A dynamic process
Social Biases
Sexism-bias based on gender
Sexism: discrimination or bias against people based on their gender; sex bias.
Old-fashioned vs. modern sexism (Swim et al., 1995)
Old-fashioned sexism: open or over prejudice against women
Modern sexism or Neosexism: covert or subtle prejudiced beliefs about women
Racism-racial groups
Classism-social class (income, occupation, education)
Heterosexism-sexual orientation
Ableism--disability
Ageism-chronological age
Feminist Approaches
What is FEMINISIM:
Feminist: person (either male or female) who believes in the economic, political, and social equality of women and men (according to dictionary)
Common perspectives of feminists: concerned with inequality at the personal, institutional and cultural levels
Belief that woman are disadvantaged relative to men
Considered to be life philosophy, a worldview, for justice.
Belief system—women’s experiences and ideas are valued
Men/women can be feminists
Many qualify as feminists, won’t call themselves it
Wide variety ideas and perspective held by feminists (not all feminists are the same)
Five type of Feminism:
Liberal feminism: women and men should have same political, legal, economic and educational rights/opportunities
Reform; stresses similiarities
Cultural feminism: women & men different—more respect shown for women’s special qualities
Empower women, restructure society
Radical feminism: inequality based on male oppression
Patriarchy to blame—male control and dominance
Massive social change needed, and power for women
Women of color feminism: belief that both racism and classism need to be recognized as important as sexism
Socialist feminism: gender inequality rooted in economic inequality
Capitolism to blame
Psychological Approaches to Gender Similarity and Difference
The Similarities Perspective: men/women similar—social forces create differences.
Similarities—alike in intellectual and social behaviors.
Socialization produces differences, not biology
Social constructionism—invent or construct own reality based on prior experiences, social interactions, and beliefs.
Observations influenced by beliefs—no real objective reality
The Differences Perspective: men/women generally different—
differences between men/women stressed—due to essential qualities (biology) within individual
Men---linked with reason and civilization.
Women---linked with emotion and nature
Men the standard—women deviations
May emphasize positive characteristics that have been undervalued in women. (similar to Cultural feminism). Critics: stereotypes stronger with difference emphasis
Essentialism—basic, stable characteristic residing within individual. Internal characteristics create nurturing behavior
All women share same psychological characteristics—different from men. Not consistent with cross-cultural research.
A Brief History of the Psychology of Women
Early Studies of Gender Comparisons
G. Stanley Hall—movement against coeducation
Biased research about gender
Mostly men researchers—gender comparison. Difference in size of brain structures
Helen Thompson Woolley—similar intellectual abilities men/women, higher for women in memory and thinking
Leta Stetter Hollinworth—menstrual cycle no effect on intellectual abilities
Early years: “early years of psychology womanless”
Few women psychologists, and experiences of females not thought to be important
Works of women may be overlooked
Authors referred to by first initial (not first name)
No gender-identifying info—so assume author is man
The Emergence of the Psychology of Women as a Discipline
1/3 members APA women—applied and social areas
few faculty at research universities
1969—Association for Women in Psychology, 1973---Society for Psych of Women—largest division within APA
1970s—more women in psychology. Women’s movement and feminism gained attention. Beginning women’s studies
Recent years: 1960’s beginning of feminist movement
Feminine Mystique, Equal Pay Act, and NOW formed.
Problems with the 1970s Framework
Extremely complicated issue—gender, not quickly “fixed”
Women sometimes blamed for fate---not assertive enough, afraid of success. (situation to blame) Gender discrimination and sexism
The Current Status of the Psychology of Women—more research, 3 journals.
Women and Ethnicity
The White-as-Normative Concept—hidden assumptions
Peggy McIntosh—privileges of being white—take for granted.
History in schools—white children learn white history
Don’t belong to ethnic group—others do
Women of Color--
Demographics—Latinas/latinos 2nd largest ethnic group in US
Much diversity in within every ethnic group
Chicano/Chicana--terms of reference
Black women—3rd largest ethnic group in US
Asian American women—origins from many different countries
Often stereotyped as “ideal minority”
Native American women
U.S.-Centered Nationalism—US considered normative—other countries “less than”. In a position of privilege
Critical Thinking and the Psychology of Women
Ask good questions about what you see or hear
Determine whether conclusions are supported by the evidence that has been presented
Suggest alternative interpretations of the evidence
Themes of the Textbook
Psychological Gender Differences Are Typically Small and Inconsistent
gender as a subject variable—within ind.
People React Differently to Men and Women
gender as a stimulus variable—others react to characteristic
Women Are Less Visible Than Men in Many Important Areas
Androcentric—male experience treated as the norm
Women Vary Widely From One Another