Page 130 - Understanding Psychology

Gender Roles and Differences
s Main Idea
Females and males have physical and psychological gender differences. Our beliefs about what we think it means to be male or female influence our behavior.
s Vocabulary
• gender identity
• gender role
• gender stereotype
• androgynous
• gender schema
s Objectives
• Explain the difference between gender
identity and gender role.
• Describe gender differences in person-
ality and cognitive abilities.
Reader’s Guide
Exploring Psychology
Boys Will Be Boys . . .
On the Oceanside playground I watched four boys from Miss Bailey’s class- room start to climb up the “dirt pile” at the edge of the grassy playing field. As they climbed and compared the gripping power of their shoes, Matt suggested that they have a “falling contest; see who can fall the farthest,” which they proceeded to do. . . .
In gestures of intimacy that one rarely sees among boys, girls stroke or comb their friends’ hair. They notice and comment on one another’s physical appearance such as haircuts or clothes, and they borrow and wear one another’s sweatshirts or sweaters.
—from Gender Play: Girls and Boys in School by Barrie Thorne, 1993
116 Chapter 4 / Adolescence
Many people just take for granted the differences between boys and girls, claiming that “boys will be boys,” or something similar. Pick up a magazine, turn on the TV, or look outside your window— gender stereotypes are everywhere. Some parents dress baby girls in pink and boys in blue, give them gender-specific names, and expect them to act differently.
The first question asked of new parents is “Is the baby a boy or a girl?” Your gender greatly influences how you dress, move, work, and play. It can influence your thoughts and others’ thoughts about you. Are there signifi- cant psychological differences between males and females? Do children learn gender identities or are they born different?