Page 136 - Understanding Psychology

1. Review the Vocabulary
son’s gender schema?
What is a per-
3. Recall Information According to the social learning theory, how do children learn gender roles?
4. Think Critically Why might many people disagree with or oppose biologi- cal theories of gender differences?
Using an organizer similar to the one below, list
2. Visualize the Main Idea
and characterize three theories explain- ing the origins of gender differences.
Origins of Gender Differences
I. __________________________________ II. __________________________________
5. Application Activity
Review a TV program, movie, Internet site, or advertisement. Analyze
the gender roles portrayed, then answer the following question: What role do the media play in the development of gender stereotypes?
gender schema: a set of behaviors organized around how either a male or female should think and behave
concept. The child may begin to acquire preferences consistent with his or her perceived gender. For example, a boy watches a football game and then engages in rough play with another boy. Eventually that boy forms a gen- der schema. A gender schema is a mental representation of behavior that helps a child organize and categorize behaviors. For instance, a girl develops a schema of how a female should act and then behaves in accordance with that schema. The girl begins to play with dolls when she perceives that this behavior fits in with her notion of what kinds of toys girls play with. When she acts appropriately with the schema, her self-confidence rises. When she fails to act in accordance with her schema, she feels inadequate.
CHANGING GENDER ROLES
The roles of women and men in society are changing. For example, before the 1960s in the United States, few women sought careers. Most women grew up expecting to marry and quit work to raise children. By the mid-1980s, though, this had changed. Most women had jobs outside the home. For women and men, work provides income, as well as a sense of accomplishment.
Despite the fact that more women are in the workforce, studies have shown that, in general, women do not advance as quickly as men and women occupy lower levels of leadership positions. Industrial/organiza- tional psychologists propose that the inequality in the workplace may be the result of several factors. Companies may discriminate against women. Many women interrupt their careers for child care and in doing so miss opportunities for promotion and salary increases. Also, men and women may differ in their ambition. That is, women may have been taught by society to set different goals.
Assessment
122 Chapter 4 / Adolescence