Lesson 01 by virtual University PSY-512.ppt

PSY-512

1. GENDER ISSUES IN GENDER ISSUES IN
PSYCHOLOGYPSYCHOLOGY
Introduction and Historical Introduction and Historical
BackgroundBackground

2. Common MisconceptionCommon Misconception
•There is a difference between psychology There is a difference between psychology
of women and psychology of gender.of women and psychology of gender.
•Gender psychology or psychology of gender Gender psychology or psychology of gender
issues pertains to only psychology of women.issues pertains to only psychology of women.

3. Focus of Psychology of Gender Focus of Psychology of Gender
Issues Issues
•What factors are responsible for the distinct What factors are responsible for the distinct
masculine and feminine roles?masculine and feminine roles?
•This course discusses feminine as well as This course discusses feminine as well as
masculine roles…..but primarily feminine masculine roles…..but primarily feminine
roles. roles.
•The factors may be biological. Social, cultural, The factors may be biological. Social, cultural,
or psychological .or psychological .

4. Divisions of APADivisions of APA
•Division 35: Society for the Psychology of Women, established 1973. Division 35: Society for the Psychology of Women, established 1973.
•Division 51 Society for the Psychological Study of Men And Division 51 Society for the Psychological Study of Men And
Masculinity, established in 1995.Masculinity, established in 1995.

5. About This CourseAbout This Course
•This course will have a multi disciplinary This course will have a multi disciplinary
approach.approach.
•We will borrow and benefit from the knowledge We will borrow and benefit from the knowledge
and research evidence from other disciplines.and research evidence from other disciplines.
•The primary focus of the course will be gender The primary focus of the course will be gender
issues.issues.
• However psychology of women will be touched However psychology of women will be touched
upon more than issues specific to the upon more than issues specific to the
psychology of men alone.psychology of men alone.

6. Goals Of A Course In Gender Goals Of A Course In Gender
Issues In PsychologyIssues In Psychology
•To introduce terminology that is frequently used To introduce terminology that is frequently used
by social scientists now a days.by social scientists now a days.
•To give a flavor of the scope and content of study in To give a flavor of the scope and content of study in
other popular disciplines of the day, like Gender other popular disciplines of the day, like Gender
Studies or Women Studies. Studies or Women Studies.
• To develop an understanding of the difference To develop an understanding of the difference
between between gendergender and and sex.sex.

7. •To introduce a new approach to understanding To introduce a new approach to understanding
human behavior and mental processes.human behavior and mental processes.
•To familiarize the students with the impact of To familiarize the students with the impact of
socio-cultural and psychological factors on the socio-cultural and psychological factors on the
gender roles and the status of gender in a given gender roles and the status of gender in a given
society.society.
•To bring about a healthier and positive change in To bring about a healthier and positive change in
the students’ thinking through knowledge of the students’ thinking through knowledge of
divergent ways of thinking. divergent ways of thinking.

8. •To develop an understanding of gender To develop an understanding of gender
relations in the society.relations in the society.
•To create an awareness of abilities, capacities, To create an awareness of abilities, capacities,
psychological make up, and problems of psychological make up, and problems of
women and research methods employed to women and research methods employed to
study these.study these.
•To familiarize students with the social, and To familiarize students with the social, and
political background of gender differences political background of gender differences
and the gender issues.and the gender issues.

9. Main Focus
•Female physiology, and reproductive health
•Female cognitive skills
•Stereotyping women in media
•Early socialization into sex roles
•Cultural determinants of gender differences

10. Work issues
power relationships between men and women
Psychosocial factors in women empowerment
Discrimination and violence prevention
Physical and mental health issues
Gender equality and equity

11. GenderGender
•The perception of being a male or a The perception of being a male or a
female. female.

12. ““Gender” versus “Sex”Gender” versus “Sex”
•Gender refers to the psychological aspect, whereas Gender refers to the psychological aspect, whereas
sex refers to the physiological/ physical aspect of sex refers to the physiological/ physical aspect of
the same phenomenon.the same phenomenon.
•Biologically based distinctions between males and Biologically based distinctions between males and
females are referred to as “Sex” of the person.females are referred to as “Sex” of the person.
•““Gender” refers to culturally constructed Gender” refers to culturally constructed
categorization of “maleness” and “femaleness” or categorization of “maleness” and “femaleness” or
masculinity and femininity.masculinity and femininity.

13. Who Makes Us Behave As Who Makes Us Behave As
Males or Females?Males or Females?
•Human-beings are born as male or female Human-beings are born as male or female
babies, BUT they become masculine or feminine babies, BUT they become masculine or feminine
as a result of child rearing practices and socio-as a result of child rearing practices and socio-
cultural variables.cultural variables.

14. Gender RolesGender Roles
•Expectations of appropriate behavior for males and females set by a society.Expectations of appropriate behavior for males and females set by a society.
•Gender role expectations are very similar across societies.Gender role expectations are very similar across societies.

15. Gender DifferencesGender Differences
•Actual differences between males and Actual differences between males and
females in terms of average capacity, females in terms of average capacity,
ability, or typical behavior.ability, or typical behavior.

16. Gender StereotypesGender Stereotypes
•““Widely held beliefs about females’ and males’ Widely held beliefs about females’ and males’
abilities, personality traits, and social behavior” abilities, personality traits, and social behavior”
(Weiten, 2001)(Weiten, 2001)

17. Some Questions To PonderSome Questions To Ponder
•Why are women more conscious about body Why are women more conscious about body
weight than men?weight than men?
•Why don’t men wear make up as women do?Why don’t men wear make up as women do?
•Can men become good “mothers”?Can men become good “mothers”?
•Why are women not hired as guards?Why are women not hired as guards?
•Why no men stitch clothes at home but most Why no men stitch clothes at home but most
professional tailors are men?professional tailors are men?

18. •Why most chefs are men but very few men Why most chefs are men but very few men
cook at home? cook at home?
•Why are women considered talkative whereas Why are women considered talkative whereas
on average men talk more?on average men talk more?
•Why men beat their wives and we never hear.Why men beat their wives and we never hear.
•The answers to these questions pertain to The answers to these questions pertain to
societal role allocation and shaping.societal role allocation and shaping.