Perspectives Theoretical on Sex/Gender Chapter 5
Theory is...
A set of relevant assumptions systematically related to each other Systematic collection of concepts & relations A tool to understand & describe the world General framework of ideas & how they relate to each other that can be used to answer questions
Humans need to explain what, how, where, and why life events occur
Theories are maps of Reality.
(Griffin, 2003)
A theory is an account of what something is and/or how it works and/or what it produces or causes to happen. Theories are points of view, human constructions.
Theories are
Dynamic Developed over time Reconsidered and reconsidered Human constructions Based on socialhistorical context
What Can Theories Do For Us?
Theory serves to guide us through unfamiliar territory. Organize ideas/facts Decrease informational overload Raise questions Explain phenomenon Predict phenomenon Focus attention, guide observation Generate new information Change the way we view & understand the world
Theories of Gender Development
Psychodynamic Approach
Freud's Theory Horney's Theory Chodorow's Theory Kaschak's Theory
Feminist Psychoanalytic Theory
Social Learning Theory (Bandura) Cognitive Theories of Gender Development
Freud's Theory
Psychosexual stages:
Oral Anal Phallic (34 years of age)
Start of different course in development for girls & boys Children focus on genitals Oedipus complex & Electra complex
Latency (lasts until puberty)
Phallic Stage
Oedipus Complex
1.
Electra Complex
1.
Has intense attraction to mother Sees father as rival and feels hostile toward him Projects feelings father on believing father sees him (son) as a rival Fears father will
Originally bonded with mother Notices lack of penis Penis envy (inferiority) Blames mother for lack of penis & withdraws affection from her Replaces wish for penis with wish for child
2.
2.
3.
4.
3.
5.
4.
Horney's Theory
Penis envy was symbolic longing for social prestige & position that men have
Not a literal desire for a physical penis
Womb Envy
Men envy women's capability to reproduce Men striving Overcompensation for
for achievement lack of ability to reproduce
Chodorow's Theory
Girls
Boys
Easier because they already identified with their mothers
Difficult because they identified with their mothers
Feminine like mothers Continual identification with all things feminine Accept feminine role
Results
Must reject femininity of mothers to become masculine Rejection of all things feminine Fear & mistrust of
Results
Social Learning Theory
Focus on influence of social environment Observation
Examples/models of female & male
Reinforcement & Punishment
Cognitive Developmental Theory
Gender Identity
Children's abilities to identify themselves as girls or boys (23 years of age)
Gender Stability
Understanding the lasting nature of gender (45 years of age)
Gender Constancy
A person's gender is fixed (67 years of age)
Schema Theory
Schema "an internal cognitive structure that organizes information and guides perception" (p. 127) Children encode/organize information about gender
Formed schemata regulate behavior and impact perception factors into how we judge others' behavior