O those equivalencies for men tend to be used more

o
Those equivalencies for men tend to be used more complimentary.

Most of our insult words are not “equal opportunity lenders.” (i.e. “asshole”
versus “bitch”)
Gender differences?

Are the stereotypes around gender differences accurate?
o
Hall and Carter (1999) found that stereotypes were to some degree
accurate, but this accuracy varied based on both the stereotype and the
person making the judgment.
o Stereotypes emphasize differences and minimize similarities.
o
Self-fulfilling prophecy

Skrypneck and Snyder (1982)

Male and female “bosses” assigned tasks to anonymous
men and women.

Found that if “the boss” thought that they were assigning a
task to a man, then the task assigned was more masculine
(and vice versa).

Male bosses were less likely to negotiate with women;
therefore, women negotiated less.

Anonymous resume survey

Identical resumes were sent to a group of both male and
female professors, with the only difference being the first
name of the applicant.

Professors were more likely to hire the male applicant, and
were more likely to report that the male applicant had more
experience [in comparison to the female applicant].


Effect size: A way of statistically measuring differences between groups.
o
Effect size = 0: No statistical difference between groups.
o
Higher effect size indicates larger difference between groups (i.e. lesser
degree of overlap between the two normal curves)

Height is one of the largest effect sizes in gender differences.
o Meta-analysis: Study that combines data from other studies.

Nurture: Social structural theory
o
Male-female differences are of paramount importance and highly
noticeable.

Given that they exist, they are self-reinforcing

Creates a hierarchy

Nature: Biology/evolutionary theory
o Gender differences are due to men’s larger size and physical capabilities
as compared to women.
o
Gender differences stem from our desire to pass on our genes and the
strategies we developed to do so (e.g., Buss, 1995; Buss & Kenrick, 1998).
o
Our animalistic goal in life is to pass on our genes [via reproduction].

The best way for a man to accomplish this is to impregnate many
different women [as there are few risks associated with this for the
male]. (Evolutionary)

Women would rather be focused on having fewer children and
providing more care for those few. (Biology)

Other differences
o
Over 50% of men report thinking about sex daily; Women less than 20%
o
Men report more arousal and fantasies.
o Men cause more fights about “not enough”.
o Lesbians report less frequent sex (and sex thoughts)
o
Women fantasize more about familiar; Men with strangers/multiple
partners

Clark and Hatfield (1989)
o
“Would you go out tonight?”

Women: ~50%

Men: ~50%
o
“Will you come over to my apartment?”

Women: 6%

Men: 69%

o
“Would you go to bed with me?”

Women: 0%

Men: 75%

Recent studies suggest that women are equally as likely as men to engage in