Discovering Psychology Series The Psychology of Gender 2nd edition Kristy McRaney, Alexis Bridley, and Lee William Daffin Jr. Washington State University Version 2.00 May 2021 Contact Information about this OER: 1. Dr. Lee Daffin, Associate Professor of Psychology – [email protected] Table of Contents Preface Record of Changes Part I. Setting the Stage • Module 1: Foundations of A Psychology of Gender 1-1 • Module 2: Studying Gender Using the Scientific Method 2-1 Part II: Applying Social and Developmental Lenses • Module 3: Gender Through a Social Psychological Lens 3-1 • Module 4: Gender Through a Developmental Psychology Lens 5-1 Part III: Applying a Biological Lens • Module 5: Gender Through a Human Sexuality Lens 6-1 • Module 6: Gender Through a Cognitive Psychology Lens 7-1 • Module 7: Gender Through a Physiological Psychology Lens 8-1 Part IV: Applying a Health Lens (Physical and Mental) • Module 8: Gender Through a Health Psychology Lens 9-1 • Module 9: Gender Through a Clinical Psychology Lens 10-1 Part V: Final Topics • Module 10: Gender Through an Educational Lens 11-1 • Module 11: Gender Through an Industrial/Organizational Lens 12-1 Glossary References Index Record of Changes Edition As of Date Changes Made 1.0 August 2019 Initial writing; feedback pending 2.0 May 2021 Copyediting changes 2nd edition Part I. Setting the Stage 2nd edition Part I. Setting the Stage Module 1: Foundations of A Psychology of Gender 1-1 2nd edition Module 1: Foundations of A Psychology of Gender Module Overview In our first module, we will lay the foundation for the rest of the book by contrasting gender with the concepts of sex and sexual orientation and differentiate health and wellness. We will discuss dimensions of gender and why gender congruence is important, and then move to a listing of terms important to the study of gender. With this done, we will briefly overview movements specific to women (i.e. feminism) and men and then outline some of the professional societies and journals committed to studying gender issues. Module Outline 1.1. Defining Terms 1.2. Movements Linked to Gender 1.3. Connecting with Other Psychologists of Gender Module Learning Outcomes • Contrast gender with sex and sexual orientation and describe the key components of gender. • Describe movements geared to women and men. • Identify professional societies and journals committed to the study of gender issues. 1-2 2nd edition 1.1. Defining Terms Section Learning Objectives • Define psychology. • Contrast health and wellness. • Differentiate sex and gender. • List the dimensions of gender. • Clarify the importance of gender congruence. • Differentiate gender and sexual orientation. • Define key terms in relation to the language of gender. 1.1.1. What is Psychology? Welcome to your course on the psychology of gender which this book supports. Of course, you may be expecting a definition of gender in this module and we will definitely provide one. But since some students taking this class are not psychology majors or minors, and most of you had your introductory class some time ago, we want to ensure you have a solid foundation to build on. So, to get us started we need to understand what psychology is. Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Yes, that is correct. Psychology is scientific. Psychology utilizes the same scientific process and methods practiced by disciplines such as biology and chemistry. We will discuss this in more detail in Module 2 so please just keep this in the back of your mind for now. Second, it is the study of behavior and mental processes. Psychology desires to not only understand why people engage in the behavior that they do, but also how. What is going on in the brain to control the movement of our arms 1-3 2nd edition and legs when running downfield to catch the game winning touchdown? What affects the words we choose to say when madly in love? How do we interpret an event as benign or a threat when a loud sound is heard? What makes an individual view another group in less than favorable terms? Such prejudicial or discriminatory behavior could be directed at a person due to their gender or sexual orientation. These are just a few of the questions that we ask as psychologists and our focus in this book is on the psychology of gender. 1.1.2. What is Health and Wellness? As we discuss the psychology of gender, we will cover numerous topics that affect a person’s health and wellness. So, it seems logical that we should explain what these terms mean. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines wellness as “being in good physical and mental health.” They add, “Remember that wellness is not the absence of illness or stress. You can still strive for wellness even if you are experiencing these challenges in your life.” Most people see wellness as just focused on the physical or mental. These are part of the picture, but definitely not the whole picture. SAMHSA proposes eight dimensions of wellness as follows (this information is directly from their website): • Physical – Recognizing the need for physical activity, healthy foods, and sleep • Emotional – Coping effectively with life and creating satisfying relationships • Environmental—Good health by occupying pleasant, stimulating environments that support well-being • Financial—Satisfaction with current and future financial situations 1-4 2nd edition • Intellectual—Recognizing creative abilities and finding ways to expand knowledge and skills • Occupational—Personal satisfaction and enrichment from one’s work • Social— Developing a sense of connection, belonging, and a well-developed support system • Spiritual— Expanding a sense of purpose and meaning in life As we tackle the content of the remaining modules, consider the various dimensions of wellness that are affected by topics related to gender such as stereotypes, identity formation, aggression, relationships, health, sexuality, development, mental disorders, and physiology. As you will see, all eight are involved at different times. Source: https://www.samhsa.gov/wellness-initiative/eight-dimensions-wellness 1.1.3. What is a Psychology of Gender? Alright. Now to the business at hand – defining what gender is. Before we can do that, we have to understand what the term sex means. But why? Aren’t they the same thing? Though typically considered synonyms by many, sex and gender have distinct meanings that become important when collecting data and engaging in research. First, sex refers to the biological aspects of a person due to their anatomy. This includes the individual’s hormones, chromosomes, body parts such as the sexual organs, and how they all interact. When we say sex, we are generally describing whether the person is assigned male or female at birth. In contrast, gender is socially constructed (presumed after a sex is assigned) and leads to labels such as masculinity or femininity and their related behaviors. People may declare 1-5 2nd edition themselves to be a man or woman, as having no gender, or falling on a continuum somewhere between man and woman. How so? According to genderspectrum.org, gender results from the complex interrelationship of three dimensions – body, identity, and social. First, body, concerns our physical body, how we experience it, how society genders bodies, and the way in which others interact with us based on our body. The website states, “Bodies themselves are also gendered in the context of cultural expectations. Masculinity and femininity are equated with certain physical attributes, labeling us as more or less a man/woman based on the degree to which those attributes are present. This gendering of our bodies affects how we feel about ourselves and how others perceive and interact with us.” Next is gender identity or our internal perception and expression of who we are as a person. It includes naming our gender, though this gender category may not match the sex we are assigned at birth. Gender identities can take on several forms from the traditional binary man- woman, to non-binary such as genderqueer or genderfluid, and ungendered or agender (i.e. genderless). Though gaining an understanding of what gender we are occurs by age four, naming it is complex and can evolve over time. As genderspectrum.org says, “Because we are provided with limited language for gender, it may take a person quite some time to discover, or create, the language that best communicates their internal experience. Likewise, as language evolves, a person’s name for their gender may also evolve. This does not mean their gender has changed, but rather that the words for it are shifting.” Finally, we have a social gender or the manner in which we present our gender in the world, but also how other people, society, and culture affect our concept of gender. In terms of the former, we communicate our gender through our clothes, hairstyles, and behavior called gender expression. In terms of the latter, children are socialized as to what gender means from 1-6 2nd edition the day they are born and through toys, colors, and clothes. Who does this socialization? Anyone outside the child can, including parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers, the media, religious figures, friends, and the community. Generally, the binary male-female view of gender is communicated for which there are specific gender expectations and roles. According to genderspectrum.org, “Kids who don’t express themselves along binary gender lines are often rendered invisible or steered into a more binary gender presentation. Pressures to conform at home, mistreatment by peers in school, and condemnation by the broader society are just some of the struggles facing a child whose expression does not fall in line with the binary gender system.” The good news is that gender norms do change over time, such as our culture’s acceptance of men wearing earrings and women getting tattoos.