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Description
Mind Map by ayisha.jabbar, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by ayisha.jabbar
over 10 years ago
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Cultural Influences on gener role
- The study of cultural influences
on gender roles helped us
increase our understanding of
the relative contributions of
biology and socialisation.
- Cultural Similarities and Differences
- Cultural Differences: Magnitude of sex differences
- Despite similarities between cultures, there are also some significant variations,
described as cultural relativism by Mead, e.g. Berry et al (2002) looked at male
superiority on spatial perceptual tasks, in 17 societies and found that this superiority
is only found in tightly knit societies, and are absent in nomadic societies. This
shows that sex differences on spatial perceptual tasks interact with ecological and
cultural factors.
- The same pattern is shown in conformity. Across cultures
there is a general consensus that women are more
conformist than men. However even this varies
considerably with culture e.g. Berry et al reported that
conformity is highest in sedentary societies, with a
correlation between this sex difference and an ecocultural
index of +78.
- Evaluation
- Spatial perception; evidence suggests that the magnitude of sex
differences is linked to culture and ecology, e.g. magnitude of male
superiority on spatial tasks was highest in tight sedentary societies. In such
societies division of labour is greatest as women stay home while the men
go out an hunt, whereas in nomadic societies both men and women go to
hunt and there is less division of labour (Van Leeuwen 1978). Where there is
strong division of labour men will be given practise from early childhood in
skills related to hunting. This explains the magnitude of differences across
different cultures.
- Kimura (1999) offers an alternative biological explanation
suggesting that those males with poor hunting skills (spatial
perception) are likely to die thus eliminating such genes
from the gene pool. This would explain why in societies
where both men and women hunt (nomadic) there would be
less gender difference in spatial abilities.
- Kimura (1999) offers an alternative biological explanation
suggesting that those males with poor hunting skills (spatial
perception) are likely to die thus eliminating such genes
from the gene pool. This would explain why in societies
where both men and women hunt (nomadic) there would be
less gender difference in spatial abilities.
- Conformity; in societies where women contribute a lot
to food accumulation (nomadic societies) women are
highly valued, allowed more freedom and seen less
as a sex object for men (Schlegel and Barry 1986).
This means that women occupy a higher position
within the social group and therefore have more
power and less need to conform to the demands of
the powerful members of society.
- Spatial perception; evidence suggests that the magnitude of sex
differences is linked to culture and ecology, e.g. magnitude of male
superiority on spatial tasks was highest in tight sedentary societies. In such
societies division of labour is greatest as women stay home while the men
go out an hunt, whereas in nomadic societies both men and women go to
hunt and there is less division of labour (Van Leeuwen 1978). Where there is
strong division of labour men will be given practise from early childhood in
skills related to hunting. This explains the magnitude of differences across
different cultures.
- Despite similarities between cultures, there are also some significant variations,
described as cultural relativism by Mead, e.g. Berry et al (2002) looked at male
superiority on spatial perceptual tasks, in 17 societies and found that this superiority
is only found in tightly knit societies, and are absent in nomadic societies. This
shows that sex differences on spatial perceptual tasks interact with ecological and
cultural factors.
- Cultural Similarities
- Cross-cultural of gender show that every society has some of labour and
behaviour based on gender (Munroe and Munroe 1975) e.g. cooking and
caring for children is done by females in most societies and sometimes it is
shared but it's never fully the responsibly the male. Girls are socialised more
towards compliance and boys are raised more for assertiveness.
- Evaluation; the fact that labour divisions are similar in all cultures
suggests that biology rather than culture explains the development of
gender roles, but it is not known if this division is the outcome of
biological differences (as suggested by Eagly and Wood who argued
that all cultures shape their socialisation processes along the lines of
inborn biological tendencies). There are still some cultures that do not
agree with the majority e.g. Japanese men do not want to macho like
American men instead they prefer to be skilled in arts (something that
is seen as being feline).
- Three major studies that have shown
cultural similarities in gender roles are;
Mead's classic study in three primitive
societies, Williams and Best's study
conducted in 27 countries and Buss'
(1989) analysis of 37 cultural groups.
- Cross-cultural of gender show that every society has some of labour and
behaviour based on gender (Munroe and Munroe 1975) e.g. cooking and
caring for children is done by females in most societies and sometimes it is
shared but it's never fully the responsibly the male. Girls are socialised more
towards compliance and boys are raised more for assertiveness.
- Cultural Differences: Magnitude of sex differences
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