Deck 2: Theoretical Approaches to Gender Development

Question 1

Cultural theories can correctly explain more aspects of gender than any other theories.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Which of the following is generally true?

A) Most women use only the right lobe of their brain.
B) Most men use only the left lobe of their brain.
C) Most men's brains are more highly integrated than most women's brains.
D) A and B
E) None of the above.

Answer 2

E

Question 3

Children learn who they are and what that means in their culture through interaction with parents,teachers,and friends.Through this,they learn gender roles for men and women and may internalize them.Which theory does this definition best describe?

A) cognitive development
B) social learning
C) psychodynamic (or psychoanalytic)
D) biological
E) symbolic interactionism

Answer 3

E

Question 4

Performative theory says that gender is not real but is just an act we perform.

Question 5

Biological theory suggests that men and women's brains are formed and develop differently,resulting in different behaviors and characteristics.

Question 6

When parents who seek to promote traditional gendered behaviors in their children reward tomboys for wearing frilly dresses or punish effeminate boys for playing with Barbies,they are assuming which theory of gender?

A) Biological theory
B) Psychodynamic theory
C) Social learning theory
D) Symbolic interaction theory
E) Standpoint theory

Question 7

At age 3,Bonnie realizes she is female and she wants to become skilled at being a girl.She begins to watch her mother and older sister and to model her behaviors after theirs.Bonnie's efforts to learn how to act feminine are best explained by which theory?

A) cognitive development
B) social learning
C) psychodynamic (or psychoanalytic)
D) biological
E) both B & C

Question 8

According to Standpoint theory

A) People with the most social privilege are most likely to develop an oppositional stance toward existing power structures.
B) People who are privileged in some ways but disadvantaged in others are most likely to develop an oppositional stance toward existing power structures.
C) People with the least social privilege are most likely to develop an oppositional stance toward existing power structures.
D) No group is more likely than another to develop an oppositional stance toward existing power structures.

Question 9

The best way to explain sex and gender is through interpersonal and cultural theories.

Question 10

Men and women have hormonal cycles that can affect their behavior.

Question 11

According to standpoint theory,all perspectives on social life are equally insightful.

Question 12

Young Eun is a working-class Korean woman who installs security systems for upper class white Americans who live in an exclusive,wealthy neighborhood.According to standpoint theory,which statement(s)best explain(s)this scenario?

A) As members of different social groups, Young Eun and the wealthy homeowners have developed different skills, ways of thinking, and understandings of life.
B) Young Eun and the wealthy homeowners' viewpoints are limited and partial.
C) Young Eun may view security systems differently from her clients' perspectives based on their different standpoints.
D) It would be possible for Young Eun and her clients to work to understand the others' standpoints.
E) All of the above.

Question 13

Most researchers agree that biological influences on gender are substantially edited by environmental factors.

Question 14

Research into male hormones indicates that

A) Men who act aggressively and commit antisocial and criminal acts tend to be at the peak of their testosterone cycle.
B) Testosterone contributes to the development of men's greater muscle mass.
C) Men who are given estrogen experience an increase in nonverbal skills and a decline in spatial skills.
D) Starting at age 30, men's testosterone levels begin to decrease.
E) All of the above

Question 15

Jeff explains,"When I was a young boy,my dad used to yell and scream at me every time I tried to play with my sister's dolls,but when I played on the soccer and t-ball teams,he couldn't stop encouraging me.I wanted him to be proud of me,and it really scared me when he was mad,so even though I didn't like sports that much,I kept playing them." What theory would best describe this example of gender development?

A) Social learning theory
B) Cognitive development theory
C) Queer theory
D) Symbolic interactionism
E) Standpoint theory

Question 16

Theories of gender affect our thoughts and our behaviors.

Question 17

According to psychodynamic theorists,gender identity becomes fixed early in life.

Question 18

Queer theory states that identity categories are limiting and meaningless.

Question 19

Biological theory says that genes,hormones,and brain structure are the basis of gender difference.

Question 20

Which of the following is/are true of queer theory?

A) Queer theory critiques what we consider to be normal and abnormal.
B) Queer theory applies to only gay people, not heterosexual people.
C) Queer theory focuses on sexuality as the most important identity marker.
D) Queer theory advocates for more defined identity categories.
E) All of the above.

Question 21

Identify the following:

-Symbolic interaction theory

Question 22

Four-year-old Caroline and seven-year-old Jenny are sisters who live and have been raised in the United States.Jenny plays a game in which she is a mother and her stuffed animals are her children.Jenny hugs them and pretends to carefully feed them.Later,young Caroline repeats the same hugging and feeding behaviors with her dolls.Caroline's mother sees this and states,"Caroline,someday you'll be a good mommy." How would anthropological theory of gender explain Caroline's behaviors? How would cognitive development theory explain Caroline's behaviors? Make sure you address "maternal instinct" in your answer.

Question 23

Explain Janeway's concept of "role" in relation to gender.What is a role? What theoretical perspective is it a part of? In your answer,be sure to address external and internalized dimensions of role.

Question 24

Identify the following:

-Social learning theory

Question 25

Identify the following:

-Psychodynamic theory

Question 26

Identify the following:

-Cognitive development theory

Question 27

Biological theories attribute some aspects of masculinity and femininity to the differences between male and female bodies.Yet,the author of your textbook notes that biological differences between women and men are quite small and do not explain most behavioral differences.How should the relationship between biology and gender be understood?

Question 28

Social learning theory suggests that children actively seek to perform their gender correctly.

Question 29

What does it mean to say that gender should be viewed as a verb,not a noun? How is gender social? Finally,what are the implications of such claims? Your response should be grounded in performative theory about gender.

Question 30

Identify the following:

-Gender schema

Question 31

Identify the following:

-Critical Theories

Question 32

What is the goal of queer gender performances? Give a specific example of a queer gender performance you could do.