Question 1

A gender __________ refers to a widely held belief about a person or group of people that is based solely on being male or female.

Accepted Answer

A gender stereotype is a generalization about the characteristics, behaviors, and roles that are typically associated with men and women based solely on their gender. It often perpetuates harmful biases and discrimination against individuals who do not conform to traditional gender norms.

Question 2

Trip is a father of two children and has a career as a professor at a university. He is nurturing and sensitive to his children's needs, able to express emotions outwardly, independent and assertive, and thinks problems through calmly and logically. Trip is a good example of a person who is __________.

Accepted Answer

Trip's traits display a combination of traditionally masculine and feminine traits, making him an androgynous individual.

Question 3

Consider the following three scenarios: (1) Santiago is walking toward a business office, and when he gets there, he opens the door for a woman and allows her to walk through ahead of him. (2) Santiago is walking toward a business office, and when he gets there, he opens the door for a man and a woman and allows both of them to walk through ahead of him. (3) Santiago is walking toward a business office, and when he gets there, he opens the door for a woman and allows her to walk through ahead of him, but then he walks through without holding the door for the man with whom the woman was having a conversation. In which of these scenarios has Santiago demonstrated the BEST example of benevolent sexism?

Accepted Answer

Benevolent sexism is characterized by seemingly positive actions that, upon closer examination, reinforce traditional gender roles or subtly convey that women are weaker or less competent. In scenario #3, Santiago's selective politeness—holding the door for the woman but not for the man she was conversing with—could imply that he believes the woman needs more assistance or should be treated differently because of her gender, which aligns with the concept of benevolent sexism.

Question 4

Jamaal observes that his father and mother both have professional careers, and also both contribute equally to the housework. As a result, Jamaal regularly tries to help do dishes and fold laundry, so he can be helpful around the house. This is a good example of the __________ theory of gender development.

Accepted Answer

Jamaal is learning gender roles through observation and imitation of his parents, which aligns with the social learning theory. This theory emphasizes learning behaviors from others through observation, imitation, and modeling.

Question 5

Which of the following statements has research found to be accurate with regard to androgynous people?

Accepted Answer

Research has found that androgynous people are highly flexible and effective because they do not limit themselves to one set of gender rules. They are more adaptable, have better mental health, and are more successful in relationships and careers.

Question 6

At a recent viewing of the latest Hollywood blockbuster, Maddie and Jacob shared an awkward moment. Maddie, deeply moved by the story line, began to cry during the movie, while Jacob sat twiddling his thumbs and wondering when the movie would finally be over. Afterward, while they were discussing their different reactions, Jacob said, "Well, girls always cry at sappy movies. That's why guys really hate those kinds of shows." Jacob is demonstrating that he holds very strong gender __________.

Accepted Answer

Jacob is making a generalization about girls and their emotional reactions to movies based solely on their gender, which is a classic example of a gender stereotype.

Question 7

Four-year-old Najeeb pays very careful attention to his father. He imitates many of his father's actions, copies his behaviors, and responds appropriately to rewards and punishments for his own behaviors. Najeeb is learning many aspects of gender through the __________ theory.

Accepted Answer

Najeeb is learning through observing and imitating his father's behaviors, which is a key aspect of the social learning theory. This theory suggests that children learn gender through the observation and imitation of others, as well as through rewards and punishments for gender-appropriate and gender-inappropriate behavior. The gender schema theory, on the other hand, suggests that children actively organize and categorize gender-related information, while the cognitive acquisitive theory emphasizes the role of biological factors in gender development. The behavioral theory focuses on the role of reinforcement in shaping behavior, but does not specifically address gender development.

Question 8

Dominic lost his job as a steelworker. However, when seeking new employment, he considers a wide variety of jobs, such as auto mechanic, teacher, and nurse. Given these choices, a psychologist like Sandra Bem might consider Dominic to be __________.

Accepted Answer

Sandra Bem's theory of androgyny suggests that individuals can possess both stereotypically masculine and feminine traits, and can therefore be open to considering a wide variety of career options regardless of traditional gender stereotypes. Dominic's consideration of jobs that are not typically associated with his previous career as a steelworker suggests that he may have a more androgynous personality.

Question 9

Some people are very quick to come to the aid of a woman because she is perceived as being helpless, weak, and unable to provide for herself. These same individuals may be quite a bit less likely to come to the assistance of a man in the same situation. Though these people may have noble intentions, this is still an example of __________ sexism.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of benevolent sexism, which is a form of sexism that is characterized by well-meaning but patronizing beliefs and behaviors towards women. It assumes that women need to be protected and taken care of by men, and that they are not capable of being self-sufficient or making their own decisions. This type of sexism can be harmful because it reinforces gender stereotypes and limits women's opportunities for autonomy and empowerment.

Question 10

The acceptance of positive stereotypes regarding gender can lead to __________.

Accepted Answer

Accepting positive stereotypes regarding gender can lead to benevolent sexism, which is a form of sexism that appears positive on the surface but reinforces traditional gender roles and maintains gender inequality. It can also perpetuate harmful gender norms and stereotypes, and prevent individuals from being recognized for their individual talents and abilities rather than their gender.

Question 11

Skyler sees her mother knitting a sweater. Later, Skyler takes out a ball of yarn and some knitting needles from her mother's supplies and tries to do the same. This example illustrates which theory of gender development?

Accepted Answer

This example illustrates social learning theory, which suggests that people learn gender roles and expectations through observation and imitation of others in their environment. Skyler is observing her mother knitting and attempting to imitate her, which is a key tenet of social learning theory.

Question 12

The tendency of children to develop a mental pattern for being male or female in much the same way they develop other concepts, such as "dog," "bird," and "big," can BEST be explained by __________.

Accepted Answer

Gender schema theory explains how children learn gender roles and develop mental patterns for being male or female through the process of schema formation, much like how they learn other concepts. This theory focuses on how children organize and categorize their experiences based on gender, leading to the development of gender stereotypes and expectations. Freudian psychoanalysis and social learning theory do not specifically address the development of gender schemas, and Piaget's theory of development focuses on more general cognitive development rather than gender-specific learning.

Question 13

"Children observe the world around them and develop mental concepts to represent the concepts of male and female. They then develop a concept of their own gender and adjust their behaviors to be consistent with that concept." This statement is the foundation of __________ theory.

Accepted Answer

This statement is the foundation of gender schema theory, which proposes that children develop mental frameworks, or schemas, about what it means to be male or female based on their observations of the world around them. These schemas then influence their attitudes and behaviors, leading them to act in ways that are consistent with their gender identity.

Question 14

Levi and Zahara are watching the classic TV show Leave It to Beaver. After watching the show, they decide to play. Levi says he will be Ward Cleaver and Zahara should play June Cleaver. This play situation would be BEST explained by __________.

Accepted Answer

Social learning theory explains how individuals learn behaviors and roles through observation and imitation, which is what Levi and Zahara are doing by imitating characters from the TV show.

Question 15

A __________ is a concept about males or females that assigns various characteristics to them on the basis of nothing more than being male or female.

Accepted Answer

A gender stereotype is a concept about males or females that assigns various characteristics to them on the basis of nothing more than being male or female. A sex role refers to the behaviors and attitudes expected of males and females in a given culture, while a gender role refers to the socially constructed expectations about the behaviors and attitudes of males and females. Sexual orientation refers to one's emotional and sexual attraction to others.

Question 16

Gender schema theory is based on __________.

Accepted Answer

Gender schema theory is based on Piaget's theory of development, which suggests that children actively develop schemas, or mental frameworks, for different genders based on their observations and experiences. These schemas influence how children perceive and interpret gender-related information, and ultimately shape their gender identities and behaviors.

Question 17

Yasmine says that all men are insensitive and unemotional. She is probably expressing a __________.

Accepted Answer

Yasmine's statement reflects a gender stereotype, which is a widely held and oversimplified belief about the characteristics and behaviors of men and women. Her statement is not based on objective evidence or individual experiences, but rather on a generalization about an entire gender. Sex roles refer to the biological differences between males and females, while gender roles refer to the social expectations and norms associated with femininity and masculinity. Sexual orientation refers to an individual's romantic and/or sexual attraction to others. None of these concepts directly applies to Yasmine's statement.

Question 18

Researchers have found that when traditional males, traditional females, and androgynous people are compared in terms of their degree of depression, androgynous people are usually __________.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that androgynous individuals have higher self-esteem and less depression and anxiety compared to traditional males and females.

Question 19

Desperate for help with her computer, Darby calls her fiancé, thinking that he will know what to do because he is a man, and men are natural fixers. Darby's thinking in this instance is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

Darby's assumption that men are natural fixers is an example of benevolent sexism, which involves attitudes that seem positive but are still rooted in gender stereotypes. In this case, Darby is assuming that her fiancé's gender gives him inherent abilities to fix technology.

Question 20

Psychologist Sandra Bem developed the concept of __________.

Accepted Answer

Sandra Bem developed the concept of androgyny, which refers to a combination of both masculine and feminine traits in an individual.

Quiz 10: Sexuality and Gender