Culture and Gender

Perceptual/Spatial/Cognitive Differences

 Common Asian folklore is that males are better

at mathematical and spatial reasoning tasks and
females do better on verbal comprehension
tasks
 This is not necessarily true for other cultures.
 No gender difference in spatial abilities in Canada
and in Ecuador (women engage in tasks that
require spatial abilities).
 Males did better in tight, sedentary, and
agriculturally based cultures.
 Females did better in loose, nomadic, and
hunting and gathering based cultures.
 Conformity and Obedience
 Common gender-role stereotypes is that females
are more conforming and obedient than males.

 This is not necessarily true for other cultures.

 In tighter cultures, females more conformists than
males, but,
 In looser cultures, there are less gender
differences in conformity or males can be more
conforming.
 Aggressiveness
 Common gender-role stereotypes is that males
more aggressive than females

 There is support for this stereotype in many

cultures.

 In study of physical aggression between

partners in 52 countries, it was found:
 In developed Western cultures, both sexes
displayed aggression.
 In individualistic, women empowered cultures,
less female victimization was noted.
 Social role theory
 Aggressiveness
 Many cultures did not show sex-related
differences in teaching about aggression to
children.

 Currently the mechanism accounting for gender

differences in aggression unknown.
 Biology, culture, gender marking behavior
 Gender Roles
 Androgyny: gender identity involving
endorsement of both male and female
characteristics.

 African-American males and females are more

androgynous than European males and females.

 Adolescent girls in US, Israel, and Hong Kong

with an androgynous identity have higher self
acceptance than feminine or masculine girls; for
boys, masculine identity is associated with the
highest level of self acceptance.
 Gender Roles
 What is the status of traditional gender roles for Asian,
Americans and Latinas..

 Loosening of rigid gender roles for Asians and Latinas.

 Despite lingering notions of machismo, culturally

acceptable roles for Latina women are expanding.

 Gender role differentiation dependent on patriarchal or

matriarchal nature of tribal culture of origin for
Americans.
 Sex and Sexuality
 Cultures differ on degree of importance placed
on chastity for women and sexuality in general.
 Attitudes toward sex and sexuality are related to
cultural values of dignity, purity, and honor.

 Culture is linked to practice of male circumcision

and female genital mutilation.
 Female genital mutilation is associated with
honor and virtue in some cultures.
 Mate Selection, Mate Poaching, and
Jealousy
 Gender differences in preferences for mate and
sexual jealousy are universal.

 Males are more jealous of sexual infidelity.

 Females are more jealous of emotional
infidelity.

 Evolutionary model
 Personality
 Universally, woman score higher on
Neuroticism, Agreeableness, Warmth, and
Openness to Feelings.

 Men scored higher on Assertiveness, and

Openness to ideas.

 Personality differences between men and

women were largest in Europe and US.
 Ethnicity and Gender
 Most research is based on comparisons of
African with European
 Gender identities of African Americans are more
androgynous (gender identity that involves male
and female characteristics) than those of
European Americans.

 Asian families carry on traditional gender roles

with women bearing the brunt of domestic
duties..
 Latinas roles are similar to Asian roles
 The concept of Machismo - traditional
expectation of the male gender role, such as
being unemotional, strong, authoritative,
aggressive, and masculine

 Americans depend on the patriarchical or

matriarchical nature of the tribal culture of origin.
 Empirical Research Questions
 What has been the effect of globalization and
technology on attitudes about masculinity and
domestic violence?
 What are some cross-cultural views about
choosing to stay single?
 Are there cross-cultural differences regarding
extra marital affairs by men and women?
 Attitudes toward love across cultures: Do
differences exist?
 Summary
 Gender differences in psychological behaviors
may stem from varying demands placed on
culture by environment; therefore cultural
differences exist in behaviors.

 Cultures are similar in stereotypes and attitudes

concerning gender differences.
 Changes in culture bring about changes in
gender roles.

 This has both positive (e.g., women more

economically independent) and negative
consequences (e.g., higher divorce rates and
higher health problems for women).