PSY512 Short Notes by VUBuddy

Gender Issues in Psychology (Psy512)

Short Notes Lec (1 – 22)

Lesson 1: Introduction:

Misconconception: Psychological Study of Gender issues is only pertaining to psychology of women. Today we have lots of research evidence available that explains both masculinity, or male roles, and femininity, or female roles. “Gender” versus “Sex”: Gender refers to the psychological aspect whereas sex refers to the physiological/ physical aspect of the same phenomenon. “Gender” refers to culturally constructed categorization of “maleness” and “femaleness”. Biologically based distinctions between males and females are referred to as “Sex” of the person.

•  Human beings are born as male or female babies but they become masculine or feminine as a result of child rearing practices and socio-cultural variables.
•  Gender roles are the expectations of appropriate behavior for males and females set by the society.
•  Gender Stereotypes are the wildly held beliefs about females and male’s abilities, personal traits and social behavior.

Lesson 2: Feminist Movement: A movement or way of thinking that proposes, advocates, supports, and struggles for social equality of the two sexes. The difference between men and women should be looked into from a “gender” perspective rather than a “sexist” perspective.

Waves of feminist movement:

•  First wave feminist are those early feminist who initiated the movement.
•  They were active after 1960. They were working for equality, both economic and social and hence they fought for the right to contraception, birth control and sexual liberation.
•  Third wave movement emerged in the 1990’s. Third wave feminists tried to see how different groups of women may be having different needs, and circumstances, and requiring different solutions.

The feminists advocate:

•  The significance of change.
•  Reintegration of humanity: all human traits are found in all humans (French, 1985).
•  Equal rights and elimination of gender stratification.
•  Curbing and bringing to an end all forms of violence against women.
•  Promoting sexual autonomy.

Varieties of Feminism:

•  Liberal Feminism: Had roots in classical liberal approach that women should have equal rights than man.
•  Socialist Feminism: Rather than seeking liberation at individual level, men and women should be together in this pursuit.
•  Radical Feminism: Culture notion of gender needs to be eliminated that man are the oppressors and women should oppressed. Same as racial class operation model.
•  Cultural Feminism: Social change is must. Society should accept and appreciate traditional feminine values.

Women’s Suffrage: It was a reform movement for attaining the goal of suffrage to women .The movement had political and social