1. Discuss androgyny. Refer to the Bem Sex Role Inventory.
2. Discuss the role of chromosomes and hormones (testosterone, oestrogen and
oxytocin) in sex and gender.
3. Discuss atypical sex chromosome patterns: Klinefelter's syndrome and Turner's
syndrome/
4. Discuss Kohlberg's theory. Refer to gender identity, gender stability and gender
constancy.
5. Discuss gender schema theory.
6. Discuss the psychodynamic
7. Discuss the Oedipus and Electra complex as explanations of gender development.
8. Discuss the social learning theory as applied to gender development.
9. Discuss the influence of culture and media on gender roles.
10. Discuss atypical gender development. Refer to biological and social explanations of
gender dysphoria.
, Topic:
Essay question:
Paragraph1:Androgyny refers to the coexistence of both masculine and feminine characteristics within an
individual. It is not tied to biological sex, meaning both males and females can be androgynous. Being
androgynous can be beneficial as it allows individuals to adapt their behavior according to different
situations. For example, someone may act in a traditionally masculine way in the workplace but express
more feminine traits at home. Sandra Bem (1974) proposed that androgynous individuals are
psychologically healthier, as they can flexibly respond to a variety of social and situational demands.
Paragraph2: Bem developed the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) to measure androgyny. It is a self-report
questionnaire consisting of 60 traits: 20 stereotypically masculine (e.g., assertive), 20 stereotypically
feminine (e.g., nurturing), and 20 neutral traits (e.g., happy). Participants rate themselves on a seven-
point scale for each trait. Their scores determine whether they are classified as masculine, feminine,
androgynous, or undifferentiated. Androgynous individuals score highly in both masculine and feminine
traits, whereas undifferentiated individuals score low in both. The BSRI was tested on over 1,000
students and showed strong test-retest reliability, supporting its validity as a measure of gender identity.
P:One strength of androgyny and the Bem Sex Role Inventory P: The BSRI has been praised for appearing to be a valid
is that there is research to support the relationship between and reliable way of measuring androgyny.
androgyny and psychological health.
E:The scale was developed by asking 50 male and 50 female
E:Prakash et al tested 100 married females in India on
judges to rate 200 traits in terms of how much the traits
Masculinity/femininity and a range of outcome measures related
represented 'masculinity ' and 'femininity’. The traits that
to health: Physical health, depression, anxiety and perceived
stress. Masculinity and femininity was measured using the scored highest in each category became the 20 masculine
personal attribute scale and they found that females with high and 20 feminine traits on the scale. The BSRI was then
masculinity scores had lower depression scores, whereas those piloted with over 1000 students and the results broadly
with high femininity scored had higher depression scores. corresponded with the participants' own description of their
L: This therefore increases the validity of the BSRI as it gender identity, demonstrating high validity.
supports the view that androgyny has a psycho protective E:Furthermore, a follow-up study involving a smaller sample
effect, because those with masculinity and femininity traits
of the same students revealed similar scores when the
were better off in terms of their mental health and well being.
students were tested a month later, suggesting high retest
CP: Adams argued that people who have more masculine traits
reliability.
are better adjusted as these are more highly valued by
Western societies. Therefore, Bem's research may not have
L:Together, this evidence suggests that the BSRI has a
taken full account of the social and cultural context in which it degree of both validity and test-retest reliability.
was developed. CP:However, The BSRI was developed over 40 years ago and
behaviours that are regarded as 'typical' and 'acceptable' in
P:Finally , a methodological issue of the BSRI is that some
relation to gender have changed significantly since then.
researchers suggest that gender identity is too complex for
Bem's scale is made up of stereotypical ideas of masculinity
it to be reduced to a single score.
E:This led to alternatives to the BSRI being developed such and femininity that may be outdated.
as the Personal Attribute Questionnaire which replaces E+:In addition, the scale was devised using ppts from the US
masculinity-femininity with instrumentality and expressivity. only. Notions of musculinty and femininity in this country
E:However, this is still based on the idea that gender may not be shared across all cultures and societies,
identity can be quantified. especially non-Western cultures. This suggests that the
L:Golombok (1994) suggests that gender identity is a much BSRI may lack temporal validity and generalisability, and not
more global concept that needs to be understood by be a suitable measure of gender identity today.
considering more than is represented by the scales, such as
personal interests and perception of your own abilities,
therfore a more idiographiv approach whivh provides
qualitiative data would be more appropriate.
2. Discuss the role of chromosomes and hormones (testosterone, oestrogen and
oxytocin) in sex and gender.
3. Discuss atypical sex chromosome patterns: Klinefelter's syndrome and Turner's
syndrome/
4. Discuss Kohlberg's theory. Refer to gender identity, gender stability and gender
constancy.
5. Discuss gender schema theory.
6. Discuss the psychodynamic
7. Discuss the Oedipus and Electra complex as explanations of gender development.
8. Discuss the social learning theory as applied to gender development.
9. Discuss the influence of culture and media on gender roles.
10. Discuss atypical gender development. Refer to biological and social explanations of
gender dysphoria.
, Topic:
Essay question:
Paragraph1:Androgyny refers to the coexistence of both masculine and feminine characteristics within an
individual. It is not tied to biological sex, meaning both males and females can be androgynous. Being
androgynous can be beneficial as it allows individuals to adapt their behavior according to different
situations. For example, someone may act in a traditionally masculine way in the workplace but express
more feminine traits at home. Sandra Bem (1974) proposed that androgynous individuals are
psychologically healthier, as they can flexibly respond to a variety of social and situational demands.
Paragraph2: Bem developed the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) to measure androgyny. It is a self-report
questionnaire consisting of 60 traits: 20 stereotypically masculine (e.g., assertive), 20 stereotypically
feminine (e.g., nurturing), and 20 neutral traits (e.g., happy). Participants rate themselves on a seven-
point scale for each trait. Their scores determine whether they are classified as masculine, feminine,
androgynous, or undifferentiated. Androgynous individuals score highly in both masculine and feminine
traits, whereas undifferentiated individuals score low in both. The BSRI was tested on over 1,000
students and showed strong test-retest reliability, supporting its validity as a measure of gender identity.
P:One strength of androgyny and the Bem Sex Role Inventory P: The BSRI has been praised for appearing to be a valid
is that there is research to support the relationship between and reliable way of measuring androgyny.
androgyny and psychological health.
E:The scale was developed by asking 50 male and 50 female
E:Prakash et al tested 100 married females in India on
judges to rate 200 traits in terms of how much the traits
Masculinity/femininity and a range of outcome measures related
represented 'masculinity ' and 'femininity’. The traits that
to health: Physical health, depression, anxiety and perceived
stress. Masculinity and femininity was measured using the scored highest in each category became the 20 masculine
personal attribute scale and they found that females with high and 20 feminine traits on the scale. The BSRI was then
masculinity scores had lower depression scores, whereas those piloted with over 1000 students and the results broadly
with high femininity scored had higher depression scores. corresponded with the participants' own description of their
L: This therefore increases the validity of the BSRI as it gender identity, demonstrating high validity.
supports the view that androgyny has a psycho protective E:Furthermore, a follow-up study involving a smaller sample
effect, because those with masculinity and femininity traits
of the same students revealed similar scores when the
were better off in terms of their mental health and well being.
students were tested a month later, suggesting high retest
CP: Adams argued that people who have more masculine traits
reliability.
are better adjusted as these are more highly valued by
Western societies. Therefore, Bem's research may not have
L:Together, this evidence suggests that the BSRI has a
taken full account of the social and cultural context in which it degree of both validity and test-retest reliability.
was developed. CP:However, The BSRI was developed over 40 years ago and
behaviours that are regarded as 'typical' and 'acceptable' in
P:Finally , a methodological issue of the BSRI is that some
relation to gender have changed significantly since then.
researchers suggest that gender identity is too complex for
Bem's scale is made up of stereotypical ideas of masculinity
it to be reduced to a single score.
E:This led to alternatives to the BSRI being developed such and femininity that may be outdated.
as the Personal Attribute Questionnaire which replaces E+:In addition, the scale was devised using ppts from the US
masculinity-femininity with instrumentality and expressivity. only. Notions of musculinty and femininity in this country
E:However, this is still based on the idea that gender may not be shared across all cultures and societies,
identity can be quantified. especially non-Western cultures. This suggests that the
L:Golombok (1994) suggests that gender identity is a much BSRI may lack temporal validity and generalisability, and not
more global concept that needs to be understood by be a suitable measure of gender identity today.
considering more than is represented by the scales, such as
personal interests and perception of your own abilities,
therfore a more idiographiv approach whivh provides
qualitiative data would be more appropriate.
