THE PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN AND GENDER
EIGHTH EDITION EXAM PREPARATION PACK
2026 KEY CONCEPTS AND REVISION NOTES
◉ workplace discrimination effects on pregnancy and child. Answer:
reduced mental health, lower birth weight in infants, increased
doctors visits for babies and higher levels of postpartum depression
◉ 3 stages of childbirth (biology). Answer: stage 1 = uterus
contracts every 5 minutes (dilate)
stage 2 = baby moves further down vagina (push)
stage 3 = baby is born and placenta separates from uterine wall
◉ premature birth (preterm). Answer: baby born before 37 weeks
gestation (born too early)
- higher risk - medical complications
◉ factors associated with preterm birth. Answer: low education,
high stress, low weight, black women
,◉ cesarean birth (c-section). Answer: small incision in woman's
abdomen and uterus to deliver the baby
- surgical procedure
◉ doula. Answer: providing support to family through labor and
delivery
◉ motherhood (expectations vs reality). Answer: expectation =
positive, warm, strength, devotion, nurture, perfect, natural
reality = not given enough appreciation, claims to be easier than it is,
exhausting...
◉ postpartum period (baby blues and postpartum depression).
Answer: Baby blues = short lasting mood change occurring during
first 10 days after birth (fluctuation in hormone levels)
- crying, sadness, irritability, anxiety, overwhelmed
Postpartum depression = extreme feelings of sadness, exhaustion,
sleep disturbances, despair, loss of interest in activities and baby &
feelings of guilt (within 6 months post birth)
- low interaction with infants
, ◉ compulsory motherhood - pronatalism. Answer: belief that all
women should have children
- negative attitudes toward childless mothers
◉ infertility. Answer: when unable to get pregnant after 1 year of
heterosexual intercourse without contraception
- affecting 10-15% of couples, creating sense of loss, higher stress...
◉ health psychology. Answer: interdisciplinary area in psychology
that focuses on the causes of illness, treatment of illness, illness
prevention and health improvement
◉ 3 major reasons why health problems are important. Answer: 1 -
gender makes a difference in health problems experience
2 - gender makes a different in way disease is
diagnosed/perceived/treated
3 - illness is important part of women's experiences
◉ chronic health problem. Answer: long lasting illness that can not
be completely cured
EIGHTH EDITION EXAM PREPARATION PACK
2026 KEY CONCEPTS AND REVISION NOTES
◉ workplace discrimination effects on pregnancy and child. Answer:
reduced mental health, lower birth weight in infants, increased
doctors visits for babies and higher levels of postpartum depression
◉ 3 stages of childbirth (biology). Answer: stage 1 = uterus
contracts every 5 minutes (dilate)
stage 2 = baby moves further down vagina (push)
stage 3 = baby is born and placenta separates from uterine wall
◉ premature birth (preterm). Answer: baby born before 37 weeks
gestation (born too early)
- higher risk - medical complications
◉ factors associated with preterm birth. Answer: low education,
high stress, low weight, black women
,◉ cesarean birth (c-section). Answer: small incision in woman's
abdomen and uterus to deliver the baby
- surgical procedure
◉ doula. Answer: providing support to family through labor and
delivery
◉ motherhood (expectations vs reality). Answer: expectation =
positive, warm, strength, devotion, nurture, perfect, natural
reality = not given enough appreciation, claims to be easier than it is,
exhausting...
◉ postpartum period (baby blues and postpartum depression).
Answer: Baby blues = short lasting mood change occurring during
first 10 days after birth (fluctuation in hormone levels)
- crying, sadness, irritability, anxiety, overwhelmed
Postpartum depression = extreme feelings of sadness, exhaustion,
sleep disturbances, despair, loss of interest in activities and baby &
feelings of guilt (within 6 months post birth)
- low interaction with infants
, ◉ compulsory motherhood - pronatalism. Answer: belief that all
women should have children
- negative attitudes toward childless mothers
◉ infertility. Answer: when unable to get pregnant after 1 year of
heterosexual intercourse without contraception
- affecting 10-15% of couples, creating sense of loss, higher stress...
◉ health psychology. Answer: interdisciplinary area in psychology
that focuses on the causes of illness, treatment of illness, illness
prevention and health improvement
◉ 3 major reasons why health problems are important. Answer: 1 -
gender makes a difference in health problems experience
2 - gender makes a different in way disease is
diagnosed/perceived/treated
3 - illness is important part of women's experiences
◉ chronic health problem. Answer: long lasting illness that can not
be completely cured
