Gender
Gender bias Psychological research or theory may offer a view that does not justifiably
represent the experience and behaviour of men or women (usually
women) / It is the tendency to favour one gender over another.
Androcentrism Male-centred or male-biased view of the world; when male
behaviour/masculine traits are judged to be the
norm/desirable/acceptable. This means that female behaviour/feminine
traits are often judged to be ‘abnormal’ or ‘deficient’ by comparison.
Androcentrism may result in either alpha or beta bias.
Alpha bias An alpha bias exaggerates the difference between men and women and,
as a consequence of this, theories that are alpha bias devalue one gender
in comparison to the other (typically women).
Beta bias Androcentrism can also result in people assuming that what is true for
men is also true for women, thus mistakenly minimising the differences
between men and women. The consequence is that the needs of one
gender (usually women) are ignored. Such theories tend either to ignore
questions about the lives of women or assume that insights derived from
studies of men will apply equally well to women.
3 main ways that gender bias can occur:
- Male samples – research conducted on all-male samples – can be wrongly
generalised to women - not made clear in the subsequent report/conclusion of the
study e.g. Milgram’s research on obedience
- Male behaviour as standard – if behaviour of women differs from that of men, the
behaviour of women is seen as a deviation from the norm (androcentrism)
- Biological differences emphasis – explanations for behaviour that emphasise the
biology of the individual also sometimes underemphasise the role of social and
external factors. As there are anatomical differences between men and women,
any theory that has its root in biology is liable to implicitly infer that there will be a
difference in the behaviour of the two sexes – this is an over-simplification
If you assume that men and women are equal (a beta bias) the consequence is that one
gender might be misrepresented.
If you assume that there are differences (an alpha bias), one gender may be devalued.
A03
, Examples:
Relationships – evolutionary theory of partner/mate preference – emphasises the
differences between what each gender looks for in a partner – alpha bias (male’s interest
to impregnate as many women as possible/wants to pass on genes / women want a male
with resources/protection) - exaggerates the differences between men and women
Approaches – psychodynamic approach – Freud’s viewed femininity as failed
masculinity/women inferior to men (because of ‘penis envy’, no Oedipus complex) –
exaggerated the difference between men and women – alpha bias
Aggression – MAOA gene – effects on women are not known (androcentrism) – should
therefore not be generalised to all aggression – gender difference is underemphasised =
beta biased
General:
Point Evidence Conclusion
Our realisation of the Knowing about alpha bias Therefore, there are some
existence of gender bias has heightened our positive consequences of
has not only had negative awareness of gender gender bias.
consequences. differences and allowed
us to question the value of
male characteristics
within society.
Furthermore, a positive
consequence of beta bias is
that it makes people see
men and women as the
same, which has led to
equal treatment in legal
terms and equal access to,
for example, education and
employment.
There are many negative Gender-biased research Thus, gender bias in
implications of gender may provide a scientific research is not just a
bias. Gender-biased ‘justification’ to deny methodological problem
research may create women opportunities in but may have damaging
misleading assumptions any domain in which men consequences which
about female behaviour, set the standard of affect the lives and
fail to challenge negative normalcy – it becomes prospects of real women
stereotypes and validate normal for women to feel (for instance, the statistic is
discriminatory practices. abnormal. that females are around
twice as likely to be
Gender bias Psychological research or theory may offer a view that does not justifiably
represent the experience and behaviour of men or women (usually
women) / It is the tendency to favour one gender over another.
Androcentrism Male-centred or male-biased view of the world; when male
behaviour/masculine traits are judged to be the
norm/desirable/acceptable. This means that female behaviour/feminine
traits are often judged to be ‘abnormal’ or ‘deficient’ by comparison.
Androcentrism may result in either alpha or beta bias.
Alpha bias An alpha bias exaggerates the difference between men and women and,
as a consequence of this, theories that are alpha bias devalue one gender
in comparison to the other (typically women).
Beta bias Androcentrism can also result in people assuming that what is true for
men is also true for women, thus mistakenly minimising the differences
between men and women. The consequence is that the needs of one
gender (usually women) are ignored. Such theories tend either to ignore
questions about the lives of women or assume that insights derived from
studies of men will apply equally well to women.
3 main ways that gender bias can occur:
- Male samples – research conducted on all-male samples – can be wrongly
generalised to women - not made clear in the subsequent report/conclusion of the
study e.g. Milgram’s research on obedience
- Male behaviour as standard – if behaviour of women differs from that of men, the
behaviour of women is seen as a deviation from the norm (androcentrism)
- Biological differences emphasis – explanations for behaviour that emphasise the
biology of the individual also sometimes underemphasise the role of social and
external factors. As there are anatomical differences between men and women,
any theory that has its root in biology is liable to implicitly infer that there will be a
difference in the behaviour of the two sexes – this is an over-simplification
If you assume that men and women are equal (a beta bias) the consequence is that one
gender might be misrepresented.
If you assume that there are differences (an alpha bias), one gender may be devalued.
A03
, Examples:
Relationships – evolutionary theory of partner/mate preference – emphasises the
differences between what each gender looks for in a partner – alpha bias (male’s interest
to impregnate as many women as possible/wants to pass on genes / women want a male
with resources/protection) - exaggerates the differences between men and women
Approaches – psychodynamic approach – Freud’s viewed femininity as failed
masculinity/women inferior to men (because of ‘penis envy’, no Oedipus complex) –
exaggerated the difference between men and women – alpha bias
Aggression – MAOA gene – effects on women are not known (androcentrism) – should
therefore not be generalised to all aggression – gender difference is underemphasised =
beta biased
General:
Point Evidence Conclusion
Our realisation of the Knowing about alpha bias Therefore, there are some
existence of gender bias has heightened our positive consequences of
has not only had negative awareness of gender gender bias.
consequences. differences and allowed
us to question the value of
male characteristics
within society.
Furthermore, a positive
consequence of beta bias is
that it makes people see
men and women as the
same, which has led to
equal treatment in legal
terms and equal access to,
for example, education and
employment.
There are many negative Gender-biased research Thus, gender bias in
implications of gender may provide a scientific research is not just a
bias. Gender-biased ‘justification’ to deny methodological problem
research may create women opportunities in but may have damaging
misleading assumptions any domain in which men consequences which
about female behaviour, set the standard of affect the lives and
fail to challenge negative normalcy – it becomes prospects of real women
stereotypes and validate normal for women to feel (for instance, the statistic is
discriminatory practices. abnormal. that females are around
twice as likely to be
