A-Level AQA Psychology Gender Exam
Questions & Answers SCORED A+
Sex -ANSWER - The biological differences between males and females including
chromosomes, hormones and anatomy.
Gender -ANSWER - The psychological and cultural differences between males and
females including attitudes, behaviours and social roles.
Sex-role stereotype -ANSWER - A set of beliefs and preconceived ideas about what is
expected or appropriate for males and females in a given society.
Gender identity disorder (GID) -ANSWER - Characterised by strong, persistent feelings
of identification with the opposite gender and discomfort with one's own sex.
People with GID desire to live as members of the opposite sex and often dress and use
mannerisms associated with the opposite gender.
Also referred to as transgenderism or gender dysphoria.
Germany (2013) -ANSWER - Became the first European country to introduce a third
gender category ('X') on birth certificates to prevent parents having to make choices
about their child's sex before the child itself can decide.
Imperato-McGinley et al. (1974) -ANSWER - Studied a unique family who lived in the
Dominican Republic. Four children identified as girls initially but during puberty,
dihydrotestosterone caused them to grow normal sized penises. Boys happily
transitioned but could be due to nature of culture there.
Seavey et al. (1975) -ANSWER - Demonstrated adults showing sex-role stereotypes.
Participants were asked to interact with a 3-month-old after the child was introduced as
either a girl, a boy or just 'a baby'. They found participants' behaviour towards the child
differed depending on what information they were given. For example, sex stereotyped
toys were used - i.e. most adults chose a doll to play with when they were told the child
was a girl.
Androgyny -ANSWER - Displaying a balance of masculine and feminine characteristics
in one's personality.
Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) -ANSWER - The first systematic attempt to measure
adrogyny using a rating scale of 60 traits (20 masculine, 20 feminine and 20 neutral) to
, produce score across two dimensions: masculinity-femininity and androgynous-
undifferentiated.
Bem (1974) -ANSWER - Scale presents 20 characteristics that would be commonly
identified as 'masculine' (such as competitive and aggressive), and 20 that would be
typically judged as 'feminine' (including tender and gentle). A further 20 'neutral' traits
are also included in the scale.
Respondents are required to rate themselves on a seven-point rating scale for each
item (where 1 is 'never true of me' and 7 is 'always true of me').
BSRI: Masculine -ANSWER - High masculine, low feminine.
BSRI: Feminine -ANSWER - High feminine, low masculine.
BSRI: Androgynous -ANSWER - High masculine, high feminine.
BSRI: Undifferentiated -ANSWER - Low feminine, low masculine.
BSRI: Masculine items -ANSWER - Aggressive, competitive, dominant, forceful and
independent.
BSRI: Feminine items -ANSWER - Affectionate, childlike, flatterable, gentle and loves
children.
BSRI: Neutral items -ANSWER - Adaptable, conceited, friendly, happy and jealous.
Weisner and Wilson-Mitchell (1990) -ANSWER - Compared children raised in families
that put an emphasis on traditional gender roles with children raised on families that
actively downplayed traditional gender roles.
They found that androgyny was higher in children who had been encourage to ignore
traditional gender roles.
BSRI: AO3 - The scale would appear to be valid and reliable -ANSWER - Developed by
asking 50 male and 5 female judges to rate 200 terms, these then used for the BSRI.
BSRI then piloted with 1,000 students and results corresponded suggesting high
validity.
Follow up study showed high test-retest reliability.
BSRI: AO3 - Association between androgyny and physiological well-being -ANSWER -
Bem claimed androgynous individuals are more psychologically healthy as they are best
placed to deal with various situations.
Questions & Answers SCORED A+
Sex -ANSWER - The biological differences between males and females including
chromosomes, hormones and anatomy.
Gender -ANSWER - The psychological and cultural differences between males and
females including attitudes, behaviours and social roles.
Sex-role stereotype -ANSWER - A set of beliefs and preconceived ideas about what is
expected or appropriate for males and females in a given society.
Gender identity disorder (GID) -ANSWER - Characterised by strong, persistent feelings
of identification with the opposite gender and discomfort with one's own sex.
People with GID desire to live as members of the opposite sex and often dress and use
mannerisms associated with the opposite gender.
Also referred to as transgenderism or gender dysphoria.
Germany (2013) -ANSWER - Became the first European country to introduce a third
gender category ('X') on birth certificates to prevent parents having to make choices
about their child's sex before the child itself can decide.
Imperato-McGinley et al. (1974) -ANSWER - Studied a unique family who lived in the
Dominican Republic. Four children identified as girls initially but during puberty,
dihydrotestosterone caused them to grow normal sized penises. Boys happily
transitioned but could be due to nature of culture there.
Seavey et al. (1975) -ANSWER - Demonstrated adults showing sex-role stereotypes.
Participants were asked to interact with a 3-month-old after the child was introduced as
either a girl, a boy or just 'a baby'. They found participants' behaviour towards the child
differed depending on what information they were given. For example, sex stereotyped
toys were used - i.e. most adults chose a doll to play with when they were told the child
was a girl.
Androgyny -ANSWER - Displaying a balance of masculine and feminine characteristics
in one's personality.
Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) -ANSWER - The first systematic attempt to measure
adrogyny using a rating scale of 60 traits (20 masculine, 20 feminine and 20 neutral) to
, produce score across two dimensions: masculinity-femininity and androgynous-
undifferentiated.
Bem (1974) -ANSWER - Scale presents 20 characteristics that would be commonly
identified as 'masculine' (such as competitive and aggressive), and 20 that would be
typically judged as 'feminine' (including tender and gentle). A further 20 'neutral' traits
are also included in the scale.
Respondents are required to rate themselves on a seven-point rating scale for each
item (where 1 is 'never true of me' and 7 is 'always true of me').
BSRI: Masculine -ANSWER - High masculine, low feminine.
BSRI: Feminine -ANSWER - High feminine, low masculine.
BSRI: Androgynous -ANSWER - High masculine, high feminine.
BSRI: Undifferentiated -ANSWER - Low feminine, low masculine.
BSRI: Masculine items -ANSWER - Aggressive, competitive, dominant, forceful and
independent.
BSRI: Feminine items -ANSWER - Affectionate, childlike, flatterable, gentle and loves
children.
BSRI: Neutral items -ANSWER - Adaptable, conceited, friendly, happy and jealous.
Weisner and Wilson-Mitchell (1990) -ANSWER - Compared children raised in families
that put an emphasis on traditional gender roles with children raised on families that
actively downplayed traditional gender roles.
They found that androgyny was higher in children who had been encourage to ignore
traditional gender roles.
BSRI: AO3 - The scale would appear to be valid and reliable -ANSWER - Developed by
asking 50 male and 5 female judges to rate 200 terms, these then used for the BSRI.
BSRI then piloted with 1,000 students and results corresponded suggesting high
validity.
Follow up study showed high test-retest reliability.
BSRI: AO3 - Association between androgyny and physiological well-being -ANSWER -
Bem claimed androgynous individuals are more psychologically healthy as they are best
placed to deal with various situations.
