Psychology

Abstract This paper will address question three from the final exam for this class. A definition(s) of gender will set the stage for the discussion that follows. This paper will outline the correlationconnection between stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination.  It will ask how gender differs from other forms of bias stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination.


Gender defined
According to the web site HYPERLINK httpwww.psychology.wikia.comwww.psychology.wikia.com paraphrase gender and sex (biologically speaking), as well as, the terms malemasculine andor femalefeminine, have become somewhat analogous in meaning, but that is considered a misperception in the realm of research and academia where sex connotes more the act of copulation rather than male or female attributes as attached to gender development. Under feminist theory gender is considered as the socially constructed variations between female and male behavior.

Gender is derived from the English (Middle English actually) word gendre and Latin word genus all of which connote kind, type, or sort. (HYPERLINK httpwww.psychology.wiki.comwww.psychology.wiki.com) The Spanish language, and other languages aside from English, distinguishes between gender in words like nina (girl) and nino (boy), as well as, prefixes for such words like el (masculine) and la (feminine). These are examples of binary gender systems where most things are categorized as either male or female, but there are some societies where these roles can, and are, reversed.

Even music has a masculine and feminine side. (HYPERLINK httpwww.psychology.wiki.comwww.psychology.wiki.com) Minor scales as often associated with feminine characteristics soft, introverted, and dark while major scales are considered masculine extroverted, clear, and open. Therefore, the debate continues as to whether, or not, gender is a social, or biological, construct.  

Correlation between stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination
Stereotypes draw generalizations regarding traits about some groups or people. ( HYPERLINK httpwww.usc.edu www.usc.edu)  Perceptions are distorted by stereotypes that shape our likes or dislikes for certain people or groups. Sociocultural determinism believes that gender roles and stereotypes build up within cultures and are spread by those cultures. ( HYPERLINK httpwww.ncu.edu www.ncu.edu ) Sex roles are largely defined by society according to what is proper or expected.

Prejudices are attitudes that come about because of membership in, or cleavage, to certain group(s), these attitudes can be negative or positive. ( HYPERLINK httpwww.usc.edu www.usc.edu) Mass media, family, friends, vicarious learning experiences, social categorization us v.them, and educators all play a role in the formulation and perpetuation of prejudice in children.

Discrimination hinges on the actual measures taken against the objectsgroupspersons of prejudice.  ( HYPERLINK httpwww.usc.edu www.usc.edu)

How gender differs from biases, stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination

Different societies have assigned different roles and expectations for conduct according to gender. ( HYPERLINK httpwww.ncu.edu www.ncu.edu) Western gender logic states that male persons should be domineering and controlling, good in math and sciences, aggressive and successful in their selection of careers, and should manage and suppress their feelings. Conversely, women ought to be caring, nurturing, and submissive, good in the arts and humanities, free in the expression of their emotions, and family oriented. These roles are substantiated and continued via mass media portrayal of same.

Biological determinism contends that gender roles stem from the evolutionary process and are connected to one gender, or the other, by biology. These generalizations about roles create prejudices that hold Western beliefs in gender differentiation should be universal. Toward that end there is research that suggests this universalism is, to some degree anyway, consistent across many cultures. ( HYPERLINK httpwww.ncu.edu www.ncu.edu) However, what do we attribute the changing roles of the sexes to i.e., women emerging as leaders in the workforce especially if they are supposed to be at home tending to family

Women, over time, have been characterized as the weaker, less intelligent sex while men are stronger, more intelligent, etc.. ( HYPERLINK httpwww.ncu.edu www.ncu.edu) This stereotype has been a contributing factor to low self-esteem, increased incidence of neuroticism, greater number or eating disorders, higher percentile depressed, discrimination, and less ability to cope in women especially those in their teen into young adult years.

Social learning theory suggests that children need not be taught their gender specific roles, but that by being exposed to them will naturally take them on, or conform to them. ( HYPERLINK httpwww.unc.edu www.unc.edu) That said, if society dictates which roles are for which gender then biological theory is out the window because Western roles are not universal, but adaptive from culture to culture.

Recap
Gender roles within society can damage the male and female psyche, cause depression, frustration, and more. Cultures change and roles of their people adapt according to those changes. It is the cultural evolution that has helped women emerge into our world workforces instead of remaining at home caring for family and men the freedom to express their feelings without remorse. Therefore, assigning specific roles detracts from personal growth, self-esteem, personalprofessional advancement, and scholastic achievement by segmenting society according to certain gender specific prejudices, and stereotypes that lead to discrimination instead of equality in human rights.