Extension: How easy do you think it would be to separate these influences to find out the %? From what you already know, what % would you classify gender down to nature and how much % down to nurture? Explain.
Social contexts of gender role Pages Social contexts of gender role Social influences on gender role: for example, the influence of parents, peers, schools, media Pages
Learning objectives By the end of this lesson you will be able: To evaluate social influences on gender roles. To apply this understanding.
AO2/3 Nature vs. nurture Extension: Can you think of any further evaluation points? Conflicting explanation Practical applications Research evidence Discuss each of these evaluation points, for each one try to come up with a counter argument. Free will vs. determinism
1) Research evidence 1)One strength is that there is research to support the link between parents, media and gender. 2)For example…Fagot, Leinbach and O’Boyle (1992), Hust (2006) 3)The implications of this are ….what does this suggest to parents? 4)This supports social influences on gender because.. 5)HOWEVER we need to be careful when making generalisations, as the relationship is likely to be much more complex than these studies suggest.
1) Research evidence 6) Katz (1979) suggests that we have to consider the type of television watched. For example, it has been suggested that adverts have more gender stereotypes than educational programmes. Levy (1989) found that boys were more influenced by gender stereotypes in adverts, whereas girls were more influenced by educational programmes which focused on equality in gender. 7) This therefore questions the simple suggestion put forward by SLT because.. 8) In conclusion…which research seems more convincing?
Writing out your AO2/3 Use the 8 steps to help you write out three of the other AO2/3 points we have discussed. 1)Nature vs. nurture (AID) 2)Practical applications 3)Free will vs. determinism (AID) 4)Conflicting explanation (cognitive) Extension: Write out a further AO2/3 point.
Check your understanding 1) The social explanation falls on the nurture side of the debate.. 2) This is because... 3) The implications of this are ….what does this mean for gender across culture? 4) N/A 5) HOWEVER the nature side of the debate would argue that biology is more important. 6) For example… 7) This questions the social explanation because… 8) In conclusion…can we really take one side of the debate?
Check your understanding 1)One benefit of the social explanation is that practical applications can arise from it. 2)For example…how could we reduce gender inequality using this approach? 3)The implications of this are …. 4)This supports the social explanation because…. 5)HOWEVER we need to be careful when starting to ‘police’ parenting and the media based on these ideas. 6)Because….what are the ethical implications of this? 7)This therefore questions the degree to which we should generalise the social explanation. 8)In conclusion…should we practically apply this?
Check your understanding 1)One debate that is relevant here is the free will vs. determinism debate. 2)The social explanation falls onto the determinism side of the debate because… 3)The implications of this are ….does this give hope to equality? 4)This questions whether we should generalise the social explanation because…. 5)HOWEVER free will would disagree with this, 6)Because…. 7) This therefore provides questions the social explanation because.. 8) In conclusion…is one side more valid?
Check your understanding 1)One weakness is that there are conflicting explanations as to how gender develops. 2)For example…Kohlberg? Gender Schema Theory? 3)The implications of this are …. 4)This questions the idea of the influence of social factors because…. 5)HOWEVER the influence of parents, peers and media may be a more valid explanation than a psychological one. 6)Because….think about the ways in which the theories are tested. 7)This therefore provides support for the influence of social factors because.. 8)In conclusion…which explanation seems more valid?
Check your understanding In groups you will need to design a practical application based on the social explanation, from the following: TV programme that emphasises equality between the sexes. Advertisement which emphasises equality between the sexes. A parenting class that teaches parents about the consequences of reinforcing gender stereotypes. Extension: What criticisms may parents have about your advert/programme/class?
Learning objectives : You are now able: To evaluate social influences on gender roles. To apply this understanding.
Homework Due next lesson: Use the Cardwell A2 book (white cover, picture of an eye) either in the library or take a photo of a class copy. 1) Make notes on Whiting and Whiting’s ‘six cultures study’. 2) Make any other relevant notes on culture and gender (n.b. Mead’s study is in your textbook as well) Preparation for next lesson: Try to structure these notes into meaningful AO1 notes.