Common (faulty) assumptions: gender = sex –Men = Masculine = Male –Women = Feminine = Female NOT necessarily true! Stereotypical Views on Gender & Communication

Conceptualizing Gender Continuum of Opposites? Male Female OR Independent Entities? Male Female

Personal Attributes Questionnaire (Spence) Aggressive/Rough Independent Dominant Calm in a major crisis/Stands up well under pressure Active Competitive Worldly Indifferent to others approval Feelings not easily hurt Not aware of others feelings/doesnt understand others Good decision-maker Never gives up easily Never cries Very self-confident Feels very superior Cold in relations with others Very little need for security Emotional Submissive Excitable in major crisis/Goes to pieces under pressure Passive Able to devote self completely to others Cooperative Home-oriented Kind Needful of others approval Feelings easily hurt Aware of others feelings/Understands others Difficulty making decisions Gives up easily Cries often/easily Self-conscious Feels very inferior Warm in relations with others Strong need for security

Questionnaire Bems Sex Role Inventory –Masculine –Feminine –Androgynous Spence – PAQ –Instrumental –Expressive