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SECTION III:
Items for Testing
Testing, like other aspects of pedagogy, reflects the teaching philosophy and personal style
of instructors. For instance, instructors whose primary goal is mastery of information and theory
tend to design tests that emphasize retention and understanding of material covered in readings and
class meetings. On the other hand, teachers who focus on applying material personally are more
likely to structure tests to measure how well students can apply and extend conceptual material.
The content of Gendered Lives lends itself to both objective and subjective forms of testing.
Because not all instructors teach or test in the same ways, this section of the teachers’ guide
includes different kinds of test items: multiple choice, true-false, short essay, longer essay, and
identification items. Since instructors will assign chapters in different orders and will cover
varying amounts of information on each test, we have organized items by the chapter in which they
are covered. In addition to items based on Gendered Lives, suggestions for testing include “class
business topics” and “student authored items.” Including some of each of these on your tests will
underline the importance of current issues discussed in class and of students’ participation in
structuring the course.
For essay and short answer items we outline concepts and ideas that students might
appropriately include. However, students might include other, equally appropriate material in
substantive essays. Thus, individual instructors should create their own target answer for essays,
using our suggested answers only as guidelines.
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Introduction: Opening the Conversation
Multiple Choice
1. The Industrial Revolution transformed social views of the essence of masculinity from
_____________ to ______________.
A. courage to strength
B. physical strength to ability to earn an income
C. intelligence to physical strength
D. ambition to attractiveness
E. none of the above
2. Wood argues that communication is the fulcrum for change because
A. change comes through communication.
B. communication allows us to identify and challenge cultural views.
C. communication allows us to define alternatives and persuade others.
D. individuals may be powerful social agents for change through communication.
E. All of the above are valid reasons.
3. Heterosexual men and women report being happier and more satisfied with their
relationships when their partners
A. define themselves as feminists.
B. define themselves as nonfeminists.
C. have the same attitudes toward feminism as they do.
D. are unconcerned about feminism.
E. There is no research about relationship satisfaction and feminisms.
4. If we break the word “feminism” down to its roots, femme and –ism, what does it literally
mean?
A. in favor of women
B. superiority of women
C. a political position about women
D. a cultural position about women
E. equality for women
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5. What percentage of seats in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are held by
women as of 2012?
A. 50%
B. 30%
C. 10%
D. 25%
E. 17%
True/False
6. Being feminist is in conflict with being feminine.
7. Because our perspectives are limited by our social positions (e.g., sex, class, race, sexual
orientation), we can never fully understand the lives of people who differ from us.
8. The term “feminism” was coined in France in the early 1800s.
9. The author of the textbook agrees that we live in a post-feminist society where gender-based
inequalities generally no longer exist.
10. Terms such as “spouse,” “husband,” “wife,” and “marriage” are inclusive of all people.
11. Topic or question should come from class business. See pages 7-8 of this manual for details
on this activity.
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Identification
12. Socially constructed
ANS: Social construction means something is changeable. This concept allows us to
13. Inclusive language
ANS: Inclusive language is more than simply “adding” women. Inclusive language is
14. Feminism
ANS: Feminism is a word that has different meanings for different people. It comes from
Essays
15. Identify and explain why many people do not identify themselves as feminists, even when
their beliefs and values align themselves with those of feminism.
16. Explain what the author of Gendered Lives means when she writes that privilege and
disadvantage are unearned.
ANS: The social disadvantages and privileges that accompany race, class, gender, sexual
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17. The author of your textbook talks about privileges and disadvantages that are part of her
social location (and standpoint) that she did not earn and explains how they shape how she sees
the world. Choose one privilege and one disadvantage that is part of your social location and
explain how it shapes how you see the world.
ANS: Responses will vary depending on the social location selected. Students may choose to
18. The author of your textbook argues that while many believe that we live in a post-feminist
era, in which gendered inequalities have largely been eliminated, we do not in fact live in a
culture of gender equality. What reasons does she use to support her argument?
ANS: Women experience a lack of access to and barriers to reproductive choice in the United
19. What reasons does the author of your textbook provide for preferring the term “partner” to
terms such as “spouse,” “husband,” or “wife?”
ANS: Wood argues that terms such as “spouse,” “husband,” and “wife” exclude lesbians, gay
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Chapter 1: The Study of Communication, Gender, and Culture
Multiple Choice
1. Rick was born with male and female sex organs. Which of the following is the best term
to describe Rick as a person with biological qualities of a male and a female?
A. transsexuals
B. intersexed
C. transgendered
D. gender rebels
E. dualsexed
2. Which of the following is NOT one of the ways cultures reflect their views of gender?
A. communication within the culture
B. cultural practices
C. cultural institutions
D. biology
E. none of these
3. Which of the following persons would be accurately described as “cisgendered”?
A. a person born as a biological female who embodies both masculine and feminine
characteristics
B. a biological male who prefers romantic and sexual relationships with biological
males
C. a biological female who identifies as female and feminine
D. a biological female who enjoys dressing in men’s clothing
E. a person whose biological sex is inconsistent with their gender identity
4. The meaning of masculinity and femininity in our lives is affected by
A. our age.
B. our race.
C. our interactions with others.
D. the historical time period in which we live.
E. all of the above
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5. Research that examines the reasons why working mothers are often forced to return to the
workplace earlier than they want and attempts to change the dynamics of the corporate
world to end these practices would be best served by which research methods?
A. quantitative research methods
B. qualitative research methods
C. mixed research methods
D. critical research methods
E. none of these
6. The term patriarchy literally means
A. oppression of females.
B. from male standpoint.
C. rule by the fathers.
D. government by men.
E. all of the above
7. Which of the following is not one of the current meanings of masculinity in American
culture?
A. emotional engagement
B. strength
C. ambition
D. success
E. rationality
8. Yan Bing and Dianna are college students discussing how they each define “cheating” in
a romantic relationship. Yan Bing considers flirting during an IM conversation cheating,
but Dianna thinks cheating only involves physical contact. Later, they continue the
discussion with friends over dinner. This scenario best describes which of the following?
A. Communication is a dynamic and contextual.
B. Communication is gendered.
C. Yan Bing and Dianna are exhibiting feminine styles of communication.
D. Content level of meaning and relationship level of meaning are not the same thing.
E. All of the above
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9. A professor says to a student, “I will not accept your paper after 5 pm today.” The
content level of meaning in this message is that
A. the professor is open to negotiation.
B. the professor feels s/he has to explain the policy to the student.
C. the professor can exercise power over the student.
D. the professor feels s/he has greater status than the student.
E. the professor won’t accept the paper after 5 pm today.
10. Topic or question should come from class business. See pages 7–8 of this manual for
details on this activity.
True/False
11. Gender is a relational concept because masculinity and femininity make sense in
relation to one another.
12. The thinness valued as desirable and beautiful in American culture has always been the
standard for attractiveness in that culture.
13. The Industrial Revolution led to the redefinition of masculinity and femininity.
14. If you were to speak out on campus about sexual assault, you could possibly change the
way your friends conceptualize gendered violence.
15. Hermaphrodite is the preferred word for people who have male and female sex organs.
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16. Androgyny is a term describing individuals who “feel their biological sex is wrong—
that they are really women trapped in men’s bodies or men trapped in women’s
bodies.”
17. There are two distinct genders, female and male.
18. Gender identity is the same thing as one’s biological sex.
19. Most transsexuals experience a change in their sexual orientation after transitioning.
Identification
20. Content and relational levels of meaning
ANS: Communication includes the content level of meaning, which is the literal or
21. Essentializing
ANS: Essentializing involves referring to all men as if they are the same, and as if that
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22. Sex
ANS: Sex is an individual quality determined by biology (chromosomes and hormones). Sex
23. Gender
ANS: Gender refers to the traits, behaviors, and assumptions linked to masculinity and
24. Sexual Orientation
ANS: A person’s preferences for romantic and sexual partners. Heterosexual orientation
25. Symbols
ANS: Symbols are what humans use to communicate. They include signs and words.
26. Intersexed
ANS: Intersexed individuals are born with ambiguous genitals and may differ from most
27. Transsexual
ANS: Transsexual is a term that usually refers to someone who has changed their physical
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28. Cisgendered:
ANS: A person whose biological sex and gender identity are consistent. The term draws
29. Patriarchy
ANS: Patriarchy is a term that literally means “rule by fathers.” To say that a culture is
30. Transgendered
Essays
31. Popular psychology books often profile the behaviors and characteristics of the
“opposite sexes.” Based on your understanding of material from Chapter 1, how would
you critique this labeling of men and women? Make sure your answer demonstrates your
understanding of essentializing, androgyny, and sex and gender. The framework for the
answer to this essay may be found throughout Chapter 1.
ANS: Answers should:
Explain the difference between the definitions of sex and gender (pages 19-25)
32. The term “cis” has come to be used to designate a person who fits conventional gender
categories. Explain how cis is used and why it is an important word.
ANS: A biological woman who identifies as female and feminine is a ciswoman or
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33. Define levels of meaning in communication and provide a concrete example of each level
of meaning.
ANS: Communication has two levels of meaning: content and relationship. Content level
34. Unlike sex, gender is a relational concept. Explain what this means and the implications
of it, and give an example that illustrates your point.
ANS: Gender is a relational concept because we can only understand femininity
35. What is the difference between being transgendered and transsexual?
While some people may define these terms differently, generally a transgendered person
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36. Describe three cultural structures and practices that reflect and promote a culture’s views
of gender and sex.
(1) Communication announces social views of gender and defines for us what is
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Chapter 2: Theoretical Approaches to Gender Development
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following is generally true?
A. Most women use only the right lobe of their brain.
B. Most men use only the left lobe of their brain.
C. Most men’s brains are more highly integrated than most women’s brains.
D. A and B
E. None of the above
2. Research into female hormones asserts that
A. estrogen causes women’s bodies to produce “good” cholesterol and to make blood
vessels flexible.
B. estrogen strengthens the immune system, making women less susceptible to immune
disorders, infections, and viruses.
C. estrogen causes more fat tissue to form around a woman’s hips, providing cushioning
for a fetus during pregnancy.
D. estrogen causes the liver to process alcohol more slowly, making women quicker to
feel the effects of alcohol.
E. all of the above
3. Which of the following is/are true of queer theory?
A. Queer theory critiques what we consider to be normal and abnormal.
B. Queer theory applies to only gay people, not heterosexual people.
C. Queer theory focuses on sexuality as the most important identity marker.
D. Queer theory advocates for more defined identity categories.
E. All of the above
4. When parents who seek to promote traditional gendered behaviors in their children
reward tomboys for wearing frilly dresses or punish effeminate boys for playing with
Barbies, they are assuming which theory of gender?
A. biological theory
B. psychodynamic theory
C. social learning theory
D. symbolic interaction theory
E. standpoint theory
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ANS: C
REF: pp. 45-46
5. At age 3, Bonnie realizes she is female and she wants to become skilled at being a girl.
She begins to watch her mother and older sister and to model her behaviors after theirs.
Bonnie’s efforts to learn how to act feminine are best explained by which theory?
A. cognitive development
B. social learning
C. psychodynamic (or psychoanalytic)
D. biological
E. both B and C
6. According to standpoint theory
A. people with the most social privilege are most likely to develop an oppositional stance
toward existing power structures.
B. people who are privileged in some ways but disadvantaged in others are most likely to
develop an oppositional stance toward existing power structures.
C. people with the least social privilege are most likely to develop an oppositional stance
toward existing power structures.
D. no group is more likely than another to develop an oppositional stance toward
existing power structures.
7. David is a stay-at-home father of two young daughters who attends a “mommy and me”
playgroup for young children and their caregivers. He is the only male caregiver to attend
the group. According to standpoint theory, which statement(s) best explain(s) this
scenario?
A. As members of different genders, David and the female caregivers have developed
different ways of thinking about parenting, different techniques for parenting, and
different skills for parenting.
B. David and the mothers’ viewpoints are limited and partial.
C. David may view parenting differently from the mothers’ perspectives based on their
different standpoints.
D. It would be possible for David and the mothers in the group to work to understand the
others’ standpoints.
E. All of the above
8. Children learn who they are and what that means in their culture through interaction with
parents, teachers, and friends. Through this, they learn gender roles for men and women
and may internalize them. Which theory does this definition best describe?
A. cognitive development
B. social learning
C. psychodynamic (or psychoanalytic)
D. biological
E. symbolic interactionism
9. Kate explains, “When I was a little girl, I always wanted to be outside playing and getting
dirty. However, my mom dressed me in fussy clothes with lots of ruffles and bows, and
dressy shoes that were hard to play in. If I did manage to go outside and I got my clothes
and shoes dirty, my mom would be upset with me. I hated wearing those clothes, but I
saw how happy it made my mom when I wore them and kept them clean, so I kept on
wearing them.”
A. social learning theory
B. cognitive development theory
C. queer theory
D. symbolic interactionism
E. standpoint theory
10. Topic or question should be generated by a student. See pages 7–8 of this manual for
details on this activity.
11. Topic or question should come from class business. See pages 7–8 of this manual for
details on this activity.
True/False
12. Gender schema theory claims that by the age of two, children use the concept of gender
to organize their understandings.
13. Parents’ roles in children’s gender development are seen as unimportant by cognitive
development theory.
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14. The best way to explain sex and gender is through interpersonal and cultural theories.
15. Men and women have hormonal cycles that can affect their behavior.
16. According to psychodynamic theories, the first relationship we have fundamentally
influences how we define our gender identity.
17. According to psychodynamic theorists, gender identity becomes fixed early in life.
18. According to standpoint theory, all perspectives on social life are equally insightful.
19. Queer theory states that identity categories are limiting and meaningless.
20. Performative theory says that gender is not a thing we have, but is instead a thing we do.
21. Biological theory says that genes, hormones, and brain structure are the basis of gender
difference.
22. Biological theory suggests that men and women’s brains are formed and develop differently,
resulting in different behaviors and characteristics.
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23. Social learning theory suggests that children actively seek to perform their gender correctly.
Identification
24. Gender schema
ANS: An internal framework for categorizing perceptions and behaviors. Children
25. Psychodynamic theory
ANS: Infants develop a sense of self and gender identity by internalizing the views of
26. Social learning theory
ANS: Children learn appropriate behaviors through reinforcement from others. Since
27. Cognitive development theory
ANS: Children select models to teach themselves how to be competent at masculine or
28. Symbolic interaction theory
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ANS: Symbolic interactionism claims that through communication with others we learn
29. Queer theory
ANS: Queer theory critiques conventional categories of identity and cultural views of
Essays
30. Four–year-old Caroline and seven-year-old Jenny are sisters who live and have been raised
in the United States. Jenny plays a game in which she is a mother and her stuffed animals are
her children. Jenny hugs them and pretends to carefully feed them. Later, young Caroline
repeats the same hugging and feeding behaviors with her dolls. Caroline’s mother sees this and
states, “Caroline, someday you’ll be a good mommy.” How would anthropological theory of
gender explain Caroline’s behaviors? How would cognitive development theory explain
Caroline’s behaviors? Make sure you address “maternal instinct” in your answer.
ANS: The anthropological theory of gender would explain Caroline’s behaviors in terms of
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31. Using an example from your own life or experience, describe an example of social learning
theory in action. Be sure to give sufficient detail from the theory and your experience.
ANS: Answers will vary based on students’ experiences. However, the answers should
32. Biological theories attribute some aspects of masculinity and femininity to the differences
between male and female bodies. Yet, the author of your textbook notes that biological
differences between women and men are quite small and do not explain most behavioral
differences. How should the relationship between biology and gender be understood?
ANS: Although researchers dispute the extent to which biology affects gender, virtually
33. The author of your textbook notes that “Using the term man to describe Zac Efron, Barack
Obama, and Kanye West obscures the very different ways that these three people enact their
identities as men.” Using queer theory, explain what the author means by this statement. How
can there be so much variation in a word like man. How is a label like this seen by queer
theorists?
ANS: Queer theory argues that identities are fluid and are not fixed. Further, words like
34. What does it mean to say that gender should be viewed as a verb, not a noun? How is
gender social? Finally, what are the implications of such claims? Your response should be
grounded in performative theory about gender.
ANS: According to performative theory, gender is something we do, not something we