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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 estrogen
A.
causes women’s bodies to produce “good” cholesterol and to make blood vessels
flexible.
B.
strengthens the immune system, making women less susceptible to immune
disorders, infections, and viruses.
C.
causes more fat tissue to form around a woman’s hips, providing cushioning for a
fetus during pregnancy.
D.
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
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D.
Symbolic interaction theory
E.
Standpoint theory
5.
At age three, 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 attend 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.
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ANS: E
REF: pp. 46–48
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 8 to 10 of this
manual for details on this activity.
11.
Topic or question should come from class business. See pages 8 to 10 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.
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13.
Parents’ roles in children’s gender development are seen as unimportant by
cognitive development theory.
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
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difference.
22.
Biological theory suggests that men’s and women’s brains are formed and develop
differently, resulting in different behaviors and characteristics.
23.
Social learning theory suggests that children actively seek to perform their gender correctly.
24.
Gender schema
25.
Psychodynamic theories
26.
Social learning theory
27.
Cognitive development theory
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ANS: Children select models to teach themselves how to be competent at masculine or
feminine behaviors. Children are viewed as active learners. Children develop gender
constancy, usually by age three, when they understand they are male or female and that
this will not change.
REF: pp. 42
28.
Symbolic interaction theory
29.
Queer theory
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.
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.
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include the idea that we learn what is appropriate or acceptable based on behaving a certain
way and then being punished or rewarded for it.
REF: pp. 40–41
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?
33.
Consider your internal definition of what a man is. Then think about the example given in
the textbook of Munroe, “the hottest and coolest drag queen in town.” Does Munroe fit your
definition of a man? Do you consider Andy and Jada to be men? Using queer theory, explain
how the label of man can or cannot encompass so much variation. How is a label like this
seen by queer theorists?
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.
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and we can change it as well. Thinking of gender as performed and social allows us to
see its fluidity.
REF: p. 49–51