Gender Schema Theory is a cognitive theory that was formulated by psychologist Sandra Bem
Sandra Bem
Sandra Ruth Lipsitz Bem was an American psychologist known for her works in androgyny and gender studies. Her pioneering work on gender roles, gender polarization and gender stereotypes led directly to more equal employment opportunities for women in the United States.
How is gender schema theory applicable in the Society?
Gender schemas have an impact not only on how people process information but on the attitudes and beliefs that direct "gender-appropriate" behavior. For example, a child who lives in a very traditional culture might believe that a woman’s role is in the caring and raising of children, while a man’s role is in work and industry.
What is gender schema theory in psychology?
- Sex-typed individuals are those who relate closely with their gender identities and process information within the scope of that gender schema.
- Cross-typed individuals process information within the scope of the opposite gender’s schema.
- Androgynous individuals manifest both masculine and feminine thought process.
What does it mean to be bigender?
bigender A non-binary gender identity that relates to identifying as two gender identities. It can mean you identify as both binary genders, a binary gender and a non-binary gender, and two non-binary genders. One identifying as bigender could mean identifying as a conflation of two genders or a variation between the two.
What are the theories of gender development?
- Parents and other people label and begin to react to the child based on his or her genitals. ...
- The social labeling of a baby as a boy or girl leads to different treatment which produce the child\s sense of gender identity.
- Western Societies view gender as having two categories, masculine and feminine, and see man and women as different species.
What is gender schema and how is this developed quizlet?
Terms in this set (8) Gender schema theory is the theory that children innately form schema's long before they reach an understanding of gender consistency/constancy. Stage 1. Children learn what is associated with their sex. eg, boys have short hair and girls wear long dresses.
What is the meaning of gender schema?
Gender schemas refer to mental structures that organize incoming information according to gender categories and in turn lead people to perceive the world in terms of gender. They also help people to match their behavior with the behavior they believe is appropriate for their own gender.
What is gender schema in human development?
Gender schema theory was introduced by psychologist Sandra Bem in 1981 and asserted that children learn about male and female roles from the culture in which they live. According to the theory, children adjust their behavior to align with the gender norms of their culture from the earliest stages of social development.
Who invented gender schema?
Sandra BemDescription. First coined by Sandra Bem in 1981 [1], gender schema theory is a cognitive account of sex typing by which schemas are developed through the combination of social and cognitive learning processes.
What is the main principle of the gender schema theory?
Gender schema theory is a cognitive theory of gender development that says that gender is a product of the norms of one's culture. The theory was originated by psychologist Sandra Bem in 1981. It suggests that people process information, in part, based on gender-typed knowledge.
What does the term schema mean?
Definition of schema 1 : a diagrammatic presentation broadly : a structured framework or plan : outline. 2 : a mental codification of experience that includes a particular organized way of perceiving cognitively and responding to a complex situation or set of stimuli.
How do social learning theory and gender schema theory explain gender role development?
Social Learning Theory and Gender-Schema are two major theories of gender role development. The theories provide children with the understanding of gender and the roles each gender must play thus allowing children to become better at coping with ambiguity and their ideas about what is acceptable or appropriate.
What is gender development theory?
According to cognitive developmental theory, gender identity is postulated as the basic organizer and regulator of children's gender learning (Kohlberg, 1966). Children develop the stereotypic conceptions of gender from what they see and hear around them.
What emerges as children gradually develop gender schemas about what is gender appropriate and what is gender inappropriate in their culture?
the theory that gender-typing emerges as children gradually develop gender schemas of what is gender appropriate and gender-inappropriate in their culture.
What are the limitations of gender schema theory?
A big limitation of this theory is the issue of individual differences. Gender schema theory cannot explain why different children with much of the same environmental influences respond differently to gender appropriate behaviour.
Which of the following is a feature of the gender schema theory?
Gender schema theory proposes that children learn schemes related to gender from their interactions with other children and adults, as well as from TV programmes and films. Such schema or stereotypes have the function of organising and structuring other information that is presented to children.
What's a schema in psychology?
A schema is a cognitive framework or concept that helps organize and interpret information. Schemas can be useful because they allow us to take shortcuts in interpreting the vast amount of information that is available in our environment.
What is the difference between social learning theory and gender schema theory?
In summary, social learning theory sees gender identity as coming from performance of gender- related behaviors, whereas cognitive developmental theory sees gender-related behaviors as coming from the cognitive adoption of a gender identity. Gender schema model is an extension of the cognitive developmental theory.
Which of the following is a feature of the gender schema theory?
Gender schema theory proposes that children learn schemes related to gender from their interactions with other children and adults, as well as from TV programmes and films. Such schema or stereotypes have the function of organising and structuring other information that is presented to children.
What are the limitations of gender schema theory?
A big limitation of this theory is the issue of individual differences. Gender schema theory cannot explain why different children with much of the same environmental influences respond differently to gender appropriate behaviour.
What is gender schema?
Updated August 22, 2019. Gender schema theory is a cognitive theory of gender development that says that gender is a product of the norms of one’s culture. The theory was originated by psychologist Sandra Bem in 1981. It suggests that people process information, in part, based on gender-typed knowledge.
Why are gender schemas important?
Gender schemas and the gender stereotypes incorporated into them enable people to understand the social difficulties they may encounter if they fail to conform to their culture’s gender norms. For example, a man who cries at a wedding may be mocked for being less masculine, while a woman who does the same is thought to be exhibiting gender-appropriate behavior. Meanwhile, a woman who speaks forcefully during a company meeting may be seen as bossy or too emotional by her employees, but a man who does the same is considered authoritative and in control.
What is Bem's theory of gender?
Bem’s theory suggests that people fall into one of four gender categories : Sex-typed individuals identify with the gender that corresponds to their physical sex. These individuals process and integrate information according to their schema for their gender. Cross-sex typed individuals process and integrate information according to their schema ...
What is the weakness of gender schema?
One weakness of the theory is that it fails to account for the ways biology or social interactions impact gender development.
What was Bem's approach to gender influenced by?
It was this shortcoming that Bem sought to address with her theory. Bem’s approach to gender was also influenced by the cognitive revolution that took place in psychology in the 1960s and 1970s.
What are children expected to learn about their culture's conceptions of gender?
As a result, children are expected to learn about their culture’s conceptions of gender and incorporate those conceptions into their self-concept. Bem noted that many psychological theories speak to this process, including psychoanalytic theory and social learning theory.
What are the four categories of genders in Bem?
The theory accounts for four gender categories, which can be measured with the Bem Sex Role Inventory: sex-typed, cross-sex typed, androgynous, and undifferentiated.
Who developed the gender schema?
Another cognitive explanation of gender development is gender schema theory, developed by Carol L. Martin, Charles F. Halverson, and Sandra L. Bem. Gender schemas refer to mental structures that organize incoming information according to gender categories and in turn lead people to perceive the world in terms of gender.
How do gender schemas help children?
Gender schemas are thought to develop in a two-step process. First, children develop in-group/out-group schemas, in which they learn how their society dichotomizes information according to gender.
What is the difference between self categorization and gender schema?
Self-categorization theory addresses the impact of group identities more generally, whereas gender schema theory is more narrowly focused on gender identities. According to both theories, people are more interested in information when it is relevant to one's ingroup than to the outgroup. Both self-categorization theory and gender schema theory make ...
How does gender affect behavior?
Research indicates that people do organize and remember information according to gender categories and are more likely to attend to and exhibit preferences for activities associated with their own gender. For instance, children are more likely to play with and learn more about gender-neutral toys if they are told that the toys are for their gender. This finding suggests that gender schemas may influence children's behavior. In other studies, children who viewed pictures of people engaged in gender-inconsistent behavior later recalled that the pictures had depicted gender-consistent behavior. For example, if children saw a picture of girls boxing, they later believed that the picture had shown boys boxing. This finding indicates that children had distorted memories in which they perceived or remembered pictures according to their gender schemas. As with cognitive development theory, however, research has not explicitly investigated whether and how gender schemas change during adolescence, nor the extent to which gender schemas influence adolescents' gendered identity, attitudes, and behaviors. This information would enhance understandings of how cognitive development impacts gender development in adolescence.
Why is gender important in social identity?
According to social identity theory, people tend to value characteristics associated with their ingroup and they tend to encourage ingroup members to assimilate to the group's norms. Throughout childhood, girls and boys primarily affiliate with same-gender peers. Although cross-gender contacts increase during adolescence, friendships usually are mostly with same-gender peers. In these peer groups, gender-stereotyped social norms are often enforced among peers.
How do people learn about gender roles?
People learn about the cultural norms regarding gender roles from various social agents, including family members, teachers, peers, and the media. Although contemporary adolescents living with their mother and father will typically observe both parents working outside of the home in Western contexts, fathers may be more likely than mothers to hold high-prestige occupations. It is even more likely that a gendered division of labor occurs inside the home of dual-career parents with most mothers still being primarily responsible for childcare and housework. Thus, as adolescents approach adulthood themselves, their ideas about family roles may be partly influenced by what they have observed in their home.
Why is STEM a leaky pipeline?
Women's representation in STEM careers has often been called a “leaky pipeline” because girls’ interest and self-efficacy in STEM declines with age ( Alper, 1993 ). Whereas young girls often enjoy math and science and earn high grades in these subjects, they become less interested in science courses in high school ( Miller, Blessing, & Schwartz, 2007 ). Perhaps girls are more likely to perceive gender discrimination in advanced math and science courses ( Hayes & Bigler, 2013 ), or years of gender stereotyping and stereotype threat wear on girls who were once interested in science and math. Perhaps women become more aware of their occupational goals and see STEM careers as incongruent with their goals for family life or altruism ( Diekman et al., 2010 ).
How are gender schemas formed?
Gender schemas are formed as a result of the children's observation of how society defines what it means to be male and female in his or her culture. Gender schemas help determine what the child attends to, how the child interprets the world, and what the child remembers about his or her experiences. In other words, gender schemas organize the ...
What Is Gender Schema Theory?
Gender schemas are based on children's interactions and observations of others, their environment, and the culture. These gender schemas are used to organize and direct the child's behavior based on his or her society's gender norms and expectations related to the child's gender.
Why are gender schemas important?
It is evident that gender schemas promote gender stereotypes. Let's review. Gender schemas are used by children to organize and make sense of their experiences. According to the gender schema theory, children actively play a role in their gender identity, starting at age two or three.
What happens when information does not fit the gender schema?
Information that does not fit the gender schemas tends to be either forgotten or distorted to fit the schema. For example, say that the child came home one day and saw that his father was cleaning instead of his mother. The child would note that this behavior does not fit his schema and would probably be confused. If asked about it later, the child would probably forget that his father cooked, or he would remember that his mother cooked instead of his father. It is evident that gender schemas promote gender stereotypes.
What are some examples of gender schemas?
For example, a child observes that his mother is always the one who cleans the house and gets the kids ready for school, while his father is always working and giving out punishments and does little at home.
Why do women and fathers have a schema?
The child might develop a schema that females are meant to do all the household tasks, while fathers are meant to punish and provide for the family. This can lead to the assimilation of other, similar ideas, such as the belief that women are weak and emotional, while men are strong and mean.
When do children learn their gender?
Children first learn their own gender by ages two and three. Then, they learn what it means to be a male or female in their society. As soon as the child figures out what it means to be a male or a female, he or she actively seeks information concerning the appropriate gender roles and traits.
When was gender schema theory first introduced?
Gender schema theory was formally introduced by Sandra Bem in 1981 as a cognitive theory to explain how individuals become gendered in society, and how sex-linked characteristics are maintained and transmitted to other members of a culture. Gender-associated information is predominantly transmuted through society by way of schemata, ...
What is the legacy of gender schema theory?
The legacy of gender schema theory has not been one of obvious lasting impact in the psychology of gender. Bem's theory was undoubtedly informed by the cognitive revolution of the 1970s and 1980s and was coming at a time when the psychology of gender was drastically picking up interest as more and more women were entering academic fields. While gender schema theory does provide a cognitive backbone for how gender stereotypes may continue to be maintained in current society, it lost wind as more broad sociological theories became the dominant force in the psychology of gender. A major limitation of gender schema theory has been that once research supported the nature of the process, there was little work that followed.
Why does Bem suggest schemata?
Therefore, Bem suggests teaching alternative schemata to children so that they are less likely to build and maintain a gender schema.
What is core gender identity?
Core gender identity is tied up in the sex typing that an individual undergoes. This typing can be heavily influenced by child rearing, media, school, and other forms of cultural transmission. Bem refers to four categories in which an individual may fall: sex-typed, cross-sex-typed, androgynous, and undifferentiated.
What is gender schemata?
Being that gender schema theory is a theory of process and not content, this theory can help explain some of the processes by which gender stereotypes become so psychologically ingrained in our society. Specifically, having strong gender schemata provides a filter through which we process incoming stimuli in the environment.
What is the purpose of the gender sex test?
Originally developed as a tool to identify sex-typed individuals, many researchers use the measure to look at other components of gender , including endorsement of gender stereotypes and as a measure of masculinity/femininity.
How is gender-associated information transmuted?
Gender-associated information is predominantly transmuted through society by way of schemata, or networks of information that allow for some information to be more easily assimilated than others. Bem argues that there are individual differences in the degree to which people hold these gender schemata.
What is gender schema?
by Ushashi Adhikary. Gender Schema Theory is a cognitive theory that was formulated by psychologist Sandra Bem in 1981. It states that gender roles stem from the culture in which a person is brought up rather than being inborn. This theory attempts to demonstrate how individuals become gendered and how the sex-specific characteristics are retained ...
What is Sandra Bem's theory of gender?
Sandra Bem’s gender schema theory was short-lived and quick to lose hold over the psychology of gender development. This theory was inspired by the cognitive revolution during the period of 1970-1980s. As more and more women were taking up into academic fields, psychology of gender was specifically gaining popularity.
Why are gender stereotypes ingrained in society?
An individual having strong gender schema processes stimuli from the environment through a filter which is induced by the gender schema itself. This results in an easier ability to grasp information that is stereotypical, hence further emboldening the gender stereotypes. While cognitive and social development of a child, Bem says that gender schemas are responsible for the regulation of children’s behaviour that match-up to the cultural definition of masculinity or feminity. Moreover, she argues that there is yet another underlying theory of heterosexuality sub-schema, which has encouraged the formation of gender schemas. Most cultures treat heterosexuality as the norm and that men and women are supposed to be different from one another.
How do cultural conditionings affect gender?
Such patterns of thought adversely affect all the genders be it men, women or other non-binary genders. These cultural conditionings restrict unbounded cognitive and social growth of individuals. They lead to confining the characteristics of children into socially prescribed gender norms.
What is a potential source of sex-typing?
A potential source of sex-typing is the environment in which children are brought up. Sandra Bem suggests that to curb the sex-typing of children, access to media which encourages sex-typing should be prohibited and equal roles should be cast for mother and father within the household.
Is gender conditioning a progressive or traditional society?
But just like coins, everything has two sides. Gender conditioning is prevalent not only in traditional societies but also in progressive ones. A woman who chooses to stick to domestic roles like that of a housewife might come across as “culturally backward”.
Is gender psychology gaining popularity?
As more and more women were taking up into academic fields, psychology of gender was specifically gaining popularity. But as broad-ranging sociological theories started to become the mainstream in the study of gender psychology, the impact of gender schema theory eventually tailed-off. However, the theory does explain how gender stereotypes are ...
Introduction
Developed by Sandra Bem ( 1981, 1983 ), gender schema theory explains the development and consequences of sex typing or how children acquire sex-defined characteristics (i.e., preferences, skills, personality traits, behaviors, and self-concepts) that are aligned with gender.
General Description
Gender schema theory assumes that, from an early age, children naturally extract information from their social environments, which they then encode and organize into networks of mental associations that allow them to make sense of their worlds and themselves.
Cultural Influences on Gender Schema
Consequences of Nonconformity
- Within this construct, men and women are tacitly aware of the consequences of not adhering to the cultural norm. A woman who decides to pursue a career, for example, might be considered "uppity" in traditional culture or be considered "unfair" or "disrespectful" to her husband if she doesn't take his last name. On the flip side, even in more progressive societies, men may be subj…
Rationale and Criticism
- In her writings, Bem believed that gender schemas were limiting for men, women, and society as a whole. Raising children free from these stereotypes and limitations, she believed, would lead to greater freedom and fewer restrictions of free will.1 Critics of Bem's theory say that she portrayed individuals simply as passive bystanders in the development of gender schemas and i…
Bem’s Sex-Role Inventory
- In addition to the gender schema theory, Bem created a questionnaire known as the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BRSI). The inventory consists of 60 different words that are either masculine, feminine, or gender-neutral. When taking the test, respondents are asked to rate how strongly they identify with each characteristic. Rather than simply categorize people as masculine or feminine, the inv…
Origins
Gender Schemas
- As children learn about gender-specific attributes, they form gender schemas. Children learn whatever gender schemas are available in their culture, including whatever divisions exist between the two sexes. These cognitive structures enable people to apply the subset of schemasthat match their own sex to themselves, which influences their self-conc...
Gender Categories
- Bem’s theory suggests that people fall into one of four gender categories: 1. Sex-typed individuals identify with the gender that corresponds to their physical sex. These individuals process and integrate information according to their schema for their gender. 2. Cross-sex typed individuals process and integrate information according to their schema for the opposite gender. 3. Androg…
Bem Sex Role Inventory
- In 1974, Bem created an instrument to place people into the four gender categories called the Bem Sex Role Inventory. The scale presents 60 attributes, such as assertive or tender, that respondents rate based on how well each attribute describes them. Twenty of the attributes correspond to a culture’s idea of masculinity, twenty correspond to the culture’s idea of femininit…
Gender Stereotypes
- Bem didn’t directly address gender stereotypes or discrimination based on noncomformity to gender schema in her theory. However, she did question society’s over-reliance on gender distinctions. Thus, research by other scholars on gender schema theory has investigated the ways gender stereotypesare communicated in society. For example, studies have explored the way ch…
Critiques
- Gender schema theory provides a useful framework for understanding how knowledge structures of gender are formed, however it has not avoided all criticism. One weakness of the theory is that it fails to account for the ways biology or social interactions impact gender development. In addition, the content of gender schema remains unclear. While the theory is meant to account fo…
Sources
- Bem, Sandra Lipsitz. “Gender Schema Theory: A Cognitive Account of Sex Typing.” Psychological Review, vol. 88, no. 4, 1981, pp. 354-364. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.88.4.354
- Cherry, Kendra. “Gender Schema Theory and Roles in Culture.” Verywell Mind, 14 March 2019. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-gender-schema-theory-2795205
- Bem, Sandra Lipsitz. “Gender Schema Theory: A Cognitive Account of Sex Typing.” Psychological Review, vol. 88, no. 4, 1981, pp. 354-364. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.88.4.354
- Cherry, Kendra. “Gender Schema Theory and Roles in Culture.” Verywell Mind, 14 March 2019. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-gender-schema-theory-2795205
- Martin, Carol Lynn, Diana N. Ruble, and Joel Szkrybaio. “Cognitive Theories of Early Gender Development.” Psychological Bulletin, vol. 128, no. 6, 2002, pp. 903-933. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0033-...
- “Sandra Bem’s Gender Schema Theory Explained.” Health Research Funding. https://healthresearchfunding.org/sandra-bems-gender-schema-theory-explained/
