Psychology Of Gender Differences

Gender differences are of interest in a wide range of disciplines. This diversity is reflected within this book, which provides a contemporary account of sex differences in areas such as social skills, play behaviour, creativity, motivation, temperament, classroom behaviour, self-esteem, and trust.

When clinical psychologist Jordan B. Peterson started a discussion about how we think and how we treat differences between men and women and sexual identity in our society, the attention he attracted was overwhelming. The professional firebrand Milo Yiannopoulos, with his outspoken opinions about feminism and gender difference draws large audiences and even larger controversy. What struck me in these discussions, and in my own discussions with people of all kind, is that there is a profound lack of knowledge of the facts, of the science behind gender differences. Without facts, the discussion is based on feelings, and necessarily empty.I am a psychologist who has done research into gender differences. In this short text, I want to step into the discussion by giving you theoretical and psychological backgrounds: an outline of the post-modern philosophy in which the Social Justice Warrior Movement is rooted, and the scientific and ideological knowledge that you need in the discussion of gender politics. Some people argue that psychological differences between people and men and women have a biological base and explain things we see in our society. Other people think that psychological differences between people and men and women have no biological base and are just the result of the way we treat people and men and women. It is important to realise this is a SCIENTIFIC question, not an ideological one.We will look at Post-modernism, Personality and Intelligence, gender differences in Personality, Intelligence, and motivation, evolutionary psychology and behavioural genetics, the relevance of personality and political preference, and the importance of free speech in democracy.You will see that we know a lot more about gender differences than you might think. You will also see tat the current assumption that all gender differences are a consequence of society is scientifically undefendable and based on wishful thinking and ideology. On the other hand, you will see that claiming that all gender differences are set-in-stone biologically determined is just as undefendable. You will be able to think more clearly about variation between people, and that small differences in large groups in a competitive environment can have large differences. With this knowledge, you will be able to think more clearly about the underrepresentation of women in engineering and maths, the underrepresentation of men in people-based jobs, the so-called gender wage gap, and the utility and fairness of corrective measures.Marc Luxen has a PhD in Evolutionary Psychology and Personality. He has worked at several university in The Netherlands, until he left academics to work in the dive industry. He publishes about diving, cooking, and psychology.

What is the difference between sex and gender? What is the impact of gender-role stereotypes on our lives, our relationships and the world? What does gender mean to you? The Psychology of Gender looks at our biology, history and culture to consider the impact of gender roles and stereotypes, and addresses the 'dilemmas' we have regarding gender in a post-modern world. It offers a unique perspective on gender through storytelling and explores ideas around transgender and cisgender identities and androgyny, tackling hidden assumptions and helping us make sense of the world of gender. By examining the future of gender, The Psychology of Gender offers a platform for further exploration, and arrives at a new psychology of gender that emphasises relationships and helps us to understand our own gender identity and that of those around us.

The SAGE Handbook of Gender and Psychology is a unique, state-of-the-art synthesis of the known work, combined with current research trends, in the broad field of gender and psychology. In the past 35 years academic publications on the subject have increased tenfold, and this level of activity as well the diversity of research looks set to increase in the coming years too. The time is ideal for a systematic review of the field. Contributions come from academics around the world and many different disciplines, and as a result multiple perspectives and a diversity of methodologies are presented to understand gender and its implications for behaviour. Chapters cover a wide variety of topics, theoretical approaches, contexts, and social issues; they also critically examine the key issues and current debates. Both advanced students and scholars will find extensive range and depth in the topics covered across the Handbook′s 29 chapters. Published as a single volume, the handbook is aimed at individuals as well as the library market. The SAGE Handbook of Gender and Psychology will have mass appeal across the field of psychology, including social psychology and gender and psychology, as well a number of other subject groups such as gender studies, sociology, organizational behaviour and political science.

Sex discrimination is supposedly a distant memory. Yet popular books, magazines and even scientific articles defend inequalities by citing immutable biological differences between the male and female brain. Why are there so few women in science and engineering, so few men in the laundry room? Well, they say, it's our brains.

To what extent does gender influence our behavior, thoughts, and feelings? How do "nature" and "nurture" interact to shape our identities as female or male? And what are the effects of gender on the ways we are perceived and treated by others? The second edition of this important text and reference confronts the central questions pertaining to gender differences and similarities across the lifespan. Rather than focusing on a particular viewpoint, the volume is carefully designed to foster comparison among different lines of psychological research and provide a broad survey of cutting-edge work in the field.

This unique collection brings a rarely-seen indigenous and global perspective to the study of gender and psychology. Within these chapters, researchers who live and work in the countries and cultures they study examine gender-based norms, values, expression, and relations across diverse Western and non-Western societies. Familiar as well as less-covered locations and topics are analyzed, including China, New Zealand, Israel, Turkey, Central America, the experience of refugees, and gendered health inequities across Africa such as in the treatment of persons with HIV. Included, too, are examples of culturally appropriate interventions to address disparities, and data on the extent to which these steps toward equality are working. Structurally, the volume is divided into three sections. The first two parts of the book take readers on a journey to different regions of the world to illustrate the most recent trends in research concerning gender issues, and then outline present implications and future prospects for the psychological analysis of both gender & culture. The third section of the book has an applied perspective and focuses on the cultural norms and values reinforcing gender equality as well as cultural and social barriers to them. A sampling of the topics covered: Sexual orientation across culture and time. A broader conceptualization of sexism in Poland. An analysis of gender roles within the family in Switzerland Modern-day dowries in South Asian international arranged marriages. The current state of gender equality in the United States of America. Socio-cultural determinants of gender disparity in Ghana. Psychology of Gender Through the Lens of Culture is a milestone toward core human rights and goals worldwide, and a critical resource for psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, gender studies researchers, public policy makers and all those interested in promoting gender equality throughout the world.

A comprehensive overview of the interdisciplinary field of Women's and Gender Studies, featuring original contributions from leading experts from around the world The Companion to Women's and Gender Studies is a comprehensive resource for students and scholars alike, exploring the central concepts, theories, themes, debates, and events in this dynamic field. Contributions from leading scholars and researchers cover a wide range of topics while providing diverse international, postcolonial, intersectional, and interdisciplinary insights. In-depth yet accessible chapters discuss the social construction and reproduction of gender and inequalities in various cultural, social-economic, and political contexts. Thematically-organized chapters explore the development of Women's and Gender Studies as an academic discipline, changes in the field, research directions, and significant scholarship in specific, interrelated disciplines such as science, health, psychology, and economics. Original essays offer fresh perspectives on the mechanisms by which gender intersects with other systems of power and privilege, the relation of androcentric approaches to science and gender bias in research, how feminist activists use media to challenge misrepresentations and inequalities, disparity between men and women in the labor market, how social movements continue to change Women's and Gender Studies, and more. Filling a significant gap in contemporary literature in the field, this volume: Features a broad interdisciplinary and international range of essays Engages with both individual and collective approaches to agency and resistance Addresses topics of intense current interest and debate such as transgender movements, gender-based violence, and gender discrimination policy Includes an overview of shifts in naming, theoretical approaches, and central topics in contemporary Women's and Gender Studies Companion to Women's and Gender Studies is an ideal text for instructors teaching courses in gender, sexuality, and feminist studies, or related disciplines such as psychology, history, education, political science, sociology, and cultural studies, as well as practitioners and policy makers working on issues related to gender and sexuality.

In the third edition of her popular text, Sex Differences in Cognitive Abilities, Diane Halpern tackles fundamental questions about the meaning of sex differences in cognition and why people are so afraid of the differences. She provides a comprehensive context for understanding the theories and research on this controversial topic. The author employs the psychobiosocial model of cognition to negotiate a cease fire on the nature-nurture wars and offers a more holistic and integrative conceptualization of the forces that make people unique. This new edition reflects the explosion of theories and research in the area over the past several years. New techniques for peering into the human brain have changed the nature of the questions being asked and the kinds of answers that can be expected. There have been surprising new findings on the influence of sex hormones on cognitive abilities across the life span, as well as an increasing number of studies examining how attention paid to category variables such as one's sex, race, or age affects unconscious and automatic cognitive processes. Written in a clear, engaging style, this new edition takes a refreshing look at the science and politics of cognitive sex differences. Although it is a comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of scientific theory and research into how, why, when, and to what extent females and males differ in intellectual abilities, it conveys complex ideas and interrelationships among variables in an engrossing and understandable manner, bridging the gap between sensationalized 'pop' literature and highly technical scientific journals. Halpern's thought-provoking perspectives on this controversial topic will be of interest to students and professionals alike. [features used for book mailer] FEATURES: *Includes new information about sex differences and similarities in the brain, the role of sex hormones on cognition (including exciting new work on hormone replacement therapy during menopause), new perspectives from evolutionary psychology, the way stereotypes and other group-based expectations unconsciously and automatically influence thought, the influence of pervasive sex-differentiated child rearing and other sex role effects, and understanding how research is conducted and interpreted. *Takes a cognitive process approach that examines similarities and differences in visuospatial working memory, verbal working memory, long-term acquisition and retrieval, sensation and perception, and other stages in information processing. *Provides a developmental analysis of sex differences and similarities in cognition extending from the early prenatal phase into very old age. *Tackles both political and scientific issues and explains how they influence each other--readers are warned that science is not value-free. *Uses cross-cultural data and warns readers about the limitations on conclusions that have not been assessed in multiple cultures. *Includes many new figures and tables that summarize complex issues and provide section reviews. It is a beautifully written book by a master teacher who really cares about presenting a clear and honest picture of contemporary psychology's most politicized topic.