Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

gender
The perception of being male 
or female.
gender roles
The set of expectations, 
defi ned by a particular society, that 
indicate what is appropriate behavior 
for men and women.
sexism
Negative attitudes and 
behavior toward a person based on 
that person’s gender.
 Key Concept 
What are the major 
diff erences between male 
and female gender roles?
M O D U L E 3 2 
Gender and Sex
Study Alert
The distinction between 
gender and sex is subtle. 
Keep in mind that sex 
relates to anatomy, and 
gender relates to 
perception.
From the moment of birth, gender diff erences are defi ned by 
outside infl uences. Is it possible for a family to block these 
infl uences completely? Would it be desirable to do so?
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344 Chapter 
11 
Sexuality and Gender
(Williams & Best, 1990). Women were seen as sentimental, submissive, and supersti-
tious, whereas men were seen as adventurous, forceful, and independent (see Figure 1). 
These stereotypical similarities across cultures may be due to similarities in status 
between men and women across the cultures; in most, men receive somewhat higher 
status than women (Lips, 2003; Durik, Hyde, & Marks, 2006). 
Such stereotypes matter. By shaping beliefs about how men and women should 
behave, these stereotypes potentially keep inequalities between the genders alive. 
Stereotypes put pressure on people to fulfi ll the stereotypes, and they may lead 
people to perform in accordance with the stereotypes rather than in accordance with 
their own abilities. Attaining gender equality remains a signifi cant challenge through-
out the world (Lips, 2003; also see Figure 2).