2. In chapter 8, Santrock describes attempts to define and measure gender roles.

Question

2. In chapter 8, Santrock describes attempts to define and measure gender roles. Which of the following statements constitutes an assumption made by gender-role researchers rather than an inference or an observation? Label the letter of the best answer, and explain why it is the best answer and why the other answers are not as good a. Girls should grow up to be feminine, and boys should grow up to be masculine. b. Gender-role stereotypes are more harmful to females than to males c. Femininity and masculinity are separable aspects of personality that have their own unique characteristics d. Androgynous individuals are more flexible and mentally healthier than masculine or feminine individuals e. Females and males should transcend gender-role characteristics.

Explanation / Answer

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily.

(Answer) (A) It is the most flawed statement from a research perspective. It is the job of a researcher to come up with the sharpest results possible. This statement, however, is a very generalised statement. Firstly what is feminine and what is masculine is entirely subjective. What is considered feminine in 2017 in America was probably very masculine in 1942 England. Therefore, there is no fixed recipe for a growing girl or boy to follow in being feminine or masculine.

Secondly, the statement says that “Girls/boys should grow up...” “Should” implies that it is a necessity to grow up a certain way. However, there is no particular law that makes it necessary for a girl to have a pink room and a boy to have a blue room. This statement is vague and incorrect.

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