11.1.14

Cross Cultural Research

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Cross Cultural Research and Gender Roles

Research has been conducted across cultures to look at how gender roles are different in other cultures. The most important are Whiting and Edwards (1981) and Margaret Mead (1935).

Ethnocentrism

Ethnocentrism

  • Cross cultural research is important because it lessens the burden of ethnocentric bias (research that is biased towards a particular culture, usually Western).
  • To have a better understanding of human gender roles, a broad approach should be taken.
  • Social learning theory looks at how those around you influence behaviour. So research should not be focused on one culture.
Social vs biological

Social vs biological

  • There are two possible conclusions to be drawn from cross-cultural research:
    • If there are differences in gender roles, then social learning is a more likely cause of gender roles.
    • But if there is no difference in gender roles across cultures, then a biological cause of gender is more likely.

Whiting and Edwards (1988)

Whiting and Edwards (1988) examined children's behaviour from six different cultures and found that there were clear differences between male and female behaviour.

Cultures

Cultures

  • Whiting and Edwards (1988) examined children's behaviour from six different cultures:
    • USA, Japan, Mexico, Kenya, the Philippines, and India.
Findings

Findings

  • In all of the cultures, there were clear differences between male and female behaviour.
  • The gender behaviour was similar to Western stereotypes and norms of gender.
  • For example:
    • Girls were more caring than compared to boys.
    • Boys were more aggressive than compared to girls.
Responsibilities

Responsibilities

  • In terms of chores and responsibilities in those cultures where that is expected, there were also gender differences.
  • Boys were more likely to get involved in care of animals and less likely to do housework (cleaning).
  • Girls, on the other hand, were more responsible for child-care of younger siblings and be expected to do housework.
Conclusions

Conclusions

  • Because the findings demonstrated similarities across the cultures, they suggest that gender may be due to biology.
  • So the nature argument of gender is supported.

Mead (1935)

Margaret Mead's study (1935) contrasts with Whiting and Edwards. This supported the social learning (nurture) viewpoint of gender development.

Study

Study

  • Margaret Mead studied three different tribes, all from Papua New Guinea.
  • Each of the tribes had roles for men and roles for women.
Findings

Findings

  • These roles differed from the roles in Western society.
  • Not all of the roles were the same even between the tribes.
Conclusions

Conclusions

  • As a result of this, we can conclude that culture and environment do play a role in gender development.
  • So the study supports the nurture side of the argument.
  • We can not only explain gender through the biological explanation.
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