I: Summary “Meta-Analysis and the Psychology of Gender Differences” is an article written by Janet Shibley Hyde that was published in 1990. Though this article is dated, the information presented in it retains it’s relevance in the current culture.
In this article, Hyde examines and meta-analyzes the history of research on gender differences in boys and girls. The earliest research and tests of gender differences attempted to confirm the claim that white males were evolutionary superior to other demographics. Most of the research primarily focused on gender differences in intelligence, but the results ultimately proved to be inaccurate and irrelevant to modern psychology. The emergence of standardized testing initiated a resurgence of curiosity …show more content…
The article itself is incorrect in it’s usage of the term “gender,” when it reality it is explaining the differences in biological sex. The article “Distinguishing Gender,” (2011) though dealing with gender and politics, sums up a problem that is also present in the psychology community, “Despite its importance for many public policy choices, the majority of scholarship in political science does not adequately distinguish, either theoretically or methodologically, between the concepts of sex, gender, and sexual orientation” (McDermott, Hatemi, pg. 89.) Psychologists tend to use the term “gender” as an umbrella term to cover the concepts of biological sex, gender, and sexual orientation. This may appear to be nitpicking at semantics, but differentiating between gender and biological sex is important if one is going to claim that there are innate differences between boys and girls. The differences in abilities do not stem from gender, a social construct, but from biological …show more content…
Though the journal expressed a very open and tolerant view of gender and sexuality, the short excerpt that stated that gender is influenced by genetics instead of society causes apprehension. The concept that there are pre-determined differences outside of biological sex characteristics between boys and girls is damaging to their ability to develop as individuals. It further perpetuates the idea that boys and girls must learn differently and educators and the general public reinforce that belief by creating one-gendered curriculum and schools. Gender is a societal construct forced onto boys and girls from the moment of their conception. Consider the presence of blue or pink at baby showers. Already society is imposing a set of preferences and characteristics onto a child that is not even out of the womb. There are ever-present expectations of behaviors and traits for boys and girls, and because of that, it feels pointless to try to determine innate differences between the two based solely on biology. Even if boys and girls were destined for difference, there are too many variables to determine the origin of said differences. Parents who buy into gender stereotypes impose those stereotypes on their children from a young age, and even if parents don’t model gender roles, gender roles permeate every aspect of our society. Through observational learning, children will witness stereotypes in
In this article, Hyde examines and meta-analyzes the history of research on gender differences in boys and girls. The earliest research and tests of gender differences attempted to confirm the claim that white males were evolutionary superior to other demographics. Most of the research primarily focused on gender differences in intelligence, but the results ultimately proved to be inaccurate and irrelevant to modern psychology. The emergence of standardized testing initiated a resurgence of curiosity …show more content…
The article itself is incorrect in it’s usage of the term “gender,” when it reality it is explaining the differences in biological sex. The article “Distinguishing Gender,” (2011) though dealing with gender and politics, sums up a problem that is also present in the psychology community, “Despite its importance for many public policy choices, the majority of scholarship in political science does not adequately distinguish, either theoretically or methodologically, between the concepts of sex, gender, and sexual orientation” (McDermott, Hatemi, pg. 89.) Psychologists tend to use the term “gender” as an umbrella term to cover the concepts of biological sex, gender, and sexual orientation. This may appear to be nitpicking at semantics, but differentiating between gender and biological sex is important if one is going to claim that there are innate differences between boys and girls. The differences in abilities do not stem from gender, a social construct, but from biological …show more content…
Though the journal expressed a very open and tolerant view of gender and sexuality, the short excerpt that stated that gender is influenced by genetics instead of society causes apprehension. The concept that there are pre-determined differences outside of biological sex characteristics between boys and girls is damaging to their ability to develop as individuals. It further perpetuates the idea that boys and girls must learn differently and educators and the general public reinforce that belief by creating one-gendered curriculum and schools. Gender is a societal construct forced onto boys and girls from the moment of their conception. Consider the presence of blue or pink at baby showers. Already society is imposing a set of preferences and characteristics onto a child that is not even out of the womb. There are ever-present expectations of behaviors and traits for boys and girls, and because of that, it feels pointless to try to determine innate differences between the two based solely on biology. Even if boys and girls were destined for difference, there are too many variables to determine the origin of said differences. Parents who buy into gender stereotypes impose those stereotypes on their children from a young age, and even if parents don’t model gender roles, gender roles permeate every aspect of our society. Through observational learning, children will witness stereotypes in