PSYC 5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Margaret Mead, Hypermasculinity, Cultural Determinism
Document Summary
Cultural/anthropological: different definitions of masculinity and femininity, different expressions of aggression and violence despite similarities (anatomically). Margaret mead: sex differences are learned, not biological, and are self-perpetuating (south seas samoa, polynesia and indonesia): parents teach the children the differences between the sexes in their society. Mead"s findings challenged strict cultural gender norms in the us. Criticized for cultural determinism: belief that the cultures in which we are raised determine our character, personalities, behaviours. Misinterpretation of cultures: convention to end gender differences, the us refused to ratify it. Only 5 countries in the world have refused to do so. Demonstrated men and women are capable of similar or different temperaments, but did not explain why. However, today women can be in the military because women are strong enough since the strength" needed isn"t as much as it used to be. Theories of gender differentiation: private property and the materialism of male domination.
