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Social Role Theory

Leah Hyde

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Gender Stereotypes

Aggressive - Dominant

Direct - Acts as a leader

Independent - Never cries

Active - Logical

Not emotional - Worldly

Objective

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Gender Stereotypes

Gentle

Tactful

Quite

Religious

Neat

Aware of others

feelings

Easily expresses

tender feelings

Enjoys art and

literature

Need for security

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Why do women and men differ

in their social behavior? Eaglys Social Role Theory of sex differences insocial behavior

Social Role Theory- suggests that almost allbehavioral differences we know about between males

and females is the result of cultural stereotypes about

gender (how males and females are supposed to act)

and the resulting social roles that are taught to youngpeople.

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Alice Eagly

a social psychologist whose interests aremainly in two areas-the psychology ofattitudes and the psychology of gender

new research is on sex differences in attitudeson social and political issues

Recently published over 20 books

Currently a professor at Northwestern

Enjoys the arts, especially classical music,theater, dance, and painting

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Her Argument

The gender roles that emerge from a societys

division of labor by sex are thus not arbitrary

cultural constructions.

Gender roles are thus emergents from the

productive work of the sexes; the characteristics

embodied in these roles become stereotypic of

women and men and facilitate the activitiestypically carried out by the workers of each sex.

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This implies

that is because of a division of labor thatwomen and men are different and not because ofevolutionary psychology characteristics.

because of the division of labor, women cameto be regarded as housewives, not being able towork with men, but rather doing house relatedduties such as taking care of the children and

cooking.

( supports social role theory and not evolutionary theory)

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So what are the actual

differences in social behavior?(Eagly and Wood 1991)

9 differences in adults observed acrossmany studies

1- Women are better at sending and receivingmessages non-verbally

2- Women conform to group pressures morethen men

3- Women act more friendly and agree morewith other group member in small groups

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Actual Differences

8- Men behave more aggressively to others

than women, particularly when the

aggression brings about physical harm orpain

9- Women report more life satisfaction and

happiness then men

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How are these differences are

produced? Social Role Theory and not because of

evolutionary theory

Pregnancy of women causes a difference

If men were getting pregnant, then women would havebeen the ones that provide everything that is necessaryfor the baby to live.

Differential treatment of girls and boys, which is

still evident in the way children are raised

(but steadily disappearing with the growing numberof educated women)

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