4. Getting to Know the
Textbook
• Read through the topics and skills from
pages iv-vii.
• From the “scope and sequence” pages,
what topics and skills are you particularly
interested in?
• Share your interests with your group
5. Pathways 1, pg. 1: Gender and Society
• What is the difference between the words “gender” and “sex”?
http://www.med.monash.edu.au/genderme
d/sexandgender.html
6. Group Discussion
1. What kinds of behaviors/attitudes/actions do you
consider to be masculine?
2. What kind of behaviors/attitudes/actions do you
consider to be feminine?
3. Do you think your beliefs about what is feminine and
masculine are shaped by the culture of your home
country? If so, how?
7. Culture and Gender Stereotypes
• Williams and Best (1982) studied 30 countries and found high
cross-cultural agreement on the adjectives used to describe males
and females.
– In all countries, adjectives associated with men were rated as
being stronger and more active.
– Participants from Japan and South African rated male
characteristics as more favorable; Italy and Peru rated female
characteristics more favorable.
8. Culture and Gender Stereotypes
• Follow up studies by Williams and Best
(1990)
– Men are viewed as active, strong, critical,
conscientious, extraverted, and open.
– Women are viewed as passive, weak,
nurturing, adaptive, agreeable, and
neurotic.
9. • Do you
agree or
disagree
with any of
these
stereotypes
(in
particular)?
