Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Gender Schema Theory and Gender Role Stress

Sandra Bem was well known for her research of sex roles. Her theory is that a boy interprets information from his surrounding/external world, encodes and organizes this information based on the his culture's definition of "masculinity." His behavior, in turn, is a reaction to this processing of cultural information - act as a man does and do not act like a woman does. In addition to learning this gender schema early in life, Bem states that some children and adults are more committed to their gender performance than others. For example, a football player is thus seen as more "committed" to his masculinity than a male dance instructor or a male elementary school teacher.

Joseph Pleck, another researcher known for his work of gender roles, developed the Gender Role Strain theory. He believes that gender roles in a society are a way guiding children through development so they become adults that socially match their biological sex. This theory explains that gender roles are social expectations for men, that men who do not conform to a masculine identity will be socially condemned, and that the consequences for violating gender norms are worse for men (as compared to women).
















Using these theories aided my understanding of gender roles. Pictured above is Mikhail Baryshnikov - considered the best male ballet dancer of all time. To the right, is professional football player (and Michigan alumnus), Lamarr Woodley. Both men are very good at what they do. Both men are physically strong and, here's the kicker, both men are heterosexual. Yet, if the average person were to look at these pictures, one may assume the dancer is weak, feminine and clearly deviating from social norms as "real men" do not wear unitards or dance. The average person may also assume the football player loves all sports, loves drinking beer and loves women - because "real men" love sports, beer and women. While I have never met either athlete (yes, dancing is a sport) so I cannot vouch for their liking of beer or spandex, according to Bem's and Pleck's theories, the football player was probably rewarded throughout life for his masculine choices in sports and tattoos while the dancer may have been socially condemned for participating in what is normally viewed as something feminine (read: dancing). Baryshnikov may have grown up where his schoolmates told him to play sports instead of dance, trying to keep his masculinity in check. Woodley may have grown up being adored by his classmates for being so good at football. Who knows?

The point is that Baryshnikov appears less committed to his masculinity because he's a dancer (something that's regarded as feminine) while Woodley appears fully committed to his masculinity because he's a sports start. Baryshnikov violates social norms while Woodley embraces them.












Reference: Eisler, R.M. The relationship between masculine gender role stress and men's health risk: the validation of a construct. 

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