Fluent Essays

350 words, pick chapter 1 DEBATE CRITIQUE GRADING: Debate critiques will be graded primarily on critical thinking, insightfulness, and reasoning (including your ability to support/justify your stance. Although grammar and spelling are not crucial concerns, they should be at a level such that they do not compromise the clarity of your thoughts. Each debate critique will be assigned a point grade out of 5, reflecting the percentage contribution of each critique to your final grade. Debate critiques are not meant to be summaries of course material. Rather, they are intended to encourage critical thinking about specific topics, debates, and conversations in the study of sex and gender. You will notice that each chapter of your textbook includes an overview of a debate that is relevant to the respective chapter’s content. These debates appear in highlight boxes titled, “Debate” (there is one per chapter). Following an overview of the debate, both sides are then briefly discussed. For each unit of the course, you must choose any one debate from a chapter that is assigned in the respective unit. So for Unit 1, you may choose a debate from Chapters 1 through 4; for Unit 2, from Chapters 5 through 9; and for Unit 3, from Chapters 10 through 14. Then you must ‘pick a side’ of the debate you choose and support your position in a brief write- up/critique on Canvas. Each debate critique must be between 250 and 500 words. Debate critiques must involve more than simply stating your opinion. Rather, the goal should be to demonstrate critical thinking and reasoning about the particular debate in order to support the side you have chosen. Support can be provided based on intellectual reasoning and logic, expert consensus (in any field), or scientific evidence (either new or cited in the textbook or lectures). While research findings can be helpful, support can also be provided in the form of logical reasoning alone (it all depends on your approach, and it is not necessary that you bring in outside sources at all). Ideas or literature from neighbouring disciplines is very much welcome. When referring to any literature or outside sources in your critique, simply cite the information by including the author’s last name and year of the specific publication in text or in parentheses [e.g., “Smith (2019) found…” or “…these conclusions (Smith, 2019).”]. The full reference or citation can then be included at the very bottom, following your critique. Full references will NOT be included in your word count. Remember, many debates can be approached using logic and reason alone, so outside sources are not always necessary. Whatever your approach, you must argue and/or support your stance! In matters of intellectual discourse and debate, I tend to adopt the perspective that you are not simply “entitled to your opinion.” Instead, you are “entitled to what you can argue for.” This means that when approaching a debate or controversy through an academic or scientific lens, it is important to be able to defend your opinion or stance. Otherwise, the discourse becomes meaningless in the first place, and people’s opinions become so personal that even continuing to engage in discourse is interpreted as being offensive. Simply put, you need to support your perspective. I recommend reading the following article (by a university professor) for some perspective on this: https://theconversation.com/no-youre-not-entitled-to-your-opinion-9978. chap 1 ：First, read the debate on pp. 24-25 in your textbook before you respond! Then, pick a side, and support it: A. Yes, Feminist Movements Overlook Men B. No, Feminist Movements Do Not Overlook Men chap 2: First, read the debate on pp. 42-43 in your textbook before you respond! Then, pick a side, and support it: A. No, Psychologists Should Not Study Sex Differences B. Yes, Psychologists Should Study Sex Differences chap 3: First, read the debate on pp. 91-92 in your textbook before you respond! Then, pick a side, and support it: A. No, They Should Not Be Allowed to Compete B. Yes, They Should Be Allowed to Compete chap 4:First, read the debate on pp. 122-123 in your textbook before you respond! Then, pick a side, and support it: A. Yes, Toy Marketing Should be Gender Neutral B. No, Toy Marketing Need Not Be Gender Neutral The Psychology of Sex and Gender 2 For my parents, Edward and Jo-Ellen. Mom, you always said I’d write a book one day. J. K. B. For Nick. J. A. V. For Chrismarie Baxter, Janet Spence, and my beloved family. C. E. B. 3 The Psychology of Sex and Gender Jennifer K. Bosson University of South Florida Joseph A. Vandello University of South Florida Camille E. Buckner Marymount University 4 FOR INFORMATION: SAGE Publications, Inc. 2455 Teller Road Thousand Oaks, California 91320 E-mail: [email protected] SAGE Publications Ltd. 1 Oliver’s Yard 55 City Road London EC1Y 1SP United Kingdom SAGE Publications India Pvt. Ltd. B 1/I 1 Mohan Cooperative Industrial Area Mathura Road, New Delhi 110 044 India SAGE Publications Asia-Pacific Pte. Ltd. 3 Church Street #10-04 Samsung Hub Singapore 049483 Copyright © 2019 by SAGE Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. All trademarks depicted within this book, including trademarks appearing as part of a screenshot, figure, or other image are included solely for the purpose of illustration and are the property of their respective holders. The use of the trademarks in no way indicates any relationship with, or endorsement by, the holders of said trademarks. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Bosson, Jennifer K., author. | Vendello, Joseph A., author. | Buckner, Camille E., author. Title: The psychology of sex and gender / Jennifer K. Bosson, University of South Florida, Joseph A. Vendello, University of South Florida, Camille E. Buckner, Marymount University. Description: First Edition. | Thousand Oaks : SAGE Publications, [2018] | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2017042023 | ISBN 9781506331324 (pbk. : alk. paper) Subjects: LCSH: Sex (Psychology) | Sex. | Gender identity. | Interpersonal relations. Classification: LCC BF692 .B67 2018 | DDC 155.3—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017042023 Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 9781506331324 This book is printed on acid-free paper. Acquisitions Editor: Lara Parra Associate Editor: Zachary Valladon Development Editor: Lucy Berbeo 5 https://lccn.loc.gov/2017042023 Editorial Assistant: Morgan Shannon Marketing Manager: Katherine Hepburn Production Editor: Kelle Schillaci Clarke Copy Editor: Jared Leighton Typesetter: C&M Digitals (P) Ltd. Proofreader: Sarah J. Duffy Indexer: Beth Nauman-Montana Cover Designer: Anupama Krishnan 6 Brief Contents Preface Acknowledgments About the Authors Unit I Foundations Chapter 1 Introducing Sex and Gender Chapter 2 Studying Sex and Gender Unit II Becoming Gendered: Biological and Social Factors Chapter 3 The Nature and Nurture of Sex and Gender Chapter 4 Gender Development Unit III Stereotypes, Discrimination, and Power Chapter 5 The Contents and Origins of Gender Stereotypes Chapter 6 Power, Sexism, and Discrimination Unit IV Cognition, Emotion, and Communication Chapter 7 Cognitive Abilities and Aptitudes Chapter 8 Language, Communication, and Emotion Unit V Sexuality, Relationships, and Work Chapter 9 Sexual Orientation and Sexuality Chapter 10 Interpersonal Relationships Chapter 11 Work and Home Unit VI Health and Well-Being Chapter 12 Gender and Physical Health Chapter 13 Gender and Psychological Health Chapter 14 Aggression and Violence Glossary References Index 7 Detailed Contents Preface Acknowledgments About the Authors Unit I Foundations Chapter 1 Introducing Sex and Gender How Do We Explain Central Concepts in the Psychology of Sex and Gender? Sex and Gender The Sex and Gender Binaries Gender Identity Sexual Orientation Intersectionality Masculinity and Femininity What Makes Sex and Gender So Complicated? Complexity and Change Ubiquity and Invisibility How Have Gender Movements Shaped History? Structures of Power and Inequality Women’s Movements and the Rise of Feminisms Women’s Movements Feminisms ▶ Debate: Are Men Overlooked in Feminist Movements? Men’s Movements Gay Rights Movements The Transgender Movement Where Are We Now? Inclusivity and Intersectionality About This Book Our (Interdisciplinary) Psychological Approach Our Challenge to You: Critical Thinking Chapter 2 Studying Sex and Gender What Is the Meaning of Difference? ▶ Debate: Should Psychologists Study Sex Differences? What Is Science? The Scientific Method ▶ Journey of Research: Conceptualizing and Measuring Masculinity and Femininity What Are the Primary Methods Used in Sex and Gender Research? Quantitative Research Methods Experimental Designs Ex Post Facto Designs Quasi-Experiments Correlational Designs Qualitative Research Methods Case Studies Interviews Focus Groups Mixed Methods What Do Meta-Analyses and Effect Sizes Tell Us About Sex Differences? Effect Sizes Overlap and Variance Beyond Overall Effect Sizes 8 What Are Some Biases Common in Sex and Gender Research? Identifying the Research Question Designing the Study and Collecting Data Interpreting and Communicating the Results How Do We Address the Challenges in Sex and Gender Research? Guidelines for Gender-Fair Research Design Diversity Issues in the Study of Sex and Gender Unit II Becoming Gendered: Biological and Social Factors Chapter 3 The Nature and Nurture of Sex and Gender Nature Versus Nurture or Nature and Nurture? Gene-by-Environment Interactions Epigenetics How Do Nature and Nurture Shape Sex Differentiation? Typical Sex Differentiation Chromosomes and Genes Hormones and Anatomy ▶ Journey of Research: Unlocking Genetic and Hormonal Contributions to Sex Intersex Conditions Chromosomes and Genes Hormones and Anatomy ▶ Debate: Should Intersex Individuals Be Allowed to Compete in Athletic Competitions? How Do Nature and Nurture Shape Sex Assignment and Gender Identity? Optimal Sex Gender Identity Gender Confirmation Procedures What Do Sex Differences in Brain Structure Reveal? Sex Differences in the Brain Equating the Brain With “Nature” Neuroscience or Neurosexism? How Do Theories of Sex Differences Account for Nature and Nurture? Evolutionary Psychology Biosocial Constructionist Theory Chapter 4 Gender Development How Central Are Sex and Gender in Early Development? What Are the Major Theoretical Approaches to Gender Development? Social Learning Theories and Sources of Socialization Parents Siblings Teachers and Peers Media ▶ Debate: Should Toys Be Marketed as Gender Neutral? Cognitive Theories Cognitive-Developmental Theory Gender Schema Theory Developmental Intergroup Theory Gender Self-Socialization Model Evaluating Social Learning and Cognitive Theories What Are the Experiences of Gender-Nonconforming Children? Biological and Social Contributions to Gender Nonconformity Nonconforming Identities and Milestones How Do Sex and Gender Shape Development in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood? Puberty and the Transition to Young Adulthood 9 Relationships With Parents Friendship, Dating, and Social Networking Gendered Self-Views Across Time and Cultures How Do Sex and Gender Shape Development in Middle and Late Adulthood? Cultural Ideals of Womanhood and Manhood Gendered Self-Views Women’s Gender Advantage? The Double Standard of Aging Unit III Stereotypes, Discrimination, and Power Chapter 5 The Contents and Origins of Gender Stereotypes What Are the Contents and Structure of Gender Stereotypes? Communion and Agency The Stereotype Content Model The Women-Are-Wonderful Effect ▶ Journey of Research: Think Manager–Think Male Subgroups and Intersectionality Transgender Stereotypes Sexual Orientation Stereotypes What Are Some Consequences of Gender Stereotyping? Penalizing Gender Role Violators Confirming Negative Stereotypes Where Do Gender Stereotypes Come From? Evolutionary Psychology Social Role Theory Biosocial Constructionist Theory Are Gender Stereotypes Accurate? Challenges: Defining “Reality” and Accuracy Cognitive Stereotypes Personality Stereotypes Nonverbal and Verbal Communication Stereotypes Stereotypes Across Multiple Domains ▶ Debate: Are Gender Stereotypes Accurate? So How Universal Are Gender Stereotypes, Really? Chapter 6 Power, Sexism, and Discrimination How Do Power and Privilege Relate to Sex and Gender? Patriarchal and Matriarchal Social Structures Structural Versus Dyadic Power Ways of Exerting Power Force Resource Control Cultural Ideologies Privilege Intersectionality, Double Jeopardy, and Invisibility What Is Sexism, and Why Does It Persist? Ambivalent Sexism Toward Women Ambivalent Attitudes Toward Men ▶ Journey of Research: Measuring Gender Role and Sexist Attitudes Social Dominance and System Justification Theories Why Do Sexist Attitudes Matter? ▶ Debate: Do Men Experience Sexism? What Is Gender Discrimination? Overt Discrimination and Microaggressions 10 Global Gender Discrimination in Education and Politics How Can We Resist and Reduce Gender Discrimination? Affirmative Action: It’s the Law Confronting Gender Discrimination: Individual Efforts Resisting Gender Discrimination: Collective Action Being an Ally Unit IV Cognition, Emotion, and Communication Chapter 7 Cognitive Abilities and Aptitudes What Is Cognitive Ability? ▶ Journey of Research: Measuring the Brain From Phrenology to fMRI Sex Differences in General Mental Ability What Are the Sex Differences and Similarities in Cognitive Abilities? Verbal Performance Vocabulary and Verbal Fluency Reading and Writing Verbal Reasoning Quantitative Performance Visual-Spatial Performance Mental Rotation Spatial Perception and Visualization Spatial Location Memory Sex Differences in the Variability of Cognitive Abilities How Do Individual Differences and Context Influence Cognitive Performance? Culture Stereotype Threat Willingness to Guess on Tests Achievement Motivation and Sensitivity to Feedback How Do Sex and Gender Matter in Educational Systems and STEM Fields? Education and School Performance Cultural Influences Home and Classroom Dynamics ▶ Debate: Do Children Fare Better in Single-Sex Classrooms? Sex, Gender, and STEM Fields Discrimination Interests, Values, and Expectations Gendered Family Responsibilities Chapter 8 Language, Communication, and Emotion How Does Gender-Related Language Influence Social Perception? Gendered Features of Language The Generic Masculine Grammatical Gender Diminutives and Gender Labels The Influence of Gendered Language on Perceptions What Roles Do Sex and Gender Play in Verbal Communication? Sex Differences in How People Communicate Who Talks More? Who Interrupts More? Sex Differences in What People Communicate Gossip Social Media Beyond Sex Differences: Intersectionality in Communication Verbal Communication: What’s the Big Picture? 11 What Roles Do Sex and Gender Play in Nonverbal Communication? Smiling and Eye Contact Personal Space and Touch Body Posture and Gait Nonverbal Communication: What’s the Big Picture? How Do Sex and Gender Shape the Experience, Expression, and Identification of Emotions? Emotional Experience and Expression ▶ Debate: Are Women More Emotional Than Men? Display Rules Encoding and Decoding Accuracy Empathy and Emotional Intelligence ▶ Journey of Research: Understanding Empathy, From Darwin to Mirror Neurons Unit V Sexuality, Relationships, and Work Chapter 9 Sexual Orientation and Sexuality How Do Understandings of Sexuality and Sexual Orientation Differ Across Time and Culture? ▶ Journey of Research: Sexual Orientation Change Efforts What Is Sexual Orientation? Sexual Identity Motivation: Desire and Love Sexual Behavior Complexity of Sexual Orientation How Does Sexual Orientation Develop? Phase Models of Sexual Identity Development Milestone and Narrative Models of Sexual Minority Identity Development Why Do People Differ in Sexual Orientation? Biological Theories Evolutionary Theories The Integrative Approach Evaluation of Theories How Do Sex and Gender Contribute to the Experience of Sexuality? Sexual Behavior and Attitudes ▶ Debate: Do Men Have a Stronger Sex Drive Than Women? Orgasm Frequency and Sexual Satisfaction Sexual Fluidity How Does Sexuality Change Over the Life Course? Sexual Trajectories The Medicalization of Sexual Changes Chapter 10 Interpersonal Relationships What Roles Do Sex and Gender Play in Social Networks and Friendships? Social Networks Friendships Sex Differences in Friendship Intimacy Cross-Sex Friendships Friends With Benefits LGBT Friendships What Roles Do Sex and Gender Play in Interpersonal Attraction? Mate Preferences: Similarities and Differences Mate Selection: Whom Do We Choose? Dating Relationships Dating Scripts and Paternalistic Chivalry Experiencing Love and Romance What Is the Nature of Marriage—Past and Present? 12 A Brief Social History of Marriage Contemporary Marriage-Like Relationships The Changing American Family Arranged Versus Autonomous Marriages Polygyny and Polyandry Consensual Nonmonogamy and Polyamory What Roles Do Sex and Gender Play in Committed Relationships? Happy Relationships: Equity and Love Making Decisions Dividing Labor and Childcare Showing Love Relationship Struggles: Jealousy and Conflict Jealousy Dealing With Conflict ▶ Debate: Did Women and Men Evolve Different Jealousy Reactions? Separation and Divorce What Roles Do Sex and Gender Play in Parenting and Family Relationships? Parent to Parent: Gender and Parental Relationships Parent to Child: Gender and Caring for Children Chapter 11 Work and Home How Have Work and Home Labor Divisions Changed? How Do People Divide Housework and Childcare at Home? Trends and Inequities Who Does What? Childcare Predictors of the Division of Domestic Labor Time Availability Relative Income Gender Role Ideology Maternal Gatekeeping How Does Gender Operate in the Workplace? Gender and Leadership Glass Ceilings, Glass Cliffs, and Sticky Floors Bias Against Women Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Race Bias Against Men How Can We Explain the Gender Wage Gap? What Is the Gender Wage Gap? ▶ Debate: Is the Gender Wage Gap a Myth? Possible Explanations for the Gender Wage Gap Education and Occupational Segregation Occupational Feminization Salary Negotiation Relocations and Career Interruptions Overwork Conclusions About the Gender Wage Gap How Do Work and Family Roles Interact? ▶ Journey of Research: From Work–Family Conflict to Work–Life Enrichment Conflict and Enrichment Flexible Work and Family Leave Policies Unit VI Health and Well-Being Chapter 12 Gender and Physical Health 13 How Have Understandings of Health and Longevity Changed Over Time? Changes in Life Expectancy Mortality (Death) and Morbidity (Sickness) ▶ Debate: Do Women or Men Experience Better Physical Health? How Do Biological Factors Shape Sex Differences in Health? Genetic Factors Hormonal Influences An Evolutionary Theory of Health and Longevity How Do Social Factors Contribute to Sex Disparities in Health? Health-Relevant Behavior: Things That People Do Accidents and Risky Sex Smoking, Alcohol Use, and Diet Physical Activity and Exercise Health-Relevant Traits: Ways That People Are Accessing Health Care Seeking Health Care Receiving Health Care Gender-Egalitarian Communities and Health How Do Multiple Systems of Discrimination Shape Health and Health Care? Race, Ethnicity, and Sex Socioeconomic Status, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity How Has Reproductive Health Been Medicalized? ▶ Journey of Research: Pregnancy and Childbirth Advice Through the Centuries Chapter 13 Gender and Psychological Health How Are Mental Illnesses Defined, Classified, and Conceptualized? The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual and the International Classification of Diseases The Transdiagnostic Approach: Internalizing and Externalizing Disorders ▶ Journey of Research: Treatment of Transgender Identity in the DSM What Factors Contribute to Sex Differences in Internalizing Disorders? Gender Role Factors Abuse and Violence Factors Personality Factors Biological Factors What Factors Contribute to Sex Differences in Externalizing Disorders? Gender Role Factors Personality Factors Biological Factors ▶ Debate: Do Women Suffer From Depression More Than Men? What Roles Do Sex and Gender Play in Eating and Body Image Disorders? Objectification Theory, Body Image, and Eating Disorders Links to Women’s Mental Health Roles of Media and Culture Intersectionality and Eating Disorders Among Women Gender Identity, Body Dissatisfaction, and Eating Disorders The Desire for Muscularity How Do Sexual and Gender Minority Statuses Relate to Mental Health? Victimization, Discrimination, and Rejection Homelessness Institutional Discrimination: A Hostile Environment Internalized Stigma: Homophobia and Transphobia From Within What Roles Do Sex and Gender Play in Mental Health Help-Seeking? 14 Sex Differences in Rates of Help-Seeking Intersectionality and Help-Seeking What Roles Do Sex and Gender Play in Happiness and Well-Being? Subjective Well-Being Communion, Agency, and Well-Being Chapter 14 Aggression and Violence Are There Sex Differences in Aggression? Sex Differences in Perpetrating Aggression Physical Aggression Verbal Aggression Relational Aggression Cyberbullying Sex Differences in Experiencing Aggression What’s the Big Picture? What Are the Major Forms of Gender-Based Aggression and Violence? Intimate Partner Violence Situational Couple Violence Versus Intimate Terrorism ▶ Debate: Do Men Perpetrate Intimate Partner Violence More Often Than Women? Sexual Violence: Rape and Sexual Assault How Common Is Sexual Violence? Who Commits Sexual Violence? The Aftermath of Sexual Violence Sex-Based Harassment What Explains Gender-Based Aggression and Violence? Biological Factors Testosterone Evolved Jealousy Sociocultural Factors Honor Cultures Precarious Manhood Power and Structural Gender Inequality I3 Theory What Is the Relationship Between Pornography and Sexual Aggression? Definitions and Prevalence ▶ Journey of Research: Science, Politics, and Pornography Pornography and Sexual Aggression Glossary References Index 15 Preface This book reflects a new approach to the psychology of sex and gender. As instructors of undergraduate psychology of gender courses, we regularly face three challenges when selecting a textbook. First, some textbooks can read as light on science. Second, existing gender textbooks often emphasize the psychology of women rather than giving equal weight to the experiences of people of all sexes and gender identities. Third, the field of gender research changes at a remarkable pace, making textbooks feel dated quickly. In writing this book, we specifically tackled each of these challenges to yield an exciting new offering to the field. To tackle the first challenge—that gender textbooks can seem light on science—our book puts cutting-edge science at the center. This approach reflects our belief that students must critically evaluate the empirical evidence and draw their own conclusions about controversial issues and findings. Given the centrality of sex and gender to most of our lives, people tend to approach these topics with preconceived views, but such views often stem from cultural stereotypes, folk beliefs, and outdated assumptions rather than from systematic, empirical observations. Our book emphasizes science as a useful, albeit imperfect, method for reducing biases. At the same time, we cover politically charged topics and tackle challenging discussions when relevant. Research on sex and gender has inevitable social and political implications, and when such implications arise, we invite students to consider multiple perspectives and question their assumptions. To tackle the second challenge—that existing textbooks often prioritize the psychology of women—our book takes a broad approach to the psychology of sex and gender. When we first set out to write this book, we noticed that many of the top-selling psychology of gender textbooks were primarily about women. These books fill an important social and historical need, as women and women’s experiences were largely neglected by mainstream psychology for many decades. That said, we think that the time is ripe for a different kind of textbook, one that closely reflects current sociocultural contexts and understandings of sex and gender. Our book includes not only the rich literature on men and masculinity but also the expanding literatures on transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming identities and experiences. It also highlights sexual orientation diversity and intersectionality and pushes students to think about ever more inclusive ways of conceptualizing sex and gender. To tackle the third challenge—that the field of gender research proceeds at a breakneck pace—we cover the most up-to-date findings and interweave these with classic, time-honored theories, approaches, and studies. In the past decade, scientific understandings of sex and gender saw rapid transitions. We know more than ever before about topics like gender identity and sexual orientation, genes and hormones, the effects of gender stereotypes on their targets, and the nature of sexism. Old theories and assumptions that long held sway are regularly upended by new findings. At the same time, underlying these rapid changes are some enduring psychological truths. Psychology of gender instructors need a book that both keeps up with the changes and uncovers the enduring truths. As scholars in this field who follow the most updated findings, we are well positioned to report on the vanguard and situate it within the fundamentals of psychology. Not only does this book fill needs specific to the psychology of sex and gender, it also fills a more general need shared by all high-quality textbook users: to enhance students’ learning by promoting deep processing of information. Specifically, this text utilizes current best practices from the scholarship of teaching and learning to facilitate students’ understanding of material by prompting them to develop habits of critical and integrative thinking. Finally, a word about our title. We realize that many books on the same topic will opt for the simpler Psychology of Gender. Many gender researchers avoid the term sex because of the convention in the field that sex means biological differences between women and men while gender refers to sociocultural assumptions and roles that accompany maleness and femaleness. Breaking from this convention, we embrace the term sex and use it simply to refer to the categories of being male, female, or otherwise. We therefore include sex in our title to illustrate that categories of sex are conceptually distinct from gender, rather than to imply any distinction between biological and social causes. In fact, throughout the book, we regularly insist that nature and nurture are intertwined in ways that 16 make them impossible to separate. This reflects a growing awareness within psychology of the inseparability of nature and nurture: Biological factors shape how people and cultures conceptualize gender, and social factors shape our interpretations of the anatomy and physiology of sex. We highlight this theme explicitly in Chapter 3 (“The Nature and Nurture of Sex and Gender”) but return to it repeatedly throughout other chapters as well. 17 Intended Courses and Readers We intend this book to be used as a core text for undergraduate courses in the psychology of gender, the psychology of women, and the psychology of men. As such, it covers requisite content including sex versus gender, the sex and gender binaries, gender stereotypes, gender role socialization, sexism, and sex similarities and differences in cognitive, emotional, relational, workplace, and health outcomes. Many universities—both public and private, research oriented and teaching focused—offer these or similar courses as part of the regular curriculum in the Psychology Department, but other departments offering courses in the psychology of gender include Sociology Departments, Women’s and Gender Studies Departments, and Men’s Studies Departments. A course in the psychology of gender has wide appeal for students, regardless of academic major. While many are majors in psychology, sociology, or women’s and gender studies who plan to pursue graduate study in this topic area, others take the course out of interest in the topic or because understanding gender will prepare them for a career in an applied area. Thus, this textbook should appeal to a broad range of students, and our writing reflects this by incorporating cross-disciplinary material regularly. 18 Organization, Features, and Pedagogy The book is organized into six units, although instructors can easily shift the order of chapters without disrupting the flow too much. Unit I lays the foundation for the rest of the book by introducing the concepts of sex and gender, defining essential terminology, and placing the study of sex and gender within sociohistorical contexts in Chapter 1. This unit also discusses some of the unique methodological approaches and challenges in the study of sex and gender and prepares students to evaluate critically the validity of research designs and researchers’ conclusions (Chapter 2). Unit II covers material on how people become gendered beings, from their prenatal origins and sex assignment at birth (Chapter 3) to childhood gender role socialization and adult development (Chapter 4). In Unit III, we focus on gendered social perception and systems of gender-based status and power by examining gender stereotypes (Chapter 5) and sex-related differences in structural power and patterns of discrimination (Chapter 6). In Unit IV, we examine cognitive and emotional aspects of sex and gender, including similarities and differences in cognitive ability (Chapter 7) and gendered aspects of communication and emotion (Chapter 8). Unit V focuses on domains of personal and social life, including sexuality, relationships, and the work–home interface. While Chapter 9 offers in-depth analyses of sexual orientation and sexuality, Chapter 10 covers friendships, romantic relationships, and parenting. Chapter 11 then examines the interconnection between work and home life in the context of changing family arrangements and societal norms. Unit VI, which covers health and well-being, considers the roles of sex and gender in both physical health (Chapter 12) and psychological health (Chapter 13). This unit also considers the gendered aspects of aggression and violence that have bearing on health (Chapter 14). The themes that guided our writing, which are evident throughout each chapter, include the following: Updated science. We cover up-to-date findings in the psychology of sex and gender. This keeps students abreast of the latest scholarship in the field, prepares them to evaluate unfounded assumptions about sex and gender critically, and offers them a solid foundation of knowledge upon which to build. Diversity emphasis. We wrote this book to meet the needs of an increasingly globally aware and sophisticated student population. To this end, we focus on a diversity of gender identities, sexual orientations, races and ethnicities, cultural and subcultural backgrounds, and intersections among these dimensions. Moreover, we routinely intersperse diversity and intersectionality into the central chapter text rather than boxing them separately and treating them as afterthoughts. This emphasis on diversity benefits students in several ways. First, exposure to inclusive content increases feelings of belonging among underrepresented students, who see their own experiences reflected in the text. This can foster interest in and engagement with the material, as students realize that the psychology of sex and gender is about everyone, not just those who occupy mainstream or privileged social groups. Second, exposure to diverse content can increase students’ awareness of the unique backgrounds of others who differ from them, foster an appreciation for issues of social justice, and help students build interpersonal skills that will assist them in their chosen careers and life paths. Finally, exposure to diverse perspectives and experiences can increase students’ creativity, cognitive flexibility, and problem-solving abilities, and these skills can generalize beyond the learning environment into other aspects of life. Scholarship of teaching and learning. This book utilizes current best practices in the scholarship of teaching and learning (SOTL), which is relevant application of the principles of cognitive psychology to educational contexts. SOTL uses empirically sound strategies to enhance student learning. This means that, throughout the book, we present information in such a manner so as to increase the chances of attaining the gold standard in any educational setting: the transfer of new student knowledge beyond the end of the learning experience. Some of the SOTL best practices that we employ 19 are as follows: We illustrate text concepts with current popular culture and relevant real-world examples to capture and hold student interest and prompt students to connect new material to what they already …