Revisiting university student gender role perceptions

Gender role perceptions of five objects—Ideal Woman, Ideal Man, Most Women, Most Men and Self—were elicited from 3300 university students, 81% of whom were Caucasian, with 7% Hispanic, 6% African-American, and 4% Asian. Profiles of student responses for the five objects provided a comprehensive updating of 1970s research on student gender roles. Women (N= 1842) and men (N= 1148) students generally preferred an androgynous Ideal Woman. Women also preferred an androgynous Ideal Man, but men preferred a masculine sex-typed Ideal Man. Women and men's perceptions of Most Women and Men continued to be sex-typed. Men's self perceptions were androgynous, while women saw themselves as feminine sex-typed. Findings suggest that little change in students' gender role perceptions has occurred in the past 15 years.     

Measuring the Dimensions of Women's Sexuality: The Women's Sexual Self-Concept Scale

The sexual self-concept is an important component of the self-concept that researchers have rarely examined. The Women's Sexual Self-Concept Scale (WSSCS) is a 39-item measure designed to assess women's sexual self-concept. Women rate the extent to which various behaviors, cognitions, emotions, and adjectives describe their sexuality. In a study with 262 women, the measure was found to be both reliable and valid. Three factors were identified through exploratory Principal Components Analysis. Women rated themselves highest on the Reserved Approach subscale, followed by the Agentic Sexuality subscale, and the Negative Associations subscale. Compared to a stereotype of women's sexuality (obtained with a mixed-gender group of 444 participants), the women in the present study rated themselves higher on the Reserved Approach subscale and lower on the Negative Associations subscale. Group differences in women's sexual self-concepts were identified by past xinvolvement in romantic or sexual relationships, and current sexual involvement.     

Benevolent Sexism in the Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers (TRAP): A Case Study of Texas House Bill 2

Benevolent sexism takes a subjectively positive view of women in traditional gender roles, revering them as gentle, nurturing, and in need of protection by men. While studies show that people who express attitudes of benevolent sexism are willing to restrict women’s choices at an individual level, limited research exists on the impact of benevolent sexism in social policy. Using a single-case study method and benevolent sexism as a conceptual framework, I examined the introduction, passage, and legal defense of Texas House Bill 2 (TX HB2), a targeted regulation of abortion providers (TRAP) law. HB2 was passed by the Texas legislature in 2013 and ruled on by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 2016 case of Whole Woman’s Health et al. v. Hellerstedt. Primary source legislative and court documents were analyzed to explore whether and how benevolent sexism ideologies were reflected in the introduction, passage, and legal defense of HB2 as a TRAP law. Four themes emerged: The State has the Right to Protect Women, Women Need Protection from “Bad Players,” Women are Emotional, and Women are Mothers/Vessels. Results confirm that language consistent with benevolent sexism was used in the context of policy making to justify restricting women’s access to pre-viability abortion.

     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Gender Inequality at Work, edited by Jerry A. Jacobs. Women in Management: Current Research Issues, edited by Marilyn J. Davidson and Ronald J. Burke. Developing Human Resources, by Rosemary Thomson and Christopher Mabey.     

Social Responsiveness and Objectification: The Moderating Roles of Serotonin Transporter and Serotonin Receptor 2A Genotypes in an Objectification Theory Model of Disordered Eating

Feminist scholars have called for gender researchers to consider gene-environment interactions for gender-imbalanced disorders (Salk and Hyde Psychology of Women Quarterly, 36, 395–411, 2012). Responding to these calls, the present study integrates objectification theory (Fredrickson and Roberts Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21, 173–206, 1997) and genetic research. In the tested model, objectification experiences are associated with disordered eating through body surveillance and body shame, and serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) genotypes (5-HTTLPR and rs25531), serotonin 2A receptor SNP genotypes (HTR2A rs6311), and the epistatic interaction between those genotypes function as moderators. U.S. undergraduate women (n?=?526) completed self-reports of objectification, body surveillance, body shame, and disordered eating and donated buccal cells for genetic analyses. The association between objectification and disordered eating was mediated by body shame, but not body surveillance. The paths from objectification to both body surveillance and body shame were moderated by genotypes. The indirect effect of objectification on disordered eating through body shame was only present for SLC6A4 L′ and rs6311 G homozygotes. Our results are consistent with previous evidence that serotonin system genetic variation is associated with disordered eating risk. They provide evidence of a non-deterministic genetic effect that is context-dependent and subtle. These findings also reinforce efforts to develop personalized prevention and treatment approaches for eating disorders.

     

Research on working women: A report card of 22 journals

The study was part of an official project of the Women in Management Division of the Academy of Management to examine the status of research in gender issues in organizations. It specifically looked at 22 major scholarly and trade journals plus the Proceedings of the Academy of Management for the six-year period of 1983–1988 to determine quantity, patterns, and trends in publication of research on issues of interest to the domain of the division. Results show a downward trend in gender-issue publication at a time when working women are becoming an ever-increasing percentage of the work force. This is particularly true of the so-called prestige journals. Psychology journals accounted for 64% of the total, management 13.4%, personnel 19%, and Proceedings 3.5%. Implications for research and careers are discussed.A shorter, less-complete version of this paper was presented in summary form at the annual meeting of The Academy of Management in Washington, DC, August 1989 as part of a symposium for the Women in Management Division.     

Short Notices

Books reviewed in this article: Jay L. Garfield, Empty Words: Buddhist Philosophy and Cross–Cultural Interpretation Frederick Farrar, Christianity for Buddhists John L. Thompson, Writing the Wrongs: Women of the Old Testament among Biblical Commentators from Philo through the Reformation Hans Küng, Women in Christianity Anne Sofie Roald, Women in Islam: The Western Experience John L. Esposito and John Voll (eds), Makers of Contemporary Islam Jone Salomonsen, Enchanted Feminism: The Reclaiming Witches of San Francisco Ronald Hutton, Shamans: Siberian Spirituality and the Western Imagination Jenny Blain, Nine Worlds of Seid–Magic: Ecstasy and Neo–Shamanism in North European Paganism Marshall D. Johnson, Making Sense of the Bible: Literary Type as an Approach to Understanding Arthur Gibson, Biblical Semantic Logic: A Preliminary Analysis J. David Pleins, The Social Visions of the Hebrew Bible: A Theological Introduction Martin Hengel, The Septuagint as Christian Scripture: Its Prehistory and the Problem of its Canon Steve Moyise, The Old Testament in the New: An Introduction Peter J. Miano, The Word of God and the World of the Bible: An Introduction to the Cultural Backgrounds of the New Testament Alexander Samely, Rabbinic Interpretation of Scripture in the Mishnah Jennifer A. Glancy, Slavery in Early Christianity G. R. Evans, Law and Theology in the Middle Ages Robert J. Rider (edited by Alan C. Robinson and P.E.H. Hair), Reflections on the Battlefield: From Infantryman to Chaplain 1914–1919 Richard T. Antoun, Understanding Fundamentalism: Christian, Islamic and Jewish Movements Joe R. Jones, A Grammar of Christian Faith: Systematic Exploration in Christian Life and Doctrine Helen Oppenheimer, Making Good: Creation, Tragedy and Hope J. Denny Weaver, The Nonviolent Atonement Steven Bouma–Prediger, For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care Rita Nakashima Brock and Rebecca Ann Parker, Proverbs of Ashes: Violence, Redemptive Suffering, and the Search for What Saves Us James H. Olthuis (ed.), Religion With/Out Religion: The Prayers and Tears of John D. Caputo     

ARGUMENTUM AD FEMINAM

The last issue of this journal published an exchange between Marilyn Friedman and me that had taken place at a lively session of the American Philosophical Association in December, 1990. Friedman's paper “‘They Lived Happily Ever After’: Sommers on Women and Marriage” was a barbed critique of my views on the family. My rejoinder, “Do These Feminist Like Women?” pointed out that Friedman's orthodox brand of feminism was not sensitive to the values and aspirations of most American women. That issue of the Journal of Social Philosophy also published a third paper of Friedman's “Does Sommers Like Women?” twice as long again as my rejoinder. This second critique went further into earlier writings of mine raising new issues, and criticizing me in rather unpleasant ad feminam ways. If an uncharacteristic asperity colors my response, it is because I do not find myself able to deal coolly and impersonally with the accusation that I intentionally misrepresent some of the feminist philosophers I criticize.     

Women at Midlife: An Exploration of Chronological Age,Subjective Age,Wellness, and Life Satisfaction

Women (N = 224) between 35 and 65 years old participated in a study that examined the relationship among chronological age, subjective age, wellness, and life satisfaction. Women whose subjective age was less than or equal to their chronological age reported greater wellness; total wellness was a significant predictor of life satisfaction.     

Reviews

Books reviewed: Steinberg, Shirley R. and Kincheloe, Joe L., eds., Students as Researchers: Creating Classrooms that Matter Blake, Nigel; Smeyers, Paul; Smith, Richard; and Standish, Paul, Thinking Again: Education after Postmodernism Christian‐Smith, Linda K. and Kellor, Kristine S., Everyday Knowledge and Uncommon Truths: Women of the Academy Christian‐Smith, Linda K. and Kellor, Kristine S., Everyday Knowledge and Uncommon Truths: Women of the Academy Chism, Nancy Van Note, Peer Review of Teaching: A Sourcebook Mannoia, V. James, Jr., Christian Liberal Arts: An Education that Goes Beyond Palomba, Catherine A. and Banta, Trudy W., Assessment Essentials: Planning, Implementing, and Improving Assessment in Higher Education Leistyna, Pepi, Presence of Mind: Education and the Politics of Deception     

Reviews

Nirvana and other Buddhist felicities: Utopias of the Pali imaginaire. By Steven Collins. Published by Cambridge University Press, 1998, xxiv + 684 pp.

Verses from the Center: A Buddhist Vision of the Sublime. By Stephen Batchelor. Published by Riverhead Books, 2000, xvii + 181 pp.

Innovative Buddhist Women: Swimming Against the Stream. Edited by Karma Lekshe Tsomo. Published by Curzon Press, 2000, xxviii + 354 pp.     

Effects of Participation in a First Women's Studies Course on Collective Self‐Esteem,Gender‐Related Attitudes,and Emotional Well‐Being1

We studied the psychological sequelae of participation in a first women's studies course. It was hypothesized that this course would impact women's social identities (collective self‐esteem, CSE) and attitudes about gender (sexist and feminist beliefs). Further, we hypothesized that more liberal attitudes about gender would enhance mood, whereas awareness of devaluation (public CSE) would reduce mood. Female students enrolled in Psychology of Women (n= 55) and Introductory Psychology (n= 41) provided data at the beginning and end of an academic semester. As predicted, Psychology of Women students endorsed significantly more liberal attitudes about gender and awareness of devaluation over the course of the semester. Further, acceptance of feminist attitudes buffered against anxiety, whereas awareness of devaluation increased anxiety. The net effect was a nonsignificant change in anxiety for Psychology of Women students over time.     

Influence of Church Attendance and Spirituality in a Randomized Controlled Trial to Increase Mammography Use Among a Low-Income, Tri-Racial, Rural Community

Background The influence of church attendance and spirituality on mammography use was studied among Native American, White, and African American women living in a rural county. Methods A randomized trial was conducted to increase mammography use. Women (n = 851) were randomly assigned to receive either an educational program delivered by a lay health advisor or a physician letter and brochure about cervical cancer screening (control group). Church attendance and spirituality were measured at baseline and mammography use was evaluated 12 months after enrollment using medical record review. Results Almost two-thirds of the women reported that they attended church at least once a week, and less than 4% were classified as having low spirituality. Church attendance (P = 0.299) or spirituality (P = 0.401) did not have a significant impact on mammography use. Conclusions Church attendance and spirituality did not impact mammography use.     

Personality Correlates with Frequency of Being Targeted for Unexpected Advances by Strangers1

Female Japanese students answered questionnaires about personality (Sociosexual Orientation Inventory and the Big Five) and the frequency of having been targeted for unexpected advances by strangers. Women who reported having been frequently targeted for being “picked up” with sexual intentions had unrestricted sociosexuality (r = .38, p < .0001; n = 145) and had personalities that suggested unrestricted sociosexuality (extraversion and openness). The frequency of being targeted for inappropriate touching was not associated consistently with personality traits. Women who reported having been frequently targeted for nonsexual advances were likely to rate themselves high in agreeableness. The ecological significance of the ability to choose a stranger with whom to interact, based on person perceptions through brief observation, is discussed.     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Towards A Protestant Theology of Religions , by Paul Knitter Oreo : A Perspective on Rage and Marginal Men and Women , by Charles V. Willie. Light and Rejoicing — A Christian's Understanding of Jewish Worship , by William W. Simpson. Als Christ in der politischen Entscheidung , by Helmut Schmidt. The Religious World of Russian Culture . Russia and Bibliografía Teológica Comentada Del área Iberoamericana (BTC) Veränderung der Welt -Bekehrung der Kirchen , by Lukas Vischer.     

Sex differences in social representations of aggression: Men justify,women excuse?

Women tend to hold an expressive social representation of aggression (as a loss of self‐control) while men tend to hold an instrumental representation (as a means of imposing control over others). Because expressive beliefs correspond to excuses and instrumental beliefs to justifications, it may be a sex difference in moral acceptability of aggression that informs social representation. Participants completed the Expagg questionnaire with reference to an episode of same‐sex or cross‐sex physical aggression and rated the moral acceptability of their behaviour. Women scored higher on Expagg (specifically lower than men on the instrumental scale) but there was no effect of target sex or participant‐by‐target interaction. Contrary to expectation, women rated their own aggression as more acceptable than did men and hence this could not explain their lower levels of instrumentality relative to men. Aggr. Behav. 29:128–133, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Death anxiety among New Zealanders: the predictive role of gender and marital status

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate attitudes of New Zealanders towards death and dying. We administered an online version of Collett–Lester Fear of Death Scale and Concerns About Dying Instrument subscales to a representative sample of the New Zealand population. In total, 1001 people responded to the survey. Women reported more anxiousness concerning their own death (p?=?.001) and dying at a young age (p?>?.001). Women also showed more agreement towards spiritual aspects of dying (p?>?.001). Single female respondents worry more about dying (p =?.02) especially when young (p?=?.003). Single participants (p >?.001) aged 18 and 29 (p?>?.001) reported higher anxiety for Items relating to the death of others especially concerning never being able to communicate with the person again. Our findings show that marital status and gender strongly predict higher levels of death anxiety among New Zealanders. This is probably due to the cultural identity of those sampled.     

Essay on feminist family therapy: A review ofWomen in families: A framework for family therapy andThe invisible web: Gender patterns in family relationships

Monica McGoldrick, Carol M. Anderson, and Froma Walsh (Eds.). (1989).Women in families: A framework for family therapy. New York: W. W. Norton.     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Jeffrey VanderWilt, A Church without Borders: The Eucharist and the Church in Ecumenical Perspective Charles Miller, The Gift of the World. An Introduction to the Theology of Dimitru Staniloe Musa W. Dube, ed., Other Ways of Reading: African Women and the Bible Adrian Hastings, Oliver Tomkins: The Ecumenical Enterprise, 1908–92     

Are you ‘woman enough’ to control your leading cause of death?: an ethnographic content analysis of women’s cardiovascular disease and identities in media narratives

The Heart Truth^® campaign was implemented in the United States by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in 2002 to increase women’s awareness of heart disease and encourage risk reduction of cardiovascular disease. The present study explored representations of women’s cardiovascular disease, the meanings generated, and the implications for identity construction within one prominent corporate media partner of the campaign. The inaugural 2003 October issue of Glamour magazine was the focus of an ethnographic content analysis. Women’s cardiovascular disease was constructed within an overarching theme of a culture of consumerism, with meanings of cardiovascular disease emerging within two subthemes: (a) the oblivious, unknowledgeable, dependent woman at risk and (b) attaining a particular version of a healthy, feminine woman. Women’s identities were constructed as dependent on experts, purchasing fashion and fitness merchandise, and heteronormative roles for health management. These findings extend health psychology research that has called for more critical explorations of media to extend understandings of disease meanings and the implications for identity and women’s health.