SUBJECT

Culture and Gender

lecture

master

Faculty of Education and Psychology

3

Semester 2

Spring semester

Aim of the course

The course investigates the relation betwen culture on the one hand and the concepts of gender, culture-related beliefs, gender role expectations and ideologies, different forms of sexims, gender socialization, and relationships between men and women on the other. While explaining gender differences and their reproduction, critical, culturally sensitive theories are introduced with a focus on the power relations between the sexes. 

The course also aims to introduce the cultural characteristics of romantic relationships, marriage, family relations as well as some of the underlying processes of intercultural and interethnic relationships and marriages.

Learning outcome, competences

knowledge:

• General knowledge of the relation between culture and gender.
• Knowledge of the most significant theoretical approaches and concepts in gender development, gender socialization and gender beliefs.
• Knowledge of research work on gender-related cultural differences.

Attitude:

• Openness to different cultural experiences related to gender.
• Sensitivity to the experiences of different cultural representations of gender and to gender inequality.
• Awareness of the detrimental impacts of gender inequality and sexisms on the whole society.

Ability:

• Ability to apply the knowledge of the relation between culture and gender in practice.
• Ability to reflect on one’s own gender stereotypes, prejudices, and their cultural determination.
• Ability to contribute to gender equity.

Content of the course

Topics of the course

• Sex, gender, and explanations of different theories for gender differences
• Gender development, gender identity development, gender socialization in different cultures
• Gender beliefs, stereotypes, sexisms, gender role ideologies
• Intersectionality and gender
• Family gender roles in different cultures
• Love and sexuality in different cultures

Learning activities, learning methods

• interactive lecture
• working in small groups and dyads
• reading literature

Evaluation of outcomes

Learning requirements, mode of evaluation, criteria of evaluation:

requirements

• written reflections on readings
• written test

mode of evaluation:

written and oral

criteria of evaluation:

• Understanding the course materials and the connection between diffent concepts.
• Ability to apply knowledge in practice.

Compulsory reading list:

• Eagly, A. H. – Beall, A.E. – Stenberg, R. J.(Eds.) (2004). The psychology of gender, Second edition. Guilford Press, New York.
• Eagly, A. H. – Wood, W. (2013.) The nature– nurture debates: 25 years of challenges in understanding the psychology of gender.Perspectives on Psychological Science,8(3), 340-357.
• Eckes, T. –Hanns M. T. (2000). The Developmental Social Psychology of Gender. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
• Guimond, S. – Branscombe, N. R. – Brunot, S. – Buunk, A. P. – Chatard, A. – Désert, M., – Haque, S. – Yzerbyt, V. (2007). Culture, gender, and the self: variations and impact of social comparison processes. Journal of personality and social psychology, 92(6), 1118.
• Hatfield, E. – Rapson, R.L. – Martel, L.D. (2007). Passionate love and sexual desires. In S. – D. Cohen (Eds.) Handbook of cultural psychology. The Guilford Press, New York. 760-779.
• M. Ryan, – N. Branscombe (Eds.) (2013). The Sage handbook of gender and psychology. Sage Publications, London. Ltd. Chapter 14: Guimond, S. – Chatard, A.– Lorenzi-Cioldi, F.: The Social Psychology of Gender across Cultures. (216-233.), Chapter 15: Deaux, K – Greenwood, R.M: Crossing Borders: Intersectional Excursions into Gender and Immigration (234-250), Chapter 16: Kurtis, T.– Adams, G.: A Cultural Psychology of Relationship: Toward a Transnational Feminist Psychology  (251-269).
• Sieben, A. (2016) Gender in culture-inclusive psychologies: A situated and selective mapping of historical and contemporary territories.Culture & Psychology22, 4, 546-564.