Gender and conformity.

The stereotype of greater female conformity was supported in a number of studies in the U.S. (Eagly & Carli, 1981). However, the overall difference was small and seemed related to situations that produced direct group pressure to which females yielded more. Since direct pressure is precisely what is meant by conformity the gender difference is not trivial (Becker, 1986; Eagly, 1987). In traditional society men were viewed as head of households making the major decisions affecting the family. In that society females played little or no role in decision making, but in the division of labor looked after children and the welfare of the household. However, these divisions of labor are in a flux given the growing emphasis on gender equality. Part of the conformity difference appears to be related to whether the domain is related to gender expertise. Results show that males conform more on issues considered female expertise like child rearing and women yield more on traditional male issues like science or politics (Sistrunk & McDavid, 1971).

Berry (1976b; 1979) using the same samples discussed above employed to investigate spatial differences also found culturally dependent differences in gender on conformity. Again females were found more conformist in cultures considered tight and less conformist in so-called looser samples. Cultures that were described as tighter (as defined above) fostered greater conformity in females since they also required greater conformity to traditional gender roles by both males and females. Therefore it is clear that the greater conformity of females is not a hardwired psychological characteristic, but rather a product of cultural organization. The role of child rearing and gender socialization are important in understanding gender differences as well as understanding why women occupy lower ranks in the social stratification of society. However, since all cultures are in flux gender-related conformity is an area of research that may well yield new outcomes and a reduction of gender differences.

Date: 2015-01-11; view: 771