Social Psychology of Gender

How does gender--as a major category of "difference" along with race, class, sexuality, and age--affect the way we think, feel, and behave? In Social Psychology of Gender, we will examine the myriad ways that gender shapes our social selves and our social interactions. We will consider questions such as: What is the relationship between biological sex and gender? What theoretical approaches have social psychologists taken to understand how gender operates in everyday life? What is the relationship between gender and hierarchical structures of power in society? What are the social and psychological effects when individuals transgress or challenge gender norms? In the process of answering these questions, we will explore the following topics: gendered social roles, gender stereotypes, power and discrimination (sexism, heterosexism), gender as social performance, gendered personalities, gendered bodies, sexuality and intimacy, gender conformity/nonconformity, and the relationship between gender and mental health.