A Hundred Years of Debates on Sex Differences: Developing Research for Social Change
Author(s) / Creator(s)
Poeschl, Gabrielle
Abstract / Description
After women secured the right to vote some hundred years ago, the assertions about their innate inferiority gradually began to vanish, giving way to theories about the countless aspects which apparently differentiated them from men. In this paper, we follow the evolution of research on sex differences, starting with the work of the first female psychologists who questioned the theories that justified women’s subordinate positions in society. We trace the main developments of the studies on sex differences, their relationship with social roles, gender stereotypes, and gender identity, and describe the strategies used to highlight the role of society rather than of biology in shaping men and women’s personalities and behaviors. We describe the controversies this area of research gave rise to, the debates over its political implications, and the changes observed over time in women’s social positions and within research perspectives. Finally, we discuss the mutually reinforcing effects of social organization and lay conceptions of gender and reflect on how the field of research on sex differences has contributed to building a fairer society.
Keyword(s)
gender sex differences social roles gender stereotypes gender identity social changePersistent Identifier
Date of first publication
2021-04-14
Journal title
Journal of Social and Political Psychology
Publisher
PsychArchives
Publication status
acceptedVersion
Review status
reviewed
Is version of
Citation
Poeschl, G. (in press). A hundred years of debates on sex differences: Developing research for social change [Author accepted manuscript]. Journal of Social and Political Psychology.
http://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.4771
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Poeschl_2021_Sex_Differences_JSPP_AAM.pdfAdobe PDF - 300.06KBMD5: 99dc2fcb6703716bb98e85b6d22c4a7fDescription: Author Accepted Manuscript
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There are no other versions of this object.
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Poeschl, Gabrielle
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PsychArchives acquisition timestamp2021-04-14T08:59:59Z
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Made available on2021-04-14T08:59:59Z
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Date of first publication2021-04-14
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Abstract / DescriptionAfter women secured the right to vote some hundred years ago, the assertions about their innate inferiority gradually began to vanish, giving way to theories about the countless aspects which apparently differentiated them from men. In this paper, we follow the evolution of research on sex differences, starting with the work of the first female psychologists who questioned the theories that justified women’s subordinate positions in society. We trace the main developments of the studies on sex differences, their relationship with social roles, gender stereotypes, and gender identity, and describe the strategies used to highlight the role of society rather than of biology in shaping men and women’s personalities and behaviors. We describe the controversies this area of research gave rise to, the debates over its political implications, and the changes observed over time in women’s social positions and within research perspectives. Finally, we discuss the mutually reinforcing effects of social organization and lay conceptions of gender and reflect on how the field of research on sex differences has contributed to building a fairer society.en_US
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Publication statusacceptedVersion
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Review statusreviewed
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CitationPoeschl, G. (in press). A hundred years of debates on sex differences: Developing research for social change [Author accepted manuscript]. Journal of Social and Political Psychology. http://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.4771
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ISSN2195-3325
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/4211
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.4771
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Language of contentengen_US
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PublisherPsychArchivesen_US
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.6399
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.6264
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Is related tohttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.6264
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Keyword(s)genderen_US
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Keyword(s)sex differencesen_US
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Keyword(s)social rolesen_US
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Keyword(s)gender stereotypesen_US
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Keyword(s)gender identityen_US
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Keyword(s)social changeen_US
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitleA Hundred Years of Debates on Sex Differences: Developing Research for Social Changeen_US
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DRO typearticleen_US
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Journal titleJournal of Social and Political Psychology
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Visible tag(s)PsychOpen GOLDen_US
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Visible tag(s)Accepted Manuscripten_US