Article Accepted Manuscript

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 change

Persistent 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
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Poeschl, Gabrielle
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2021-04-14T08:59:59Z
  • Made available on
    2021-04-14T08:59:59Z
  • Date of first publication
    2021-04-14
  • 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.
    en_US
  • Publication status
    acceptedVersion
  • Review status
    reviewed
  • 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
  • ISSN
    2195-3325
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/4211
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.4771
  • Language of content
    eng
    en_US
  • Publisher
    PsychArchives
    en_US
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.6399
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.6264
  • Is related to
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.6264
  • Keyword(s)
    gender
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    sex differences
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    social roles
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    gender stereotypes
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    gender identity
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    social change
    en_US
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    A Hundred Years of Debates on Sex Differences: Developing Research for Social Change
    en_US
  • DRO type
    article
    en_US
  • Journal title
    Journal of Social and Political Psychology
  • Visible tag(s)
    PsychOpen GOLD
    en_US
  • Visible tag(s)
    Accepted Manuscript
    en_US