I really don't understand the reaction to this simple request concerning appropriate terminology regarding sex and gender. It's almost as if no one replying on the thread actually read Marte's initial request and the later clarification (see included posts below). I am sorry Marte felt the need to justify the study described.
First, this is an established line of research. Search gaydar in PsycINFO and you will get a number of hits including articles in Science and the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. I am sure there are many other sources that don't use this pop terminology. Inferences people make about sexual orientation can have relevance to evolutionary psychology and even how gay men and lesbian women might identify available partners in a society that encourages concealment of their orientation. It could also be related to the study of bullying of LGBT youth. What business do they have studying this? They are doing science. Second, investigating a phenomenon in no way validates the phenomenon under study. Do those who study racial prejudice have to answer questions about why they should study how people develop stereotypes? Are those studying cognitive biases subjected to harrassment about the stupidity of cognitive biases? "They aren't reasonable so how can they be a valid subject of study?" Third, to return to the original request, it seems this is a case of inferring sex in order to determine sexual orientation. Since the objects of study would be trying to infer orientation from behaviors (and schema about how those behaviors would match orientation) and not brainscans, it would seem gender would also be relevant. Rick Dr. Rick Froman, Chair Division of Humanities and Social Sciences John Brown University Siloam Springs, AR 72761 rfro...@jbu.edu ________________________________________ From: Marte Fallshore [mailto:ma...@cwu.edu] Sent: Friday, January 27, 2012 12:16 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: Re: [tips] gender versus sex I guess I need to clarify. The study is looking at factors that may impact one's judgement regarding another's sexual orientation. Of course it is nobody's business, but many people do it anyway. We also realize this varies by country (& even region), but the research is US-bound. The student researcher is interested in understanding factors that may lead to gay hate crimes so we may better educate people. In this particular section of her paper, she is explaining why, for those people who want to 'assign' sexual orientation to others, they must first determine the actual sex/gender of the couple they are judging. My question is, which word is more accurate in this discussion. I am certainly NOT condoning people who want/need to know one's sexuality (having a unisex name and a partner with a unisex name, I actually work hard NOT to let on what my sexual orientation is to my students just to keep them on their toes). The fact is, people assign sexual orientation (rightly or wrongly) and the purpose of this research is understanding and education. I hope this clarifies why the question. If not, I apologise. Regards, Marte >>> "Dr. Bob Wildblood" <drb...@rcn.com<mailto:drb...@rcn.com>> 01/26/12 3:56 >>> PM >>> You aren't talking about sex or gender, you are talking about sexual orientation, and whose business is that anyway? ---- Original message ---- >Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:35:02 -0800 >From: Marte Fallshore <ma...@cwu.edu<mailto:ma...@cwu.edu>> >Subject: [tips] gender versus sex >To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" ><tips@fsulist.frostburg.edu<mailto:tips@fsulist.frostburg.edu>> > > Some colleagues and I are having a discussion about > when it is appropriate to use the terms gender and > sex. The issue is around a paper by a student where > they are pointing out that in order to determine > someone's sexual orientation, you need to determine > their sex/gender. For example, if you see a couple > holding hands and one is a man and the other is a > woman, you would probably infer that it is a > heterosexual couple. On the other hand, if you > determine that both are men (or both women) you > would probably infer that they are a homosexual > couple. The question is, are you determining sex or > gender? We can't find anything on this issue on the > APA website, and, of course, the manual simply > points out that gender is socially constructed and > sex is biological. > > Thanks, > > Marte > --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: arch...@jab.org. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=15781 or send a blank email to leave-15781-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
