Pdf this article memorializes sandra lipsitz bem 19442014. Sandra lipsitz bem became a full professor of psychology and womens studies at cornell. The first lens embedded in cultural discourses, social institutions, and individual psyches is the lens of androcentrism, or malecenteredness. One of sandra bem s important contributions was the development of gender schema theory gst. Sandra lipsitz bem argues that these assumptions, which she calls the lenses of gender, shape not only perceptions of social reality but also the more material things like unequal pay and inadequate daycare that constitute social reality itself.
It is alos a good read for those of us who are deeply mired in gender studies already. Sandra bem s gender schema theory after 34 years springer link mar 29, 2016. Pdf sandra bems gender schema theory after 34 years. Transforming the debate on sexual inequality new haven. Bem psychology and womens studiescornell suggests that there are three waysthree lenses through which society views gender. Sandra lipsitz bem argues that these assumptions, which she calls the. According to bem, the first lens, androcentrism malecenteredness, defines males and male experience as a standard or norm and females and female experience. The power of an unconscious ideology bem and bem 1970. Sandra lipsitz bem professor of psychology and womens studies, department of psychology, cornell university, uris hall, ithaca, ny, 14853 email. Her two twentysomething children, emily and jeremy, interviewed for. Sandra bem 19442014 devised the gender schema theory to explain gender development and the bem sex role inventory to measure traits of masculinity, femininity, and androgyny. This article memorializes sandra lipsitz bem 19442014. The lenses of gender is an excellent work for academics and newcomers to the field alike. The lenses of gender one of the most helpful recent contributions to the sex gender discussion has been that of sandra lipsitz bern.
Sandra ruth lipsitz bem was an american psychologist known for her works in androgyny and gender studies. In this book a leading theorist on sex and gender discusses how hidden assumptions. Sandra bem, one of the nations leading authorities on gender roles, has brought new insights to bear on longstanding questions. This work on sexual inequality in heterosexual marriages and the proposal of egalitarian marriages was published at a time when the word sexism had not even been invented bem 1995, and. In 1981, sandra lipsitz bem introduced gender schema theory in her scholarly article gender schema theory. Sandra bem was a gifted psychologist who changed the face of gender issues. Female stereotyping in advertisements and gender role expectations. The lenses of gender transforming the debate on sexual inequality in this book a leading theorist on sex and gender discusses how hidden assumptions embedded in our. Best known for her development of the bem sex role inventory and her book lenses of gender, sandra bem dedicated her career to the study of gender and sex roles.
Revolutionary and generative feminist psychologist sex roles. Gender polarization is a concept in sociology by american psychologist sandra bem which. Kilmartin is an internationallyrecognized expert on gender, violence preventio books. This book argues that, to achieve true gender equality, we need to study the hidden assumptions about sex and gender that pervade our society and culture. Four years after being diagnosed with alzheimers, sandra decided to end her own life before the disease became too debilitating. Sandra ruth lipsitz bem june 22, 1944 may 20, 2014 was an american psychologist known for her works in androgyny and gender studies. A free powerpoint ppt presentation displayed as a flash slide show on id. More specifically, we analyzed how often gst reached journals outside psychology as well as journals and research. Sandra, defending the lenses of gender, psychological inquiry 5, no.
She was a professor of psychology and womens studies at cornell university for most of her career. In her book the lenses of gender 1993, sandra bem identifies three lenses that filter the way we perceive gender and shape our assumptions about gender. Sandra bem s theory, which includes all the above and also emphasizes the social and historical context containing lenses of gender. So sandra bem s lenses of gender is just she doesnt talk about violence at all, that i can remember, in that book, but its a formidable intellectual piece of work that changed the way i think about gender and how we grow up with it and how we can learn to be conscious of it. Although she and her husband, daryl bem, are now separated and living with samesex partners, author sandra bem psychologycornell. This article memorializes sandra lipsitz bem 1944 2014. Rhode, professor of law at stanford law school, editor of theoretical perspectives on sexual difference, and author of. Gender schema theory was formally introduced by sandra bem in 1981 as a cognitive theory to. Chris kilmartin on men, sexism, and masculinity the. Her 1993 book, the lenses of gender bem 1993 built upon her earlier ideas and explained how a societys gender schemas or lenses gender. Bem s relevance to our class is significant when applying the gender schema theory as it was mentioned in earlier class readings and is a perspective based on the development of women. Her penetrating and articulate examination of these hidden cultural lenses enables us to lookatthem rather thanthroughthem and to better understand recent debates on gender and sexuality.
Sandra lipsitz bem does a great job of stepping back to provide a nice overview, leaving us. A leading theorist on sex and gender discusses how hidden assumptions embedded in our culture, social institutions, and individual psyches perpetuate male power and oppress women and sexual minorities. Ppt sandra bem powerpoint presentation free to view. According to the theory, children adjust their behavior to align with the gender norms of their culture from the earliest stages of social development. A schema is a cognitive structure that organizes and. Bem s publication, the lenses of gender, sought to render those lenses of stereotypical and socially accepted masculine and feminine traitsvisible rather than invisible, to enable us to look at the cultures gender lenses rather than through them bem, 1993, p. Bem was a feminism psychologist whose incisive writing and research transformed the psychology of gender and contributed significantly to. The second lens, gender polarization, superimposes malefemale differences on virtually every aspect of human experience, from modes of dress and social. Further reflections on sandra lipsitz bems impact springerlink. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Her penetrating and articulate examination of these hidden cultural lenses enables us to look at.
Bem s theory assumed that some people categorize gender oriented roles typically, while others didnt seem to see their lives regarding gender. Transforming the debate on sexual inequality, london, yale university press. How sandra bem has changed understanding of gender issues. Sandra lipsitz bem argues that these assumptions, which she calls the lenses of gender, shape not only perceptions of social reality but also the sandra lipsitz bem argues that these assumptions, which she calls the lenses of gender, shape not only perceptions of social reality but also the more material thingslike unequal pay and inadequate. In the 1990s, sandra bem also published an awardwinning book, the lenses of gender, which spelled out the feminist theory behind their feminist practices. Feminist scholars, poutical activists, sociauy conscious consumers, and media practitioners ha ve all expressed concem about the negative effects. According to bem, the first lens, androcentrism malecenteredness, defines males and male experience as a standard or norm and females and female experience as a deviation from that norm. Sandra lipsitz bem argues that these assumptions, which she calls the lenses of gender, shape not only perceptions of social reality but also the more material things. Born sandra lipsitz in 1944, bem was the child of secretary lilian and mail clerk peter. Throughout her life, bem sought independence, equality, and selfdirection. Within the feminist lens, androgyny is not radical enough, because androgyny means. Sandra bem, feminist icon and scholar, began her work on gender in 1967 with the publication of training the woman to know her place. Sandra bem s enculturated lens theory of gender formation two processes are key to gender acquisition two and two only metamessages. Abstract one of sandra bem s important contributions was the development of gender schema theory gst.
Through an analysis of journal articles referencing gst, we explored the breadth of the theorys reach and the ways in which its use has changed over time. Sandra bem s gender schema theory is not trying to discuss the content of gender or how people apply gender to their personal lives. Sandra bem had an important influence in psychology and on our understanding of sex roles, gender, and sexuality. Sandra, dismanting gender polarization and compulsory heterosexuality. The culmination of bems feminist approach is encapsulated in her 1993 book, the lenses of gender. This collection of essays aims to honor the legacy of sandra lipsitz bem and, particularly, her trailblazing text, the lenses of gender. Sandra bem biography and contributions to psychology. This powerful treatment of sexbased differences will redefine debates of enormous theoretical significance and societal importance. In the lenses of gender 14 she suggests that most cultures look at male and female gender through one or more lenses. Transforming the debate on sexual inequality, sandra lipsitz bem.
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