(Northwestern University)
The Psychology of Gender Reconsidered: Correcting the Half-Truths
The typical presentation of the psychology of gender conveys a narrative of half-truths: (a) Psychological sex/gender differences are small or nonexistent, (b) gender stereotypes are large and false, and (c) the route to gender equality lies erasing stereotypes in the minds of individuals. Contrary to this narrative, (a) sex/gender differences are large or small, depending on how researchers organize relevant data, (b) gender stereotypes have impressive accuracy, and (c) the route to gender equality begins at its roots, that is, equalizing the social position of women and men in society.