Hello all! Currently I am working on writing my masters thesis for my Library Science degree. For my thesis I am working on exeming gender stereotyped within picture books. During my research I came across the book 'Why Gender Matters: What Parents and eachers Need to Know About the Emerging Science of Sex Differences' by Leonard Sax.
Now, the book is outright terrible. It constantly discussed that men and women are simply so darn different, and needed to be treated differently accordingly. It includes examples such as how it was appropriate for a teacher to yell at a male student because he could take it better than a female student would.
Anyhoo, amidst all the fun there are two surveys that are included in the back. There are simply too many things upsetting with them to call them all out, but I figured I would let you all be the judge....
"These quizzes are most accurate for North American children ages eleven through eighteen." (p 254.)
The quizzes are reportedly taken from Janet Boldizar's paper, "Assesing Sex Typing and Androgyny in Children: The Children's Sex Role Inventory" Developmental Psycology, 27:505-15, 1991.
How Feminine Are You?
1) The smell of musk is best described by which of the following words:
a. musty
b. sour
c. bitter
d. pungent
e. I have no idea
2) When other people say nice things about me, it makes me feel good.
a. true
b. false: I really don't care what other people say about me
3) Endive is:
a. something like grapefruit
b. something like lettuce
c. something like oregano
d. something like broccoli
4) I feel shy around new people...
a. often
b. sometimes
c. almost never
5) The color ocher is most similar to...
a. brown
b. yellow
c. green
d. blue
e. I have no idea
6) A person might use a serger to....
a. tidy up the kitchen
b. dust behind the curtains
c. decorate a cake
d. hem a dress
e. I have no idea
7) I try to make an effort to present myself as a cheerful person, even when I'm not feeling cheerful...
a.often
b. occasionally
c. seldom or never
8) I can tell when someone else needs help...
a. most of the time
b. sometimes
c. not very often
9) People can fool me into believing things that aren't true -
a. almost never
b. more often than I like to admit
10) If someone I know feels sad, I...
a. will probably feel sad, too, and will want to help them
b. will want to help them, but probably won't feel sad.
c. won't feel sad, and won't try to help unless specifically asked to do so.
SCORING----
1) The smell of musk is best described by which of the following words:
a. musty (zero points)
b. sour (zero points)
c. bitter (zero points)
d. pungent (one point)
e. I have no idea (zero points)
2) When other people say nice things about me, it makes me feel good.
a. true (one point)
b. false: I really don't care what other people say about me (zero points)
3) Endive is:
a. something like grapefruit (zero points)
b. something like lettuce (one point)
c. something like oregano (zero points)
d. something like broccoli (zero points)
4) I feel shy around new people...
a. often (one point)
b. sometimes (zero points)
c. almost never (zero points)
5) The color ocher is most similar to...
a. brown (zero points)
b. yellow (one point)
c. green (zero points)
d. blue (zero points)
e. I have no idea (zero points)
6) A person might use a serger to....
a. tidy up the kitchen (zero points)
b. dust behind the curtains (zero points)
c. decorate a cake (zero points)
d. hem a dress (one point)
e. I have no idea (zero points)
7) I try to make an effort to present myself as a cheerful person, even when I'm not feeling cheerful...
a.often (one point)
b. occasionally (zero points)
c. seldom or never (Subtract one point)
8) I can tell when someone else needs help...
a. most of the time (one point)
b. sometimes (zero points)
c. not very often (subtract one point)
9) People can fool me into believing things that aren't true -
a. almost never (zero points)
b. more often than I like to admit (one point)
10) If someone I know feels sad, I...
a. will probably feel sad, too, and will want to help them (one point)
b. will want to help them, but probably won't feel sad. (zero points)
c. won't feel sad, and won't try to help unless specifically asked to do so. (subtract one point)
Okay then, now add up how many point that you have....if you have -
Minus 3 to plus 3: You are not feminine at all.
Plus 4 to Plus 6: You've earned the Katherine Hepburn award: you are moderately feminine.
Plus 7 to Plus 10: You've earned the Audrey Hepburn award: very feminine.
How Masculine Are You?
1) When somebody has to take charge of things,
a. I put myself forward more often than not.
b. I usually wait for someone else to take the lead.
2) Talking about cars, 'camber' refers to
a. the transder of power from the transmission to the driveshaft.
b. the ability of the car to hold the road, to handle sharp corners without slipping
c. the angle at which the tired intersect the road
d. the delivery of fuel from the fuel injector to the engine
e. I have no idea
3) It's easy for me to make up my mind about things, even before I know all the facts...
a. most of the time
b. sometimes
c. not very often
4) If I have to do something I've never done before, I'd rather try to figure out how to do it on my own first, even if I have to work at it for an hour, before I ask someone else to show me how to do it.
a. true
b. false: I'm comfortable asking others for help
5) When I'm playing a game, I often get ipset if I don't win.
a. true
b. false
6) I can get people to do what I want them to fo, even when they don't want to.
a. most of the time
b. sometimes
c. not very often
7) I think I would look better if I gained ten pounds of muscle.
a. true
b. false
8) When I'm reading, I prefer
a. a quiet room, so I can concentrate better and not be distracted
b. music of TV playing in the background, but not too loud. I don't like it too quiet
c. I dont care - makes no difference whether there's noise or not
d. Not applicable, I don't read much.
9) If I want to do something, and a knowledgable acquaintence tells me that it might be dangerous or risky,
a. I'll probably go ahead with it anyway
b. I might change my plans
c. Not applicable - I don't usually do things that people consider risky or dangerous.
10) I'm smarter than you would guess if you knew just my grades in school.
a. true
b. false
SCORING----
1) When somebody has to take charge of things,
a. I put myself forward more often than not. (one point)
b. I usually wait for someone else to take the lead. (zero points)
2) Talking about cars, 'camber' refers to
a. the transder of power from the transmission to the driveshaft. (zero points)
b. the ability of the car to hold the road, to handle sharp corners without slipping (zero points)
c. the angle at which the tired intersect the road (one point)
d. the delivery of fuel from the fuel injector to the engine (zero points)
e. I have no idea (zero points)
3) It's easy for me to make up my mind about things, even before I know all the facts...
a. most of the time (one point)
b. sometimes (zero points)
c. not very often (zero points)
4) If I have to do something I've never done before, I'd rather try to figure out how to do it on my own first, even if I have to work at it for an hour, before I ask someone else to show me how to do it.
a. true (one point)
b. false: I'm comfortable asking others for help (zero points)
5) When I'm playing a game, I often get ipset if I don't win.
a. true (one point)
b. false (zero points)
6) I can get people to do what I want them to fo, even when they don't want to.
a. most of the time (one point)
b. sometimes (zero points)
c. not very often (zero points)
7) I think I would look better if I gained ten pounds of muscle.
a. true (one point)
b. false (zero points)
8) When I'm reading, I prefer
a. a quiet room, so I can concentrate better and not be distracted (zero points)
b. music of TV playing in the background, but not too loud. I don't like it too quiet (zero points)
c. I dont care - makes no difference whether there's noise or not (one point)
d. Not applicable, I don't read much. (one point)
9) If I want to do something, and a knowledgable acquaintence tells me that it might be dangerous or risky,
a. I'll probably go ahead with it anyway (one point)
b. I might change my plans (zero points)
c. Not applicable - I don't usually do things that people consider risky or dangerous. (zero points)
10) I'm smarter than you would guess if you knew just my grades in school.
a. true (one point)
b. false (zero points)
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This survey is some bull....
8) When I'm reading, I prefer
a. a quiet room, so I can concentrate better and not be distracted (zero points)
b. music of TV playing in the background, but not too loud. I don't like it too quiet (zero points)
c. I dont care - makes no difference whether there's noise or not (one point)
d. Not applicable, I don't read much. (one point)
You need to read if you are going to need the facts and arguments to achieve mental dominance over your foes. How else are you going tap into the authority of knowledge?
10) I'm smarter than you would guess if you knew just my grades in school.
a. true (one point)
b. false (zero points)
I gots me summa cum laude. Don't get no better than that. How do I come across smarter than my grades?
The survey is clearly flawed.
I win.
Apparently guys don't read now? Ridiculous on so many levels. Apparently I am neither masculine nor feminine...awesome?
Hmm... I got 3 points on both tests. Strange....
Hmm... I got 3 points on both tests. Strange....
"Now, the book is outright terrible. It constantly discussed that men and women are simply so darn different, and needed to be treated differently accordingly."
While it sounds like the book you are referring to has dubious value, based upon my own experiences there are some significant differences with how men and women behave. I'm not a researcher, but my gut feeling is that many of these behavior differences stem from environmental/cultural factors more than physical biology.
I've been working in commercial studio/corporate photography for more than 15 years now, and over this time I've met about 300+ full-time male photographers and about 20 full-time female photographers. Last night I went to a free product launch for two new professional DSLR cameras from Canon ( Canon 7D and EOS-1 MK IV ), and I estimate there were about 200 men and about 10 women in the room.
I've been building my own custom PC computers for about 20 years now, and over this time I've met about 20 men that also build their own computers. None of us were trained on how to build computers, we just figured it out on our own. So far I have yet to meet one woman that builds her own PC computers. I am certain there are women that build computers too, but they seem quite a rare person to find.
One of my ex girlfriends was very big on sewing, and every year I would go with her to a large sewing/knitting show. Once inside the show, it appeared that I was one of maybe a dozen men amongst about 2000 women, and most of the men ( including me ) were there to support female their partners.
I've built my own computer. In another year I'll probably build another (pending cash reserves). I also run Linux. Highly agree that the women I've met who share this interest are few and far between... I outnerd my boyfriend on this, and it's his dang field.
What is the point of all this anyway? To offer chemical castration if your daughter displays too much math aptitude or isn't growing up to be a people pleaser? Is it masculine or feminine that I want to burn the woman who wrote those quizzes at the stake!?
This is the kind of stuff that needs to be called out. Totally out of line.
Result 1: 3, not feminine.
Result 2: 6, moderately masculine.
I don't know why that surprised me, but it did. Maybe I missed the "girls have to be gullible technophobic people-pleasing doormats" lesson in my formative years, because I've always been under the impression that I didn't have to be that way in order to really be female.
Incidentally, regarding the example you cited where this person stated that it's OK to yell at a male student because he'll be able to take it better than a female student could...speaking as a teacher, I don't think it's ever OK to yell at a student, whether they're female or male. If you have to resort to getting angry in order to control your classroom, you're not really the one who's in charge.
I like how a decent vocabulary and caring about others are lady-skills, while real men are lazy, poorly-read, throw tantrums when they don't get their way, and do stupid shit to remind others that they are MANLY MEN WHO DO MANLY THINGS. And they say *feminism* is man-hating, yeesh!
You can get Facebook tests in paperback now?
Although I am not sure if that sounded like a stupid Facebook test, or a really difficult verbal version of the SAT.
What the hell does musk smell like anyway?
I wasn't even entirely sure what musk *was*. I thought it was man-sweat, which smells kind of like marijuana imo. But Google says it is the man-sweat of deer specifically, and I don't smell deer armpits very often. If only I were more like Audrey Hepburn, I would know!
If I ever get arrested for posession, I'll blame it on my sweat!
Pretty offended by the notion that gullibility is a feminine trait (question #9) Guess I'm "masculine" then because I call bullshit on the whole premise of this quiz.
Also, why is knowing what ocher looks like feminine? What if someone happens to be an artist or a house painter or something, it would kind of be their business to know, regardless of their gender.
Ugh I know! Men are the ones who "don't read much", yet women end up the gullible ones?
Guess its because we only read romance novels (and sewing patterns)!
Another one that really annoyed me is that shyness is gendered! I get that women are supposed to *act* meek and polite when meeting new people, but to actually *be* anxious around new people being measured as a feminine trait is complete bullshit!
Okay, so I'm a "1", which is not very feminine. And then I got a 4, which is, I'm assuming, moderately masculine.
This test is stupid. Knowing what color ocher is and the correct use of a serger (whatever the hell a serger is) does not make anyone feminine. And not reading books, knowing about cars and not listening to poeple does not make someone masculine. How incredibly asinine. This is the type of shit that needs to be called bullshit on.