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Hypothesis
Even though gender schemas do not normally allow fundamental
changes to their basic pattern and structure, survival pressures
(Charles Darwin speaks about this) can bring about a crisis
which forces new 'adaptations'. The adaptation I want to test
for is psychological and involves a shift towards androgyny.
Moreover, if my results are not significant (HO) then this shows
me that the participants in my study have not developed androgyny.
However, if the results are significant (HI) then this shows
me that the participants have adapted by becoming more androgynous,
taking on both masculine and feminine traits in order to adapt
into challenging new environmental situations. My main prediction
is that settlers can take on androgynous roles, in order to
increase their survival chances in the new environment.
Sampling method
I looked about twelve videos (each interview last about 40
minutes). Half of the respondents were male and half were
female. The respondents were selected randomly, except for
one thing- I avoided respondents who spoke Gujerati because
I had no translator, and I avoided those who spoke strong
patois because I couldn't understand it.
Variables under investigation
The sex-roles of 12 randomly chosen respondents.
Possible extraneous variables
The possibility that the respondents experienced no real change
in their gender schema. This would suggest that Sandra Bem's
idea of 'psychological androgyny' could not be applied, and
would imply that once a gender schema is created during early
development, it cannot be radically changed. The possibility
that, even before settlement in the West Midlands, some of
the respondents displayed androgynous behaviour. Such people
would not have changed their gender schemas; they would simply
be carrying on as normal!
Background Material that I use
Ethical Issues
· Copyright and ownership of the BeMe Archive permission to
involve the respondents in my project.
· To control this issue, I gained the permission of the project
learning co-ordinator. I also spoke in public about my project
at a conference where many BeMe contributors (including most
of my chosen respondents) were present.
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