Test Bank For The Psychology of Women
Chapter 1
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. According to your text, a course in the psychology of women
a. explores psychological issues of specific concern to women.
b. demonstrates that women really are different from men.
c. illustrates that women from different ethnic groups are impressively similar to one
another.
d. discovers evidence to show that women no longer experience gender
discrimination.
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: Chapter Introduction
2. According to the information at the beginning of Chapter 1,
a. women in countries such as Afghanistan are actually treated in a less biased
fashion than women in the United States and Canada.
b. topics such as pregnancy and rape are now a standard part of introductory
psychology textbooks.
c. psychologists have typically focused on men’s experiences when they study topics
such as achievement and retirement.
d. women in the United States and Canada consistently earn higher salaries than men
if we consider jobs that are traditionally female.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: Chapter Introduction
3. Your textbook contrasts two similar terms, sex and gender. Which of the following research
topics involves the study of sex, rather than gender?
a. What do adults think are ideal characteristics for young girls and boys?
b. How many weeks after conception do the external genitals of boys and girls
develop?
c. Do people believe that females should be helped more than males?
d. Do young children rate adult women as being more nurturant than adult men?
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Central Concepts in the Psychology of Women
4. Dr. Chen has conducted a study about whether men and women differ in their honesty when
taking an examination. According to your textbook’s discussion of the terms sex and gender,
a. the title should be “Sex Comparisons in Honesty.”
b. the title should be “Gender Comparisons in Honesty.”
c. if Dr. Chen finds differences between men and women, call it “Sex Comparisons
in Honesty.” Otherwise, call it “Gender Comparisons in Honesty.”
d. because the terms sex and gender are interchangeable, either title is acceptable.
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Chapter 1
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Central Concepts in the Psychology of Women
5. Which of the following statements is correct about the distinction between the words sex and
gender?
a. Gender refers to biologically based categories, which are either male or female.
b. Sex refers only to sexual activity, and therefore the term sex chromosomes is not
an appropriate phrase.
c. Gender refers to social categories and psychological characteristics.
d. The terms sex and gender are so distinctive that they are rarely confused with each
other in the professional literature.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: Central Concepts in the Psychology of Women
6. Your textbook discusses the difference between the words sex and gender. Which of the
following differences is correct?
a. Gender refers to animals, whereas sex refers to humans.
b. Gender refers to children, whereas sex refers to adolescents and adults.
c. Gender is a narrower term than sex.
d. Gender refers to psychological characteristics, whereas sex emphasizes biological
characteristics.
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: Central Concepts in the Psychology of Women
7. Which of the following students has the best understanding of the term, “doing gender”?
a. Alexei: “The phrase ‘doing gender’ refers to the process of conducting
psychological research about gender comparisons.”
b. Irina: “The phrase ‘doing gender’ refers to a specific kind of historical analysis,
which explores how women have been left out of the standard accounts of
history.”
c. Sarah: “When people convey gender-related messages to each other—for instance,
by the way they smile—they are ‘doing gender.’”
d. Peter: “When people work for gender equality—for instance, in the workplace—
they are ‘doing gender.’”
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: Central Concepts in the Psychology of Women
8. According to your textbook, the phrase “doing gender” means
a. expressing our own gender, as well as responding to other people on the basis of
their gender.
b. conscientiously using the words sex and gender in an appropriate fashion.
c. doing research that emphasizes gender similarities rather than gender differences.
d. trying to be gender-fair in situations that would normally encourage gender-based
discrimination.
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: Central Concepts in the Psychology of Women
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Chapter 1
9. Suppose that you are trying to explain the phrase “doing gender” to a high school student.
Which of the following statements would be most accurate?
a. “Men are more likely than women to ‘do gender.’”
b. “When a female student meets a male student, she may smile and act very
interested in him; this is an example of ‘doing gender.’”
c. “‘Doing gender’ is a phrase that applies to our perception of other people, rather
than how we ourselves act.”
d. “The ability to ‘do gender’ is programmed into our genetic makeup, and our
culture has little influence on the way we ‘do gender.’”
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Central Concepts in the Psychology of Women
10. Which of the following is an example of sexism?
a. Your next-door neighbor is saving money for his son to go to college, but he
doesn’t think that females should pursue higher education.
b. A television interviewer addresses a man as “Samuel Munson,” and she addresses
a woman as “Cynthia Harper.”
c. A fabric store hires a man to measure and cut fabric.
d. A company has an unwritten policy that they will not hire elderly people.
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: Central Concepts in the Psychology of Women
11. Which of the following statements about sexism is correct?
a. Women cannot be sexist.
b. People are sexist when they are biased against men, as well as when they are
biased against women.
c. If a researcher discovers that men score higher than women on a particular test, he
or she would be sexist to publish these findings, even if the report is objective.
d. The terms feminist and sexist can be used interchangeably.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Central Concepts in the Psychology of Women
12. A sexist person would be most likely to believe that
a. men—as well as women—can be feminists.
b. women and men should be paid the same.
c. female high-school students should not be permitted to play football.
d. gender similarities are more common than gender differences.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: Central Concepts in the Psychology of Women
13. Which of the following examples best illustrates racism?
a. Counselors who advise young Black women to be clerical workers, but young
Black men to go into business
b. People who assume that most young Native Americans are alcoholics
c. Parents of a White college student who encourage their daughter to take courses
about race relations
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Chapter 1
d. Black high school teachers who encourage Black students to apply to colleges
where the majority of students are Black, as well as colleges where the majority
are White
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Central Concepts in the Psychology of Women
14. Chris is respectful toward his female professors, but he often speaks rudely to the female
secretaries at his college. Chris is most clearly demonstrating
a. ableism. c. sexism.
b. ageism. d. classism.
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: Central Concepts in the Psychology of Women
15. Cynthia is very polite to the principal at her daughter’s school, but she is rude to the cleaning
staff at this school. Cynthia is most clearly demonstrating
a. ableism. c. classism.
b. ageism. d. sexism.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: Central Concepts in the Psychology of Women
16. According to your textbook, the word heterosexism refers to
a. a bias against individuals who are heterosexual.
b. a bias against individuals who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual.
c. a greater bias against lesbians than against gay males.
d. a positive attitude toward all intimate relationships, whether they are heterosexual
or lesbian, gay, or bisexual.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: Central Concepts in the Psychology of Women
17. Alicia doesn’t seem to be concerned about a woman who just broke up with her lesbian
partner, though she is very concerned about a woman who just broke up with her male
partner. Alicia is most clearly demonstrating
a. sexism. c. heterosexism.
b. classism. d. cultural feminism.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: Central Concepts in the Psychology of Women
18. According to your textbook’s discussion of the ageism, this term
a. means that gender differences increase as people grow older.
b. is limited to biases against elderly adults.
c. is limited to biases against adolescents.
d. is typically aimed at elderly adults, but it actually means biases based on a person’s
age.
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: Central Concepts in the Psychology of Women
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