Question

Research conducted by William and Best (1982) is reviewed in Ch. 6 of Culture and Psychology. How do you understand their results related to gender stereotypes? What are the advantages and disadvantages of these adjectives in relation to the workforce?

Answer 1

William and Best(1982) are famous for their five factor theorey. They was the first psychologists, who were able to present data about the gender stereotype.william and best (1982) had done a cross-cultural study about the gender streotype.

According to the analysis of William and Best(1982) it can be stated that, they have found different kinds of traits for male and feamle. The mail Streotype was huge than female stereotype. The Extraversion, Openness to the society, strong emotional capability, always ready to gather experiences was identified as the males stereotype.Female traits of streotype was acceptable minded.According to William and Best, Stereotype can be developed for some significant causes.

Imitation- When we stars to interact with our society and culture. We starts to adopt our society's belief, thinking and opinion. In this way streotypes can be created. As example, if a child's society does not likes to promote the girls education, then he will also adopt the streotype, that girls cant give a better performance in the studies.

Cultural distance with other Community - Cultural distance always helps to create streotype. As we are not connected with other community, we can not have the proper information's of the other community. The less correct infornmation about the other perople leads to Stereotype.

The process of Socialisation- The process of socialisation matters a lot in formation of the stereotype. According to the study of William and Best, we can say that, most common agent of the socialisation process is our parents.We always adopt the things, whatever we learns from our parents and this can create a streotype. As example, if a parents are not respectful towards the African Culture. Then their child also will start disliking the African Culture.

Advantages of Stereotype in Working Culture-

• Stereotype always helps to understand the behaviour. So it helps to understands the needs and claims of the work organization.As it helps to give an idea about the behaviour, so the organization also can understand whats the view point of their employees.
• Stereotype helps to direct our behaviour. Streotype can states some rules and regulations, which can helps in controlling social behaviour. As example, americans are famous for their friendly behaviour. So someone can behave according to their moods, if he or she is working in an American Firm.
• Stereotype helps to predict someone's behavior. For example, Nepalis are famous for their honesty and loyality, So we can predict them according to our stereotype.

Disadvantages Of Stereotype-

• Sometimes people judge a community by only their personal Stereotype.This kind of behavior provides wrong conception about someones behavior.
• Sometimes Streotype leads to lack of information.
• Sometimes We started giving to priority to only us and not to others just because of Stereotype.