The role of "lenses of gender" in construction of sex in perception of gender-neutral images
The study of described by S. Bem patterns of lenses of gender (androcentrism and polarization) in perception of gender-neutral images by Russian-speaking respondents (N=302, 218 females, aged 17-57) with different characteristics of gender identity and gender stereotypes is presented. The procedure includes experimental and diagnostic stages. 12 black-white gender-neutral pictures of animal (cat) next to objects that specify one of the gender contexts: neutral, feminine, masculine were presented successively at the experimental stage. At the diagnostic stage the following questionnaires were used: “Man’s normative attitudes” by I.S. Kletsina and E.V. Ioffe, “Structure of sexism” by E.S. Zizevskaya and M.A. Shhukina, “Masculinity, femininity and gender type of personality” by O.G. Lopuchova. It has been revealed that the enduing of animal with gender occurs in 97% cases. In this case the animal has been perceived as he-cat more often (7.3 times when all acts of perception have been considered and 8.8 times when analyzing perception in general) indicating that there are lenses of androcentrism in perception of gender-neutral images in Russian-speaking respondents. Respondents’ sex, gender structure and age have no significant influence on ascribing of sex to an animal. Lens of polarization was activated in 10% of respondents and manifested itself in gender colouring of contexts: such stimuli as “perambulator” and “embroidering” resulted in ascribing of female sex to an animal. Stereotype - feminine context as the first stimulus in the succession of presentations provides a significant effect on perception of animal’s sex only for men. Gender and sexist stereotypes in respondents regardless of their sex, age and gender identity facilitate activation of lens of polarization.