While I was utilizing one of the psychology text books used by Lebanon High School I became acutely aware of the very deliberate gender bias being programmed into our children as it relates to parenting. I then decided that I would read the entire book to find examples and provide commentary. After an exhaustive examination here are those findings.
The words or situations in the scenarios presented provide an often less than overt bias -- which can easily be dismissed. The danger here is the subtlety of the bias that is being imposed on the young impressionable minds that can foster a lifelong prejudice and further exacerbate the already problematic sole parenting. Each example begins with the page number followed by the identifying section in brackets [ ] and my commentary also in brackets [ ].
125 [Under the section Are There "His" and "Her" Brains?] Because of the centuries of prejudice against women and a legacy of biased research on gender differences, some scientists and laypeople do not even want to consider the possibility that the brains of women and men might differ, on average, in some ways. [the authors would have us believe that perceptions of differences in men and women are based upon researcher bias which does exist. The reader is likely left with the impression of bias against women although that is never stated in the text. I will be writing a future posting about this very issue and the male dominated field of psychiatry and the labeling of the brain functions of women in a manner consistent with malady rather than difference]
The book is constructed in a manner that provides anecdotes, situations, probing hypothetical questions and instructional guidance to help the student understand the psychological perspective being examined in each section. When I have used italics that is a direct quote from the book.
Examples of Bias Against Women
348 [Under the section Altruism and Dissent the authors note that men are more likely risk their lives to save others] Indeed, a study of Canadian awards that have been given since 1904 to individuals who risked or lost their lives to save others found that only 9 percent have gone to women. [the paragraph goes further to speak of women having risked their lives in other situations. It may be that this is to reinforce a bias that men are more rewarded for the same experiences. In reality though it is more likely that the situations that men are traditionally employed in such as police and fire are more often rewarded.
355 [Under the section Defining and Measuring Prejudice the authors reported on a unilateral definition of sexism] In research with 15,000 men and women in 19 nations, psychologist found that "hostile sexism," which reflects active dislike of women, is different from "benevolent sexism," in which superficially positive attitudes put women on a pedestal but nonetheless reinforce women's subordination. [this reporting of research findings in which someone else expressed an anti-male bias is a manner in which that bias is perpetuated by the authors. There is sexism which defines males as having "strength" and being a "bread winner". This selection justifies sexism against men by not acknowledging that it exist.]
Examples of the authors being gender neutral
21 parents and their infants come to the laboratory.
The reason for the clunky word "object" in object relations, instead of the warmer word "human" or "parent," is that the infant's attachment is not only to a real person . . .
90 [Under the section Learning to be Good the authors present an appropriate gender neutral scenario] For example, when you did something wrong as a child, did the adults in your family spank you, shout at you, threaten you, or explain the error of your ways? [notice that gender neutrality is applied to a punishment situation]
Examples of fathers as abusers, financial providers, punishers or visitors
[Under the section Social Cognitive Theory the authors talk about how two people can go through the same experience but come out of it with two different lessons from it.] One may regard being grounded by their father as evidence of his all-around meanness, and another may see the same behaviour as evidence of his care and concern for his children. {It is not the view of meanness, which is contrasted by the view of care and concern which expresses a bias here. It is good that it shows an involved father but again is limited to discipline. "A parent" or "parents" could have easily been used.
44 [Defense mechanisms] "A woman who is afraid to admit to herself that she fears her husband may instead cling to the belief that she loves him."
86 [In talking about Piaget's sensorimotor stage the authors write] banging on the table with a spoon will produce dinner (or Mom, taking the spoon away). ['or the spoon being taking away' would have served the point just as well but in this instance the author's have again eliminated father as a care provider and intentionally chosen mother only. Further down the page in this section the authors make a reference to father] The child becomes able to hold a concept in mind, to learn that the word fly represents an annoying, buzzing creature, and that Daddy represents a friendly, playful one. [this may appear balanced and is one of the few representations of a father. But it does not show the father in a provider role and is more representative of a visitor.]
287 [This sentence is representative of a bias and demonstrates the danger of bias] Many women and some men came to believe, during psychotherapy, that they could recall long-buried - "repressed" - memories of having been sexually victimized, usually by a father. [among the youngest children women actually commit more molestations than men. The sentence could be just as effective in conveying the thought without adding usually by a father. The word father instead of man is denigrating fathers specifically. This adds to the bias against fathers and is an attempt to impart in the mind of the student that men molest their daughters not females in general.]
291 [The authors give an example of a phrase used in an argument between lovers] If you have a fight with your lover, for example, the central theme in your story about the fight might be negative ("He was a jerk") or neutral (It was a mutual misunderstanding). [The negative connotation is attributed to a male while the other example is gender neutral.
315 [In the Quick Quiz No. 3] Your father, who rarely calls you, has finally left a voice-mail message. Should you reply quickly or wait a while so he will know how it feels to be ignored? [This question could have been gender neutral - one of your parents, or parents - yet father is singles out. Not only does it show that father to be less likely to be emotionally supportive but also, indirectly, shows the father to be out of the child's life, most likely a non custodial visitor parent. The child must be living with mom. A bias that is again normalizing fatherless homes.]
317 [In a section about punishment there is a photo showing a father smacking his child with a belt. This again is reinforcing a gender stereotype that it is not only the responsibility of the father to inflict punishment but that fathers are abusive by using corporal punishment.]
322 [Under the section Social Cognitive Theory the authors talk about how two people can go through the same experience but come out of it with two different lessons from it.] One may regard being grounded by their father as evidence of his all-around meanness, and another may see the same behaviour as evidence of his care and concern for his children. [It is not the view of meanness, which is contrasted by the view of care and concern which expresses a bias here. It is good that it shows an involved father but again is limited to discipline. "A parent" or "parents" could have easily been used.]
371 [Under the section Mental disorder the authors give examples of behaviours that are destructive to self or others] Some behavior is harmful to the individual sufferer -- such as the behavior of a woman who is so afraid of crowds that she cannot leave her house, a man who drinks so much that he cannot keep a job. . . [Then they go on to mention examples of those who do acts harming others] a woman hears voices telling her to stalk a celebrity [The victim bias is promoted throughout this section. Females are victims of their mind, being afraid of a crowd or being 'told' to stalk a celebrity. Males on the other hand are drinkers and by implication stalk by choice.]
381 [In one of the authors' most blatant attempts to show bias they leave the reader with one sentence at the end of the section titled Depression;] "Women think and men drink."
382 [Under the section Life experiences and circumstances the authors cite a domestic violence study (Ehrensaft, Moffitt & Caspi, 2006);] "Women who suffer from domestic violence are also more likely to become depressed and anxious." [The authors chose to cite a study that excludes the largest domestic violence population: men. When my wife beat on me, abused our child, pointed a gun at us and threatened to kill us I was anxious, I was depressed, I was and am still a man. What about me? This is a flagrant attempt by the authors to perpetuate the myth that those who are in control, women, don't use violence to stay in control.]
441 [Under Quick Quiz the first question is.] "A 3-year-old sees her dad dressed as a gorilla and runs away in fear. What brain structure is probably involved in her emotional reaction?" [This is just another example, although done in an innocuous way, that reinforces the stereotype that fathers are scary and mothers are comforting.]
454 [Under the section Stress and Emotion the authors start with] Perhaps you have heard people say things like "She was so depressed, it's no wonder she got cancer" or "He's always angry, he's going to give himself a heart attack one day." [You just saw that neither gender is angrier than the other but here, as throughout the text, the authors give an example of the male being the angry or aggressive one while the woman is the victim.
Examples of mothers as the sole or primary care giver
15 [In the section Ask Questions; Be Willing to Wonder a child asks various questions] "Why is the sky blue, Mommy?" [no one refers to a father, leaving the impression that fathers are not involved with regular care of the child.]
18 [examples used for oversimplifying, stereotypes] one dishonest welfare mother means they are all dishonest [this may be seen as a negative about a mother but more importantly it demonstrates parenting without a father as an accepted norm.
47 [Object Relations School section authors say] The reason for the clunky word "object" in object relations, instead of the warmer word "human" or "parent," is that the infant's attachment is not only to a real person (usually the mother) but also to the infant's evolving perception of her."
55 [Heredity and Temperament] As toddlers they tend to be wary and fearful of new things - toys that make noise, odd-looking robots - even when their moms are right there with them.
59 [In an example of child rearing styles the authors chose this] As one child we know said to her exasperated mother, "Why are you so mean to me today, Mommy? I am this naughty everyday." [This may appear as a negative representation of a mother but what it misses is the involvement of a father]
79 [Section of Separation and Anxiety begins] Once babies are attached to the mother or other caregiver, separation can be a wrenching experience. [fathers must be lumped in with the group other caregivers]
81 [Quick Quiz 3] - A baby left in the Strange Situation does not protest when his mother leaves the room, and seems to ignore her when she returns. [The term parent could have easily been used here but again the subtle elimination of fathers is shown.]
82 They already have some mental concepts for familiar people and objects, and their first words represent these concepts ("momma," "doggie," "car"). [Mommy and Daddy have long been used together as first words but now da-da is eliminated. Babies have a mom, a dog and a car but apparently no father.
86 [In talking about Piaget's sensorimotor stage the authors write] banging on the table with a spoon will produce dinner (or Mom, taking the spoon away). ['or the spoon being taking away' would have served the point just as well but in this instance the author's have again eliminated father as a care provider and intentionally chosen mother only. Further down the page in this section the authors make a reference to father] The child becomes able to hold a concept in mind, to learn that the word fly represents an annoying, buzzing creature, and that Daddy represents a friendly, playful one. [this may appear balanced and is one of the few representations of a father. But it does not show the father in a provider role and is more representative of a visitor.]
Examples of fathers as the sole or primary care giver
Examples of placating deficiencies in women
245 [Under the section The Triarchic Theory (2) the authors wrote] For example, a student may do well in school, where assignments have specific due dates and feedback is immediate, but be less successful after graduation if her job requires her to set her own deadlines and her employer doesn't tell her how she is doing. [this is subtle but attributes deficiency in the work performance of a female to an actual deficiency in the brain. This would be just as true for men.]
371 [Under the section Mental disorder the authors give examples of behaviours that are destructive to self or others] Some behavior is harmful to the individual sufferer -- such as the behavior of a woman who is so afraid of crowds that she cannot leave her house, a man who drinks so much that he cannot keep a job. . . [Then they go on to mention examples of those who do acts harming others] a woman hears voices telling her to stalk a celebrity [The victim bias is promoted throughout this section. Females are victims of their mind, being afraid of a crowd or being 'told' to stalk a celebrity. Males on the other hand are drinkers and by implication stalk by choice.]
382 [Under the section Life experiences and circumstances the authors cite a domestic violence study (Ehrensaft, Moffitt & Caspi, 2006);] "Women who suffer from domestic violence are also more likely to become depressed and anxious." The authors chose to cite a study that excludes the largest domestic violence population: men. When my wife beat on me, abused our child, pointed a gun at us and threatened to kill us I was anxious, I was depressed, I was and am still a man. What about me? This is a flagrant attempt by the authors to perpetuate the myth that those who are in control, women, don't use violence to stay in control.]
398 [The authors examined the Andre Yates story as an example of the results of the psychological disorder depression. Yates killed her five children supposedly because she had to care for and educate them. The authors mention after the birth of their fourth child "a clinical psychologist warned her against having another baby." They say her husband refused to stop having children and add that it was not for religious reasons. It appears that the authors think that or they are trying to insinuate that the man determines when a woman has children. If a man killed the children do you think they would mention "but his wife wouldn't stop having children" and blame the deaths on her?]
446 [Under the section Gender and Emotion the authors start with "Although women are more likely than men to suffer from the mood disorder of severe depression" which again portrays women as victims, the "sufferers". They follow by managing to cite the stark contrast to the images of genders that they have previously demonstrated which is; "there is little evidence that one sex feels any of the everyday emotions more often than the other, whether the emotion is anger, worry, embarrassment, anxiety, love or grief."] [victimization rather than someone who lacks control and takes on too much responsibility]
462 For the Psychology in the News section the authors chose the story of Clara Harris who intentionally drove over her husband in a fit of rage, killing him. The authors mention that he was "unfaithful" before even mentioning that she murdered him. This fact selection presentation tries to predispose the reader to her being a victim, that he was deserving of some punishment. This example reinforces the myth that women kill because they are driven to it by uncontrollable emotions.
Conclusion
156 [Under the section Mood and "PMS"] Because so many people now take it for granted that most women have "PMS" and that it is a serious emotional problem for some, the two of us have been accused of bias for simply reporting the data disputing these assumptions. [the authors admit to having been accused of bias but attribute it to the reporting of data. Yet, throughout this text we can see examples, as I have shown, of bias in reporting or examples.]
Public "educational institutions" are actively pursuing an agenda to mold the impressionable young minds of our children in a way consistent with the political objectives of the financial backers. I use "educational institutions" in quotes to represent that these exist in name only but more accurately these are instructional institutions. Implicit in "education" is learning and understanding. Without a student learning there is not education but only instruction or training. Of the students that I have spoken with, other than my son, none were able to identify the biases that exists throughout school text books and the underlying social, political, financial and moral motivations perpetuated by the authors or publishers. For them only training has occurred, not education, because they are unable to identify an understanding of the subjects for which they have received instruction.
Through greater awareness of implicit and hidden biases you can take control of your life.
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