Is "Bow" for an Arrow or for Hair? A Classroom Demonstration on Gender Differences in Interpreting Ambiguous Information. (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fa-Kaji, Naomi; Nguyen, Linda; Hebl, Mikki; Skorinko, Jeanine
• Is Part Of: Teaching of psychology. Volume 43:Number 4(2016:Oct.)
• Page Start: 314
• Page End: 317
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: gender differences -- schemas demonstrations; Psychology -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Periodicals; 150.711
• DOI: 10.1177/0098628316662762
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0098-6283

Abstract

This article details a classroom demonstration of how gender differences in cognitive schemas can result in men and women differentially interpreting the same information. Students heard a series of six homonyms (e.g., bow and nail) spoken aloud and wrote down the first word with which they free-associated each homonym. When hearing the words (e.g., bow), men were more likely to respond with a male-gendered word (e.g., arrow), whereas women were more likely to respond with a female-gendered word (e.g., hair). The demonstration is easy to administer, takes approximately 10 min, results in strong differences, and improves students' understanding of gender differences in cognitive schemas.