Patterns Among Same-Sex Spousal Couples: Diverse Sociocultural Representation in Alzheimer’s Research

Emerging evidence shows that understanding characteristic patterns between study partners (SP) and subjects can inform initiatives to diversify representation of sociocultural groups in ADRD research. This study examined same-sex spousal dyads with the goal of identifying bellwethers of opportunities to build diversity in ADRD research. Descriptive analysis of The Aging, Demographics and Memory Study (ADAMS), which enrolled a subset of subjects from the Health and Retirement Study and a SP for each subject. Eight same-sex spousal couples were among 718 SP-subject dyads (1.1%). Gay men were 3 times as likely to be spousal SPs (n=6) than lesbians (n=2), even though women far outnumber men overall. Patterns in caregiving and other characteristics also differed. Same-sex couples are underrepresented in ADRD research. Patterns among those enrolled suggest masculine and feminine norms may drive research engagement. This is discussed in the context of increasing sociocultural diversity in ADRD research across key social groups.

Which boys and which girls are falling behind? Linking adolescents' gender role profiles to motivation, engagement, and achievement

Research on gender gaps in school tends to focus on average gender differences in academic outcomes, such as motivation, engagement, and achievement. The current study moved beyond a binary perspective to unpack the variations within gender. It identified distinct groups of adolescents based on their patterns of conformity to different gender norms and compared group differences in motivation, engagement, and achievement. Data were collected from 597 English students (aged 14-16 years, 49% girls) on their conformity to traditional masculine and feminine norms, growth mindset, perseverance, self-handicapping, and their English and mathematics performance at the end of secondary school. Latent profile analysis identified seven groups of adolescents (resister boys, cool guys, tough guys, relational girls, modern girls, tomboys, wild girls) and revealed the prevalence of each profile. Within-gender variations show that two thirds of the boys were motivated, engaged, and performed well in school. In contrast, half of the girls showed maladaptive patterns of motivation, engagement, and achievement, and could be considered academically at risk. By shifting the focus from “boys versus girls” to “which boys and which girls”, this study reveals the invisibility of well-performing boys and underachieving girls in educational gender gap research.

The Lives and Voices of Professional Female Singers

This chapter explores the meaning of the professional female voice through the experiences of three singers from the 1830s and ’40s: Adelaide Kemble, Clara Novello, and Marianne Lincoln. It continues the argument of Chapters 2 and 3 by exploring how contemporary divisions over the sound of femininity affected the ways singers chose to use their voices. Their letters and diaries show how they were caught between a desire to develop their professional technique and artistry, and an equally strong anxiety that, in doing so, they might contravene feminine norms expected by important sections of the public and even by family and friends. These case studies thus expose the ongoing tensions between the ideals of the professional singer and of femininity in British musical life, but they also indicate that, through complex, sometimes agonising negotiation, it was increasingly possible for these women to develop successful careers as professional female musical artists.

Understanding the Meaning of Conformity to Feminine Norms in Lifestyle Habits and Health: A Cluster Analysis

Background: Gender roles impact different spheres of life and lead women to behavioral patterns and lifestyle habits associated with femininity, generating important differences between men and women in health. The present study analyzed relationships between conformity to the feminine norms and different lifestyle indicators: Educational level, marital status, alcohol consumption, tobacco consumption, sleeping hours, social support, and physical activity. Additionally, cluster analysis was developed in order to identify different patterns of gender role conformity. Methods: The sample was made up of 347 women age 18–70 from Spain. Data collection was conducted during 2014. Results: Multiple logistic regression analyses produced odds ratios showing that women with lower feminine role conformity were more likely to use tobacco and alcohol, but less likely to share their lives with someone. Cluster analysis found four different profiles of gender role conformity related to different patterns of alcohol consumption and marital status. Conclusions: Conformity to feminine norms was associated with basic affective conditions such as sharing life with others and with alcohol and tobacco consumption, but not with physical activity, social support, and sleep duration. Whereas tobacco and alcohol use have important health implications, public health systems should pay attention to gender-related variables in order to design and implement specific prevention programs.

Young Adult Women and Alcohol-Related Problems: The Key Role of Multidimensional Feminine Norms

Young adult college women are closing the gender gap with respect to heavy episodic drinking and alcohol-related problems. Accordingly, it is important to understand and examine the factors that help explain within-group differences in problematic drinking patterns among this vulnerable population. One promising theoretically-relevant factor that appears to explain problematic alcohol use among young adult women is conformity to multidimensional feminine norms. Feminine norms are the beliefs and/or expectations of what it means to be a woman. This review paper identifies the current trends and limitations of research examining the role of feminine norms on alcohol use among young adult women in college. The review of the literature suggests that relationship between feminine norms and alcohol problems is complex in that there are costs and benefits for endorsing and opposing different feminine norms. Women who endorse appearance and relational feminine norms such as striving to be thin, focusing on their appearance, and maintaining relationships are at heighten risk of engaging in heavy episodic drinking and alcohol problems. Women who endorse feminine norms including maintaining sexual relationships with one partner, endorse the belief that one should be modest, and sweet, and nice, and upholding domestic values are less likely to report alcohol problems. Clinical and future research recommendations are provided.

Sexist Slurs: Reinforcing Feminine Stereotypes Online

Social media platforms are accused repeatedly of creating environments in which women are bullied and harassed. We argue that online aggression toward women aims to reinforce traditional feminine norms and stereotypes. In a mixed methods study, we find that this type of aggression on Twitter is common and extensive and that it can spread far beyond the original target. We locate over 2.9 million tweets in one week that contain instances of gendered insults (e.g., “bitch,” “cunt,” “slut,” or “whore”)—averaging 419,000 sexist slurs per day. The vast majority of these tweets are negative in sentiment. We analyze the social networks of the conversations that ensue in several cases and demonstrate how the use of “replies,” “retweets,” and “likes” can further victimize a target. Additionally, we develop a sentiment classifier that we use in a regression analysis to compare the negativity of sexist messages. We find that words in a message that reinforce feminine stereotypes inflate the negative sentiment of tweets to a significant and sizeable degree. These terms include those insulting someone’s appearance (e.g., “ugly”), intellect (e.g., “stupid”), sexual experience (e.g., “promiscuous”), mental stability (e.g., “crazy”), and age (“old”). Messages enforcing beauty norms tend to be particularly negative. In sum, hostile, sexist tweets are strategic in nature. They aim to promote traditional, cultural beliefs about femininity, such as beauty ideals, and they shame victims by accusing them of falling short of these standards.

Understanding the meaning of conformity to feminine norms in lifestyle habits and health: A cluster analysis.

Background: Gender roles impact different spheres of life and lead women to behavioral patterns and lifestyle habits associated with femininity, generating important differences between men and women in health. The present study analyzed relationships between conformity to the feminine norms and different lifestyle indicators: educational level, marital status, alcohol consumption, tobacco consumption, sleeping hours, social support and physical activity. Additionally, cluster analysis was developed in order to identify different patterns of gender role conformity. Methods: The sample was made up of 347 women age 18-70 from Spain. Data collection was conducted during 2014. Results: Multiple logistic regression analyses produced odds ratios showing that women with lower feminine role conformity were more likely to use tobacco and alcohol, but less likely to share their lives with someone. Cluster analysis found four different profiles of gender role conformity, related to different patterns of alcohol consumption and marital status. Conclusions: Conformity to feminine norms was associated with basic affective conditions such as sharing life with others and with alcohol and tobacco consumption, but not with physical activity, social support and sleep duration. While tobacco and alcohol use has important health implications, public health systems should pay attention to gender related variables in order to design and implement specific prevention programs.