Material Information |
| Title: |
The Effect of Context on Assignment of Gender to an Ambiguous Target |
| Physical Description: |
Book |
| Language: |
English |
| Creator: |
Kennedy, Amanda |
| Publisher: |
New College of Florida |
| Place of Publication: |
Sarasota, Fla. |
| Creation Date: |
2003 |
| Publication Date: |
2003 |
Subjects |
| Subjects / Keywords: |
Gender
Context
Transgender |
| Genre: |
bibliography ( marcgt )
theses ( marcgt )
government publication (state, provincial, terriorial, dependent) ( marcgt )
born-digital ( sobekcm )
Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Notes |
| Abstract: |
This study examined whether the stereotypical masculinity or femininity of a companion affects the gender assigned to a gender ambiguous target. Participants examined photographs of transgendered females (targets) presenting themselves as male. Each target was pictured alongside another person (companion). Companions were of four types: highly masculine male, less masculine male, highly feminine female, and less feminine female. Participants were asked to assign names to each person in the photograph, thereby making an implicit rather than explicit decision about the gender of the individuals. To do so, participants were given lists of male and female names derived from Social Security name data circa 1980, and were asked to use only names from these lists. Participants were also asked to indicate the primary reason they selected the names they did. It was hypothesized that the rate at which the target successfully passed as the opposite sex would vary with context. These results did not indicate a pattern of passing across targets. However, it was found that targets passed more successfully when pictured with another person than when pictured alone. It was further hypothesized that participants would make their decisions based on factors that previous studies have demonstrated as salient, such as facial features, hair, and clothing. The results appeared to partially support the hypothesis: facial features were considered more frequently than any other element. Future research should continue to examine the effect of social context on target pass rate, taking the limitations of the present study into consideration. Research of this type can be useful to transgendered populations, the therapists that work with them, and others interested in perceptions of people based on the people they are surrounded by. |
| Statement of Responsibility: |
by Amanda Kennedy |
| Thesis: |
Thesis (B.A.) -- New College of Florida, 2003 |
| Electronic Access: |
RESTRICTED TO NCF STUDENTS, STAFF, FACULTY, AND ON-CAMPUS USE |
| Bibliography: |
Includes bibliographical references. |
| Source of Description: |
This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law. |
| Local: |
Faculty Sponsor: Barton, Michelle |
Record Information |
| Source Institution: |
New College of Florida |
| Holding Location: |
New College of Florida |
| Rights Management: |
Applicable rights reserved. |
| Classification: |
local - S.T. 2003 K35 |
| System ID: |
NCFE003250:00001 |
|
Material Information |
| Title: |
The Effect of Context on Assignment of Gender to an Ambiguous Target |
| Physical Description: |
Book |
| Language: |
English |
| Creator: |
Kennedy, Amanda |
| Publisher: |
New College of Florida |
| Place of Publication: |
Sarasota, Fla. |
| Creation Date: |
2003 |
| Publication Date: |
2003 |
Subjects |
| Subjects / Keywords: |
Gender
Context
Transgender |
| Genre: |
bibliography ( marcgt )
theses ( marcgt )
government publication (state, provincial, terriorial, dependent) ( marcgt )
born-digital ( sobekcm )
Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Notes |
| Abstract: |
This study examined whether the stereotypical masculinity or femininity of a companion affects the gender assigned to a gender ambiguous target. Participants examined photographs of transgendered females (targets) presenting themselves as male. Each target was pictured alongside another person (companion). Companions were of four types: highly masculine male, less masculine male, highly feminine female, and less feminine female. Participants were asked to assign names to each person in the photograph, thereby making an implicit rather than explicit decision about the gender of the individuals. To do so, participants were given lists of male and female names derived from Social Security name data circa 1980, and were asked to use only names from these lists. Participants were also asked to indicate the primary reason they selected the names they did. It was hypothesized that the rate at which the target successfully passed as the opposite sex would vary with context. These results did not indicate a pattern of passing across targets. However, it was found that targets passed more successfully when pictured with another person than when pictured alone. It was further hypothesized that participants would make their decisions based on factors that previous studies have demonstrated as salient, such as facial features, hair, and clothing. The results appeared to partially support the hypothesis: facial features were considered more frequently than any other element. Future research should continue to examine the effect of social context on target pass rate, taking the limitations of the present study into consideration. Research of this type can be useful to transgendered populations, the therapists that work with them, and others interested in perceptions of people based on the people they are surrounded by. |
| Statement of Responsibility: |
by Amanda Kennedy |
| Thesis: |
Thesis (B.A.) -- New College of Florida, 2003 |
| Electronic Access: |
RESTRICTED TO NCF STUDENTS, STAFF, FACULTY, AND ON-CAMPUS USE |
| Bibliography: |
Includes bibliographical references. |
| Source of Description: |
This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law. |
| Local: |
Faculty Sponsor: Barton, Michelle |
Record Information |
| Source Institution: |
New College of Florida |
| Holding Location: |
New College of Florida |
| Rights Management: |
Applicable rights reserved. |
| Classification: |
local - S.T. 2003 K35 |
| System ID: |
NCFE003250:00001 |
|