Motherly Earth
Biology professor connects gender roles with environment
Lori Schueler
Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: News
Competitive. Independent. Assertive. Self-reliant.
According to biology professor Elaine Abusharbain, these words associated with stereotypical male qualities describe how we relate to our world.
"It's interesting because our interaction with our planet is driven more from masculine stereotypes," Abusharbain said.
However, Abusharbain said her belief is if we interact with the earth in a more stereotypically feminine way, we would see our world become more resourceful and sustainable.
Abusharbain will speak to the International Women's Organization, presenting her perspective on gender roles and living sustainably and the connection between the two.
The presentation will be 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Madison Mutual Insurance Company building on Route 157 South in Edwardsville, which is located across the highway from the SIUE University Park entrance.
Abusharbain said she discovered the stereotypical words associated with each gender through a study conducted by psychologist Sandra Bem in 1974, called the "Bem Sex Role Inventory." The study asked a group of participants to circle words they felt were associated with each gender. The words commonly chosen for each sex reflect stereotypes we label to each gender.
Even though our society has become more androgynous and accepting of reversed stereotypes, with more men staying at home raising children and more women in the workforce, Abusharbain said we still have the stereotypes embedded in our minds to some extent.
"I see the transformation in society, but I am taking Bem's work and applying it to the environment," Abusharbain said.
According to Abusharbain, stereotypically feminine words such as "cooperative," "caring," "nurturing" and "helpful" describe how we could be more effective when interacting with our surroundings.
"To act more feminine toward the environment, it would require that we go back to community-based values," Abusharbain said. "Share a lawn mower with the person who lives next to you rather than buying two."
According to biology professor Elaine Abusharbain, these words associated with stereotypical male qualities describe how we relate to our world.
"It's interesting because our interaction with our planet is driven more from masculine stereotypes," Abusharbain said.
However, Abusharbain said her belief is if we interact with the earth in a more stereotypically feminine way, we would see our world become more resourceful and sustainable.
Abusharbain will speak to the International Women's Organization, presenting her perspective on gender roles and living sustainably and the connection between the two.
The presentation will be 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Madison Mutual Insurance Company building on Route 157 South in Edwardsville, which is located across the highway from the SIUE University Park entrance.
Abusharbain said she discovered the stereotypical words associated with each gender through a study conducted by psychologist Sandra Bem in 1974, called the "Bem Sex Role Inventory." The study asked a group of participants to circle words they felt were associated with each gender. The words commonly chosen for each sex reflect stereotypes we label to each gender.
Even though our society has become more androgynous and accepting of reversed stereotypes, with more men staying at home raising children and more women in the workforce, Abusharbain said we still have the stereotypes embedded in our minds to some extent.
"I see the transformation in society, but I am taking Bem's work and applying it to the environment," Abusharbain said.
According to Abusharbain, stereotypically feminine words such as "cooperative," "caring," "nurturing" and "helpful" describe how we could be more effective when interacting with our surroundings.
"To act more feminine toward the environment, it would require that we go back to community-based values," Abusharbain said. "Share a lawn mower with the person who lives next to you rather than buying two."
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