Second year master’s student, Qandeel, recently gave her master’s thesis presentation titled, The Roles of Femininity, Masculinity, and Androgyny in Female College Students Coping with Adversity, Optimism, and Posttraumatic Growth. Q examined the relationship of optimism beliefs and PTG due to adversity in college females in Pakistan and America based on their masculinity, femininity, and androgynous traits. She wanted to show cultural differences on which country (Pakistan or America) shows ranking of masculine, feminine, or androgynous traits in college aged females. She predicted that (1) females in Pakistan who are more feminine will have lower optimism levels, females in America who are feminine will have higher optimism levels, and females who are androgynous in America and Pakistan will have higher optimism levels overall, (2) females in America and Pakistan who have higher feminine traits and optimism will have significant PTG levels and (3) there will be cultural differences between America and Pakistan in regards to their ranking of masculine, feminine, and androgynous traits in females. Q found that in the American sample, females who displayed feminine and androgynous traits had higher optimism levels. She did not find a significant link between femininity, optimism, and PTG, however, she did find cultural differences between the countries in their rankings of feminine, masculine, and androgynous traits in females. Q believes that her research can help future cultural research on PTG and coping mechanisms based on the gender spectrum for different countries. She also believes that therapeutic interventions can be put into place for those who have experienced negative events that can be tailored to their gender identification. Amazing work Q, we look forward to hearing more of your results!
FF-PTG LAB 