Atypical Gender Development Flashcards
atypical gender development
- feeling of identification with the opposite sex
- accompanied by discomfort with their biological sex
- the stress associated with GD is why it’s listed on the DSM
criteria for GD diagnosis
- at least 6 months of consistent explicit expression of wanting to be the opposite gender
- manifested in different ways
how is wanting to be the other gender manifested
- strong desire to be treated like the other gender
- wanting to dress/behave like the other gender
- active rejection of own gender
- rejection of genitals/envy of other genitals
- expressed fear and anxiety about puberty
biological explanations
- imbalances of androgens in the womb causes feminisation or masculinisation of the brain
- neurobiological abnormality as a result of genes or prenatal stress
hare et al.
- trans females have longer androgen receptors repeat lengths than non-trans males
- causes reduced action of testosterone
- can affect gender development in the womb and lead to gender dysphoria
- called under-masculinising the brain
genetic factors
- hare et al.
- twin studies suggest a strong genetic component
- Coolidge et al: 62% of variance when assessing twin pairs MZ & DZ
brain sex theory
- assumption male and female brains are wired differently
- trans individuals have the brain of the other
- males have a BSTc 2x as big as females
- Zhou et al.
Zhou et al.
- studied the brains of non-trans & trans individuals
- trans individuals have the BSTc size/structure of the gender they identify w/ not bio sex
cross- wiring and phantom limb
- feeling sensations where you’ve lost the limb
- evidence suggests trans may suffer from a phantom phenomena w/ the other genders genitals
- e.g. female having penile sensations
Ramachandran 07
- phantom limb of genitals caused by cross-wiring in the brain
- found 2/3 FtM trans reported penile sensations in their childhood
how is the bio explanation linked together?
genetic variation of an androgen gene > masc or fem brain > structure of brain/cross-wiring > gender dysphoria
social constructionism
- causes gender dysphoria
- most societies force you to be either male or female and behave accordingly
- individuals who don’t ‘fit’ the standard experience dysphoria
McClintock 2015
- a third gender/gender fluidity is commonly accepted in non-western cultures
- supports the idea gender is socially constructed
- e.g. zambia, new guinea, Batista sisters
psychoanalytic theory for males
- severe separation anxiety w mother leads to young boys identifying and internalising mother as a way to be close to her
- manifests in overly close relationship with mother, leads to gender confusion in later life
psychoanalytic theory for females
- young girls identify as male as a result of severe paternal rejection in early life to gain approval and acceptance
gender dysphoria as a mental illness
- coates: boy aged 3 experience emotional separation as his mother suffered post-abortion depression, cross gender fantasy to resolve anxiety
- stoller: boys - overclose relationship w mother, distant father. girls - depressed mother, absent, unsupportive father
strengths of GD
Research support for cross-wiring
- only 30% of gd men experience phantom penis after surgery
- suggest some weren’t wired for a penis in the first place
counter peel point
Support for psychoanalytic
- 64% of boys w GD also diagnosed w severe separation anxiety
- supports disruption in phallic stage-‘wrong’ internalisation
BUT
- cole: no greater incidence of psych conditions in 435 ppl w GD than gen pop
- challenges idea trauma leads to mental health issues
criticisms of GD
Evidence only from adults
- BSTc same size until adulthood, some adults received hormone therapy
- don’t know if gender brain differences are a result or cause of GD
Socially sensitive
- potential impact of research findings, could be used to harm and further stigmatise trans ppl in society, questions the benefits of research
