Biology, culture and gender Flashcards
Out of 46 human chromosomes, how many differ?
Only the 46th one (X v Y)
What are some examples of environmental and biological factors that may affect epigenetics?
Diet, metabolism, heart diseases
What four different parameters do research suggest that there are sex differences in?
DNA methylation patterns, methlyl transferers, methyl binding proteins, corepressor proteins
How are epigenetics implicated in gender incongruence?
Cis and trans populations have diff global CpG methylation profiles prior to GAHT and therefore results suggest that they may be involved in this (Ramirez et al)
What is the process of chromosomal sex to adult gender identity?
1- chromosomal sex
2- indifferent fetal sex
3- differentiated fetal sex
4- fetal hormonal sex
5- genital sex, fetal internal reproductive sex
6- gender fortification, body image, juvenile gender identity, pubertal hormonal sex
What are chromosome disorders of sex development (DSD)?
Chances of 1 in 100,000, occur when there is an atypical arrangement of sex chromosomes e.g. born with a missing X chromosome as a girl which can cause infertility
What are hormonal disorders of sex development (DSD)?
Causes sex organs to be different e.g. Androgen sensitivity syndrome where body is resistant to androgens, can’t respond to these properly: person has male hormones and male chromosomes (XY), they have testes and body starts forming testosterone but they develop female genitalia- do we class this person as a male or female?
What can intersexuality tell us about our understanding of sex dichotomy (differences between male and females)?
There may be as many as 1.6 million intersex individuals, the bridges between males and females may be blurred
Differentiate between the terms sex, intersex, gender and gender role
Sex- biological characteristics inc hormones, genes and physiology that determine whether an individual is m or f
Intersex- appearance of sex characteristics inc hormone, chromosome and sexual organs in an individual which do not conform to traditional defs of m or female
Gender- characteristics whether biologically or socially influenced by which people define male and female
Gender role- set of social expectations based on gender stereotypes of how a person should think, act and feel based on their actual or perceived sex
How can gender be seen as a performance (cultural aspect)?
Dress- nutrition influencing body sizes in some cultures e.g. Westerised female thinness and fitness culture
Physical spaces- women taking up less space emotionally and socially
Manners
What is the Bem Sex Role Inventory?
A tool used to explore gender roles and how individuals identify with traditionally masculine, feminine or neutral traits e.g. masculine personality traits associated with forceful, aggressive, dominant, assertive and female as sympathetic, affectionate, tender, compassionate
How do evolutionary psychologists view gender and sex?
We may have diff roles despite biological sex however nature and nurture combined with culture are meaningless and redundant
What three levels can explain biological behaviour?
Species level- humans developed big brains
Individual level- epigenetic factors e.g. exposure to second hand smoke
Proximal level- hormones flowing through your body when you see a snake, for example
How do biological sex and traditional gender roles influence each other on a social level e.g. women breastfeeding?
Women produce milk therefore often resulting in a cultural expectation for them to take on the majority of child nurturing- partly due to biology and partly due to gender roles
What did Viala (2011) find about parental roles in Denmark?
Roles were set out to be equal but women were more likely to leave work to pick up a sick child because their career was seen as less demanding
