ch.8

Question 1

intersexed

Answer 1

An individual who has genitalia and/or reproductive organs that exhibit a mix of male and female characteristics.

Question 2

sex difference vs gender difference

Answer 2

A difference between males and females that is based on chromosomes.

vs

A difference between males and females that is thought to be based mainly on cultural and social factors.

Question 3

gender role

Answer 3

A set of shared cultural expectations that outlines the attitudes and behaviours a typical male or female should display.

Question 4

gender typing

Answer 4

The process by which children come to take on the gender roles expected in their society.

Question 5

gender consistency

Answer 5

A person’s awareness that gender is a permanent or invariant characteristic of an individual.

Question 6

gender identity

Answer 6

Those aspects of a person’s sense of self that relate to masculinity or femininity.

Question 7

Gender schema theory

Answer 7

A set of ideas that concerns the ways children, adolescents, and adults gather and organize information about gender, and then use this information to guide their attitudes and actions.

Question 8

Gender intensification hypothesis

Answer 8

The proposal that, with the approach of adolescence, children come under increased pressure from others to conform more closely to expected gender roles.

Question 9

learned helplessness

Answer 9

A condition that may follow failure if the person comes to believe that the outcome is uncontrollable and that further efforts are pointless.

Question 10

Stereotype threat

Answer 10

A factor that may interfere with the performance of those who belong to groups that are the target of negative stereotypes by arousing anxiety that they will fail and in this way confirm the stereotype.

Question 11

Co-rumination

Answer 11

A process in which friends talk about their problems and negative feelings at length, sometimes prolonging or amplifying the feelings.

Question 12

Androgyny

Answer 12

Having both typically masculine and typically feminine psychological characteristics.

Question 13

What are the definitions of trans man, trans woman, and nonbinary identities?

Answer 13

A trans man or trans woman is a person whose gender identity is the opposite of their birth-assigned sex. Nonbinary refers to identities that do not exclusively align with traditional binary gender categories of man or woman, including identities like genderqueer, genderfluid, and agender.

Question 14

What is the purpose of the Genderbread Person model?

Answer 14

The Genderbread Person is a visual model used to explain the differences and complexities of gender identity, gender expression, biological sex, and sexual orientation in a comprehensive and accessible way.

Question 15

What are the DSM-5 criteria for diagnosing gender dysphoria in adolescents?

Answer 15

The criteria include a marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and assigned sex, a strong desire to be rid of one’s primary and/or secondary sex characteristics due to incongruence, and a strong desire for the sex characteristics of the other gender. Diagnosis requires these feelings to persist for at least six months and cause significant distress or impairment.

Question 16

What is gender euphoria?

Answer 16

Gender euphoria refers to the profound feeling of happiness or satisfaction that trans and non-binary individuals experience when they are able to live as and be treated as the gender with which they identify, contrasting with gender dysphoria.

Question 17

What is the estimated prevalence of individuals identifying as transgender?

Answer 17

Estimates suggest that about 0.5% to 0.6% of the population identifies as transgender, though feelings of gender incongruence can be as high as 2.6% in some studies.

Question 18

What are some interventions and management strategies for gender dysphoria?

Answer 18

Interventions can include psychological support, hormone therapy, and various gender-affirming surgeries. Puberty blockers may be used for adolescents to delay the onset of secondary sex characteristics and provide more time for decision-making.

Question 19

How are trans identities understood in different cultural contexts?

Answer 19

Cultural interpretations of trans identities vary, with some cultures recognizing third or multiple genders, such as the two-spirit identities in Indigenous North American cultures, hijras in India, and fa’afafine in Samoa.

Question 20

How does social rejection impact individuals with gender dysphoria?

Answer 20

Social rejection and violence significantly predict distress and dysfunction in individuals with gender dysphoria. Such experiences exacerbate mental health challenges and complicate the emotional and psychological well-being of transgender individuals.

Question 21

What are the key changes in terminology from DSM-5 to DSM-5-TR concerning gender dysphoria?

Answer 21

In the DSM-5-TR, “desired gender” was updated to “experienced gender”, and “cross-sex medical procedures” were redefined as “gender-affirming medical treatments”. These changes reflect a more inclusive and affirming approach to transgender health care.

Question 22

What are common comorbidities found in transgender populations?

Answer 22

Transgender individuals often have higher levels of psychopathology and psychiatric disorders compared to the cisgender population. These can improve significantly following gender-confirming medical interventions. Notable comorbidities include autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and gender dysphoria (GD).

Question 23

What are the main types of gender-affirming treatments available for transgender individuals?

Answer 23

Gender-affirming treatments include hormone therapy to align physical appearance with gender identity and various surgeries like genital reconstruction, facial reconstruction, and hair treatments. These interventions aim to alleviate gender dysphoria and improve overall quality of life.

Question 24

What does research indicate about the persistence versus desistence of trans identities from childhood to adulthood?

Answer 24

Research varies, but some studies suggest that gender dysphoria persists into adulthood for a significant minority of children, with persistence rates higher among those assigned female at birth. However, a substantial percentage of gender-nonconforming children do not maintain trans identities into adulthood.

Question 25

What are some political and legal challenges affecting the lives of transgender individuals?

Answer 25

Trans identities are highly politicized, affecting access to appropriate healthcare and legal protections. Laws and policies can significantly impact the well-being of trans individuals, such as bans on conversion therapy or restrictions on discussing gender identity in educational settings.

Question 26

What is the purpose of pubertal suppression in gender-affirming care for adolescents?

Answer 26

Pubertal suppression is used to delay the development of secondary sexual characteristics, giving transgender adolescents more time to explore their gender identity without the added stress of developing unwanted physical traits, and can help alleviate or prevent gender dysphoria during adolescence.