Chapter 11 Flashcards
sex
The properties of a person that determine their classification as male or female
intersex
A term used to describe people who are born with genitals and/or sex organs that do not fit into the male/female binary, but rather along a continuum with much diversity
gender
The social and psychological aspects of being female or male; gender goes beyond biological sex to include an individual’s personal understanding of the meaning of being male or female
gender identity
An individual’s multifaceted sense of belonging to the male, female, or an alternate gender
Biological components of sex
Sex is classified as genes; chromosomes are packages of DNA that carry genes
definition of sex chromosome and what pair
23rd pair
In humans, the pair of genes that differs between the sexes and determines a person’s genetic sex as male or female.
Sex classified as gonads:
Glands that produce sex hormones and generate ova (eggs) in females and sperm in males; collectively called gametes, the ova and sperm are the cells that eventually will be used in reproduction, endocrine system
Male and female gonads
Male: testes
Female: ovaries
What hormones do male and female gonads produce
Male: Androgens (testosterone)
Female: Estrogen & progesterone
what do hormones secreted by the gonads encourage
Development of of three more aspects of the body that are used to classify sex internal reproductive structures, external genitalia and secondary sex characteristics
Female sex organs play roles in
Menstrual cycle, pregnancy, child birth
Male sex organs play roles in
Producing and storing sperm
secondary sex characteristics
Traits that differ between the two sexes but are not part of the reproductive system; they include breasts in females and facial hair in males.
Development of male sex parts
All genitalia look like female parts after conception, the SRY gene in males leads to the development of male parts
differences of sexual development (DSD)
Congenital conditions in which the development of chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomical sex is atypical
Describe some DSD conditions
Turner syndrome: X chromosome is missing, ovaries do not develop
Klinefelter syndrome: Extra X, small testicles
5-ard: difference on Y, genitals may appear typically female
Androgen insensitivity syndrome: difference on Y, genitals appear as female
CAH: prenatal androgen exposure to develop an enlarged clit
What is gender
Refers to how social groups understand what it means to be male and female and what behaviours indicate masculinity and femininity which depend on culture and society.
androgynous
Having attributes that are typically associated with both genders
gender roles
Roles that reflect the individual’s expectation for how a female and male should think, act, and feel
gender stereotypes
Overly general beliefs and expectations about what women and men are like
Gender binary
The belief that there are two and only two categories of gender where membership is biologically determined
Gender identity
When people become aware of the gender categories society creates, one can take this information and recognize themselves different from what physical features and social categories indicate
Varieties of gender identity
Cis gender: identity fits with sex assigned at birth
Nonbinary: Identity outside of female/woman and male/man
transgender
Experiencing one’s psychological gender as different from one’s physical sex, as in the cases of biological males who identify as female and biological females who identify as male
Gender dysphoria
Person experiences extreme incongruence between their sex assigned at birth and their gender identity including distress that interferes with their ability to function in daily life
Gender affirmation
Gradual stages that move from reversible gender affirming social/medical steps to permanent ones
transnegativity
Prejudice including negative beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours toward individuals perceived as transgender
How do biological approaches explain gender
Biological factors in gender development focus on how genes, prenatal hormones and brain structures/functions contribute to gender identity. Example: research has looked at sex differences such as how boys are usually more active/ larger than girls
How does evolutionary psychology explain gender
Sex differences that occur within species have evolved through sexual selection: According to Darwin’s theory of evolution, the differentiation between male and female members of a species differ from each other because of differences in competition and choice.
What do social cognitive theories of gender development focus on?
How children learn about gender and how they come to occupy a certain gender identity
- Gender related behaviour is learned through reward and punishment
- Through learning children develop a gender schema - an internal framework for understanding what is appropriate behaviour for different genders
social role theory
Eagly’s theory of gender development that, while acknowledging the physical differences between the sexes, argues that these differences colour social expectations and create social structures that limit opportunities for both sexes.
Asserts that we internalize gender roles and stereotypes which continue to increase differences between men and women
empathy
A person’s capacity to feel and understand the emotional state of another person.
- Women tend to be more empathetic than men
aggression
Behaviour that is intended to harm another person - men tend to engage more than women
Men engage in Overt aggression: Physically or verbally harming another person directly
While women in relational aggression: Behaviour that is meant to harm the social standing of another person
sexuality
The ways people experience and express themselves as sexual beings.
Research suggests men prefer more variety in sexual partners than women
sexual orientation
The direction of an individual’s erotic interests
heterosexual
A sexual orientation in which the individual is generally sexually attracted to members of the opposite sex
heteroflexibility
A term used to describe people who experiment with same-sex attraction, but identify as predominantly heterosexual
bisexual
A sexual orientation in which the individual is sexually attracted to people of both sexes
pansexual
Individuals whose sexual attraction is not based on the biological sex, gender, or gender identity of others
asexual
A person who experiences a lack of sexual attraction to others or has no sexual orientation
involuntary celibate
People who do have sexual desire yet go long periods without sex for other reasons
How might genes influence sexual orientation?
Through their effect on the brain. The Y chromosome releases prenatal androgens that lead to development of male genitals - could this influence the brain to develop into one that is sexually attracted to women
Sexual minorities experience prejudice through
binegativity: Negative beliefs, attitudes, or behaviours toward bisexual individuals.
homonegativity: Negative beliefs, attitudes, or behaviours toward gay or lesbian individuals
internalized homonegativity: Negative attitudes toward and the devaluation of oneself.
In contrast
homopositivity: The endorsement of positive stereotypes about gay individuals.
human sexual response pattern
Masters and Johnson’s model of human sexual response, consisting of four phases—excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution
Excitement
Engorgement of blood vessels, increased blood flow in genital areas, muscle tension. Signs include lubrication of vagina and erection of penis
Plateau
Continuation and heightening of arousal - increases in breathing, pulse rate are more intense
Orgasm
Explosive discharge of neuromuscular tension = feelings of pleasure. Release of oxytocin neurotransmitter which plays a role in social bonding
Resolution phase
Blood vessels return to baseline, women maybe stimulated again whereas men enter a refractory period during which they can not orgasm again
How does culture play a part in sexual behaviour
Some cultures encourage it whereas others look down on it ex: Mangaian vs Inis beag culture
Comprehensive sex education
Involves providing knowledge about sexual behaviour, birth control and the use of condoms to protect against STD
Abstinence only education
Emphasize that sexual behaviour outside marriage is harmful
People are aroused by: Fetish
An object that arouses atypical sexual interest and desire, such as a piece of clothing or a body part, like a foot, that is not usually associated with sexual gratification
paraphilic disorders
Sexual disorders that cause personal distress, or result in the suffering or humiliation of oneself or one’s partner, or involve nonconsenting individuals
Examples of some paraphillic disorders
Pedophillic disorder
Fetishistic disorder: Non living objects for sex
pedophilic disorder
A paraphilic disorder in which an adult or an older adolescent sexually fantasizes about or engages in sexual behaviour with individuals who have not reached puberty
sexually transmitted infection (STI)
An infection that is contracted primarily through sexual activity—vaginal intercourse as well as oral and anal sex
Examples of STI
Herpes, HIV, gonorrhea
HIV causes
acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS): A sexually transmitted infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which destroys the body’s immune system.
