Chapter 12 Flashcards
Biological sex
A person’s identity based on
◦ Physical characteristics (e.g. having a penis, vagina,
beard, womb, etc.), genes and hormones (ReachOut
Australia, 2019)
A set of biological attributes in humans/animals
Physical and physiological features including:
◦ Sex chromosomes
◦ Gene expression
◦ Hormone levels and function
◦ Reproductive organs/sexual anatomy
(Canadian Institutes of Health Research, 2016).
Biological Sex
what determines human sex
chromosome, ovaries vs testes, womb vs not, hormones, genitals
Gender
Society often expects people to look and
behave a certain way, depending on their
biological sex.
Men are usually expected to act and look
‘masculine’, and women, ‘feminine’.
However, we all express masculinity and
femininity in different ways, and we all relate
to elements of masculinity or femininity
differently.
Masculinity <———–> feminiity
the two sexes vs the two genders
Female/Male: Sex
Biological characteristics, such as sex chromosomes, hormone levels, and reproductive organs.
These terms are often used in medical or scientific contexts, and they are usually based on objective physical criteria.
Women/Men: Gender
Socially constructed roles, behaviours, expressions, and identities that a society considers appropriate for men and women.
“Men” and “women” are social categories that refer to individuals’ gender identity, which can be
influenced by a range of factors, including cultural
norms, personal experience, and biology.
Intersex
Many people think of ‘male’ and ‘female’
as the only sexes, but that’s not actually
true.
Some people have genetic, hormonal and
physical features typical of both male and
female at the same time, so their
biological sex isn’t clearly male or female.
This is called ‘intersex’
Intersex chromosomes
XO, XXX, XXY, XYY
“Intersex” is a general term used for a variety of
conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male (Intersex Society of North America)
ANDROGEN INSENSITIVE SYNDROME
AIS
A person who is genetically male (who has
one X and one Y chromosome) is resistant
to male hormones (called androgens).
As a result, the person has some or all of
the physical traits of a woman, but the
genetic makeup of a man
hermaphrodite
male and female sex in one person
A person or animal having both male
and female sex organs or other
sexual characteristics, either
abnormally or as a natural condition
Facts on intersex
There are many ways that a person can be intersex
◦ The organization Intersex Human Rights Australia states
there are at least 40 different intersex variations.
◦ Some intersex traits may be visible at birth, while
others may not appear until the person reaches
puberty.
◦ In some cases, a person may never know that they are
intersex.
According to some estimates up to 1.7% of the
population has intersex traits.
◦ This is comparable with the number of people who have
red hair.
◦ Intersex people may have a range of gender identities
Social Work and Sexual Gender
Identity
Canadians have become increasingly aware of sexual
and gender diversity.
Laws/practices are changing to ensure that people of
all sexual orientations and gender identities have
equal rights/protection in our society.
On July 20, 2005, Canada became the fourth country
in the world to legalize same-sex marriage
nationwide with the approval of the Civil Marriage Act
Historical Context of Gender and
Sexuality
Two major historical developments over the past 50 years have helped to shape our thinking about
gender and sexuality.
Sexology
◦ A field of study that attempted to classify sexual desire and gender identity.
1st generation and 2nd generation sexologists
Community Activism
◦ Is a creative and focused movement that evolved in response to a history of oppression and marginalization shared by people embracing sexual and gender diversity.
Sexual non-conventionality was often
understood as sinful and/or illegal to the
religious and judicial authority.
“Punishment” (Criminals!)
In the late 19th Century, sexologists were called
into courtrooms to provide evidence that such
transgressions were caused by biological or
neurological abnormalities that required
treatment, rather than punishment.
A medical perspective toward sexual identities
was proclaimed, often termed “medical
colonization.”
Sexology: Cont’d
Richard von Krafft Ebing (1840 – 1902)
He wrote about the categorization of
abnormal sexual behaviour titled
“Psychopathia Sexualis.”
He defined heterosexuality as
reproductive sex between a man and a
woman, and homosexuality as same sex
desire.
The heterosexual begins to represent
normality.
Heterosexual – Normal – used for reproduction
Homosexual – Abnormal – use for pleasure
Sexology: Cont’d
Karl Heinrich Urlichs (a German lawyer; 1825 –
1895) developed scientific theories of
homosexuality
He sees homosexuality as inborn and natural – in other words, it is a biological variation, like blue
eyes or red hair.
He created categories of Urning (a female caught in a male body) and Urningin (a male caught in a
female body) to make sense of same-sex attraction.
He was vocal in the fight to decriminalize sodomy (i.e., unnatural sexual intercourse: anal sex).
Sexology: Cont’d
Researchers sought physical markers.
Ex) For male homosexuality, it was argued that
one could determine a homosexual by the way
he walked, the size of his hips, the shape of his
penis, or his “womanly behaviour, etc.
Many of the beliefs of early sexologists
continue to influence common thinking about
sexuality
Second Generation Theorists:
the Kinsey Report
The Kinsey Report, titled Sexual Behaviour in the Human Male (1948),
surveyed a variety of people about their sexual habits.
* It surprised the American public by revealing that 37 percent of the men in Kinsey’s survey reported having had a homosexual experience.
* The Kinsey report was groundbreaking because it suggested that everyday sexual behaviour often transgressed laws, public opinion, and social norms.
* His research provided much of the basis for the political analysis developed by members of the gay liberation movements in the early 1970s
* It challenged heterosexism (a system of oppression that assumes
heterosexuality is normal and superior).
Biological determinism theory
Early sexologists attempted to explain sexuality invterms of biology: “Biological Determinism” -
It focuses on the organic causes of non-
conventional gender and sexual identities and
behaviours.
This tradition (biological focus) continues today.
Simon LeVay argued that the brain structures of
gay men are different from those of heterosexual
men. “gay gene”
Such theories have been used to demand rights
for queer communities on the grounds that queer
persons are born queer and that their sexuality is
not a matter of choice
Social Constructionism theory
is predominantly the theories of the second
generation of sexologists.
Sexualities are constructed by our social
and cultural context and by our
cultural histories.
Critique of biological determinism
While it has a certain potential for liberation,
biological determinism also has serious limitations.
The fact “sexual diversity and gender identity are
rooted in biology” has not ended homophobia,
heterosexualism, and cissexualism.
Scientific “truths” related to gender and sexuality
have consistently been shown to reflect current
socio-political norms and values.
◦ Heterosexual privilege: what if prospective parents want
to test their fetus for the “gay gene” and choose abortion
based on the results? Similar to Racism
social constructionism critique
For example, gender reassignment surgery at birth was introduced for babies who were determined to be intersexuals (persons whose sexual organs are not clearly male or female)
They were treated and raised as male or female.
They should have no problem being raised as male or female as their sex were assigned at birth.
However, they face challenges once entering puberty and find that their gender identity is incompatible with their sex.
It seems clear that our sex, gender expression, and sexual orientation rely upon at least some biological potentials.
First generation of sexology
Richard von Kraft-Ebing (1840 – 1902)
◦Normality/Abnormality
Karl Heinrich Ulrichs (1825-1895)
◦Homosexuality: Inborn and natural
Theory: Biological Determinism
1st generation of sexologists
◦ This tradition (biological focus) continues today.
brain structures, gay gene (e.g., Simon LeVay)
While it has a certain potential for liberation,
biological determinism has serious limitations.
◦ What if parents want to test their fetus for the “gay gene” and choose abortion based on the results?
◦ It can accentuate hetero- sexual privilege
Second generation of sexology
Alfred Kinsey (1894 –1956)
◦Kinsey Report:
◦Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (1948)
◦Sexual Behavior in the Human Female (1953)
Theory: Social Constructionism
2nd generation of sexologists
Sexualities are constructed by our social
and cultural context and by our cultural histories.
Limitation: Babies who have been reassigned a
gender at birth, as a result of having
ambiguous genitalia, later find that their
gender identity is incompatible with their sex.
The Rise of Community Activism
Mental Health Problems?
Public and political pressure resulted
in the removal of homosexuality from
the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1973.
The American Medical Association
The American Psychiatric Association
The American Psychological Association
The American Psychoanalytic Association
The American Academy of Pediatrics
The National Association of Social Workers
- oppose conversion therapy
In the 1970s gay and lesbian organizations were able to work systematically to begin to challenge laws that limited the civil and social rights of members of LGBTQ communities.
What is one of the important historical
events?
Stonewall Riots
*The Stonewall Riots (rebellion, revolution)
were a series of violent conflicts between LGBT
people and New York City police officers that
began during a June 28, 1969 police raid, and
lasted several days.
*They were centered at the Stonewall Inn and are
widely recognized as the catalyst for the modern-
day movement towards LGBT rights.
Ignite celebrating gay pride with events such as
pride parades and dyke marches
Bill C-150 Pierre Trudeau
An important year for the recognition of the civil
rights of LGBT was 1969.
Bill C-150
“Gay sex” was decriminalized if
committed in private between two consenting
adults over the age of 21. (1969)
With the passing of Bill C-150, Pierre Trudeau’s
stated that “there is no place for the State in the
bedrooms of the nation
