Child development: SEX AND GENDER

Question 1

What is the difference between sex and gender?

Answer 1

Sex= a person’s biological status (male/female)
Gender= learned or cultural status (masculine/feminine)
They do not always match.

Question 2

What four things determine gender? Which are the most important?

Answer 2

• Prenatal hormones (IMPORTANT)
• Genitalia
• Parents assigning a gender and raising accordingly
• Gender identity (IMPORTANT)

Question 3

What does DSD stand for? What does it mean?

Answer 3

Disorders of sexual development:

Ambiguity in external genital appearance- sexual anatomy not standard for female or male. At birth, puberty or later.

Question 4

In what proportion of births does DSD occur?

Answer 4

1/100

Question 5

Name three ways in which parents influence gender identity

Answer 5

• as role models
• through child-parent interaction
• gender-appropriate toys and activities

Question 6

Despite identical physical appearance, what is the difference in the ways male and female babies are percieved?

Answer 6

Daughters described as ‘little, beautiful, cute, delicate’, sons ‘strong, handsome’
Parents lay on expectations not informed by physical difference or behaviour- sex roles and stereotypes. Also influenced by child’s attempt to create rules and order.

Question 7

How does the social learning theory explain the development of gender identity?

Answer 7

1. Rewards for ‘masculine’ behaviour and (very minor) punishment for ‘feminine’ behaviour. Parents reinforce the development of gender stereotypes.
2. Imitating males/role-models

These lead to male gender identity.

Question 8

How does cognitive developmental theory explain masculine behaviour?

Answer 8

If an individual identifies as a male they have a desire to behave consistently with their internalised impression so will therefore demonstrate ‘masculine’ behaviour.

Question 9

At what age is gender identity acquired? What does this mean?

Answer 9

2-3 years. Child recognises their own gender and can identify that of others.

Question 10

At what age is gender stability acquired? What does this mean?

Answer 10

4 years. The gender a child identifies as does not change.

Question 11

At what age is gender constancy acquired? What does this mean?

Answer 11

4-5 years. Realisation that boy wearing a dress is not a girl.

Question 12

While general intelligence is not affected by gender, what are three possible differences in cognitive ability by gender?

Answer 12

• Verbal ability
• Spatial ability
• Maths ability (possibly because of stereotypes being fulfilled- expectations about own capacity shape reality.)

Question 13

What did Hyde’s gender similarities hypothesis show?

Answer 13

A review of 46 meta-analyses showed that there were clear differences between males and females only in throwing, sexuality and physical agression.

Question 14

Which three psychological health conditions have possible links to gender?

Answer 14

• Substance dependancy (more men)
• Depression (2x more women)
• Eating disorders (10x more women)

Although strong social factor as well.