Child Development: Sex and Gender Flashcards
What is the difference between sex and gender?
Sex: Biological status. It is hormonal determination. Determined by the development of internal and external genitalia.
Gender: Learned or cultural status (masculine or feminine). The expression and adoption of one’s gender status rests within the individual.
What are Disorders of Sexual Development (DSD)?
Congenital conditions involving the reproductive system. This can include chromosomal, gonadal (hormonal) or anatomical sex differences. As a result the reproductive or sexual anatomy is not standard for male or female.
Some babies are for with ambiguity and therefore do not know whether they are male or female. Such as having female characteristics but XY chromosomes. DSDs are not rare and reflect biological variation.
What factors are key to gender identity?
Parental assignment: The child determines gender identity due to parental assignment. Usually parental assignment is the same as that of male/female genitalia – but it can be different. This is as parents often raise the child according to their genitalia.
Prenatal hormones: Prenatal hormones determine male or female genitalia and therefore contribute to parental assignment.
How do parents influence gender identity?
- Parents act as role models
- Through parent-child interactions
- Buying gender appropriate toys and activities
- Parents correct their child according to their gender
What is the Social Learning Theory?
Children are acute observes of what is going on in their lives. Their behaviour is an imitation of others depending on what they are told.
What is Cognitive Developmental Theory?
Children’s cognitive development happens form an early age. Sex and gender decisions are made every early on. They are told by everyone around them and so act accordingly to what they are told. There behaviours shape others.
When does gender identity occur?
2-3 years
What is gender stability? When does it occur?
The identity in which they recognises themselves as does not change. I.e. a girl will grow up into a women, this occurs at around age 4.
What is gender constancy? When does it occur?
The acceptance that gender does not change regardless of changes in gender-typed appearance, activities, and traits. This occurs from 4-5 years.
Who affects the shaping of gender roles?
- Family: siblings, extended family
- Peers - there is a preference for same sex playmates especially before age 3. Peers encourage separation and prejudice.
- School
- Media e.g. through stereotyped roles and body images
- Books e.g. females are under-represented and male characters seem to have more active and exciting roles
What is meta-synthesis? What does this show with regard to gender similarities?
In a meta-synthesis, the researcher integrates findings from multiple, related qualitative studies.
It found that males and females are similar on the most but not all, psychological variables. It found that with regards to maths, there was no difference. There was a small difference with regard to verbal skills but that varies depending on the skill assessed. There was a moderate advantage to 3D mental rotation and so spatial ability towards males.
What are gender differences in psychological health?
substance dependency – more likely in males
depression – more likely in females
eating disorders – more likely in females
