Gender Flashcards
Chromosomes [definition]:
X-shaped bodies that carry all genetic information for an organism
Hormones [definition]:
Chemical messengers in the body
Intersex [definition]:
An individual who is neither distinctly male or female due to a mismatch (e.g. chromosomes n genitalia)
How many pairs of chromosomes do each individual typically have?
23
Female pair of chromosomes =
xx
Male pair of chromosomes =
xy
Klinefelter’s syndrome [5]:
- Due to XXY configuration
- Reduced levels of testosterone
- Individual is born with a penis n develops as a fairly normal male
- Individuals tend to be infertile
- 1/1000 males have it
What does an individual with Klinefelter’s syndrome look like? [5]:
- Taller than average 'Less masculine' may have: - Less facial hair - Broader hips - Possible breast tissue
What causes Turner’s syndrome [2]:
- Due to an XO configuration
- Meaning that the 2nd chromosome is partly or completely gone
What causes the appearance of an individual of Klinefelter’s syndrome?
Reduced levels of testosterone
Turner’s syndrome [2]:
- Occurs in 1 of 2000 females at birth
- Individual born with a vagina and womb
What are the characteristics of Turner’s syndrome? [3]:
- Shorter than average height
- Lack of monthly period due to underdeveloped ovaries
- Wide range of other symptoms, no two XO females are the same
Testosterone [4]:
- Produced prenatally
- Affects development of genitalia
- testosterone affects brain development both prenatally and later in childhood
- Surge of testosterone during puberty responsible for facial hair and deepening voice
Berenbaum and Bailey 2003 [3]:
- XX female exposed prenatally to large doses of male hormones
- Pregnant mother given drugs containing male hormones
- Child later showed tom boy-ish behaviour and interest in more ‘male activities’
Oestrogen [3]:
- The default gender is female so female hormones are not needed for prenatal genital development
- Promotes secondary sexual characteristics during puberty
- Directs the menstrual cycle
Oxytocin [4]:
- Produced in the pituitary gland
- Evokes feelings of contentment and calmness
- Related to faster wound healing and orgasms in both men and women
- Breast feeding
Oxytocin in breast feeding;
Causes milk to flow in a lactating mother
Shi et al (2015):
Some researchers found that oestrogen may lead to smaller brain size
Taylor et al (2000)
[4]:
- Oxytocin dampens flight or flight in women
- The alternative tend and befriend is triggered instead
- Females protect their young (tend) and form protective alliances with other women (befriend)
- Does not affect males cus testosterone dampens oxytocin
Chromosomes and hormones AO3: Importance of other factors [4]:
- Genetic sex does not match external genitalia in cases of abnormal hormone exposure
- Research indicates that gender assigned at birth is accepted by some yet rejected by others
- Gender development is only partly biologically determined
- is a combination of genes, hormones and socialisation
Chromosomes and hormones AO3: effect of hormones on brain development [3]:
+ The effects of testosterone on the brain have been confirmed by research
+ Berenbaum and Bailey 2003
+This research suggests that hormones may influence behaviour and brain development
Chromosomes and hormones AO3: biological determinism [4]:
- Overly deterministic
- Implies that men n women have lil choice over their behaviours
- e.g. women are natural nurturers and men are naturally aggressive and competitive
- consequence: equal opportunity policies are doomed to fail if men are ‘naturally’ more competitive and risk-taking (more likely to be successful)
Chromosomes and hormones AO3: real-world applications [4]:
+ Chromosomes = greater understanding of intersex = better treatment plans
+ Before treatment was to perform surgery for individual to look ‘normal’
+ Now drs assign gender but no surgery until individual can make an informed decision
+ Also helps ppl with turner’s syndrome get diagnosed early = psychological research can improve lives
Pre operational [explanation]:
[3]:
- A stage in piaget’s theory where child’s thinking lacks internal consistency
- e.g. child might believe tree makes wind cus branches move in the wind
- some logic to it but doesn’t explain how there’s wind with no trees
