Gender Flashcards
Chromosomes
Found in the nucleus of lliving cells carrying information in the for of genes
The 23rd pair determines biological sex
Hormone
Chemical substance circulated in the blood that controls and regulates the activity of certain cells or organs
Testosterone
Hormone from androgen group that is produced mainly in the male testes
Less in females
Associated with aggressiveness
Oestrogen
The primary female hormone
Plays important role in the menstrual cycle and reproductive cycle
Oxytocin
A hormone which causes contraction of the uterus during labour and stimulates lactation
DNA stands for
Deoxyribonucleic acid
David Reimer
Support for the role of chromosomes and hormones on gender identity
Bruce was one of two twins that was left without a penis so was brought up a girl
“Brenda” never adjusted as a woman
When she was told the truth she went back to living as a man and commited suicide in 2004
Evaluation points for role of chromosomes and Hormones
Supporting evidence - David Reimer, Dabbs, Van Goosen
Contradictory Evidence - Tricker, Slabbekoorn
Objections to the term pre-menstrual syndrome - streotyoes woman’s feelings and experiences
Overemphasis on nature
Oversimplifying something very complex
Define atypical sex chromosome patterns
Any pattern that deviates from the usual xx/xy
Tends to be associated with a distinct pattern of physical and psychological symptoms
Define Klinefelter’s syndrome
Syndrome affecting males in which an individual’s genotype has an extra X chromosome
Affects between 1 in 500 and 1 in 1000
Klinefelter’s syndrome
Pattern:
Physical characteristics:
Psychological characteristics:
:XXY
:Reduced body hair, some breast development, soft body contours, long limbs, underdeveloped genitals, clumsy,
susceptible to breast cancer
:poor language skills and reading ability, passive, shy
