Gender Flashcards
What is sex?
Most psychologists, recognise sex and gender as distinct and separate concepts.
Sex refers to a person’s biological status as either male or female. This is determined by one pair of sex chromosomes (XX for females and XY for males). These chromosomes then influence hormonal differences as well as differences in anatomy, such as reproductive organs, body shape, hair growth, etc.
What is gender?
Gender refers to a person’s psychosocial status as either masculine or feminine. This includes all the attitudes, roles and behaviours that we associate with ‘being a man’ or ‘being a woman’ and these are heavily influenced by social norms and cultural expectations.
Sex is innate and the result of nature whilst gender is at least partly environmentally determined and therefore due to nurture.
Therefore the argument is that because an individual’s sex is innate (i.e. genetic, hormonal) and not ‘assigned’ at birth, it cannot be changed. However, gender is ‘assigned’ because it is a social construct rather than a biological fact. Because gender is at least partly determined by nurture, it is not ‘fixed’ but rather is fluid and open to change. A person may become ‘more masculine’ or ‘more feminine’ depending on the social context they are in, and the norms and expectations associated with it.
What is gender dysphoria?
Biological sex and gender identity correspond the majority of biological males tend to ‘feel’ masculine and identify themselves as such, whilst most biological females would perceive themselves as feminine. Some people, experience gender dysphoria when their biologically prescribed sex does not reflect the way they feel inside and the gender they identify themselves as being.
Sex simple definition
The biological differences between males and females including chromosomes, hormones and anatomy.
Gender simple definition
The psychological, social and cultural differences between boys/men and girls/women including attitudes, behaviours and social roles.
What is sex-role stereotypes simple?
A set of beliefs and preconceived ideas about what is expected or appropriate for men and women in a given society or social group.
What is sex-role stereotypes?
Sex-role stereotypes are a set of shared expectations that people within a society or culture hold about what is acceptable or usual behaviour for men and women. These expectations are somehow communicated or transmitted throughout society and may be reinforced by parents, peers, the media, as well as other institutions such as schools. Although some sex-role stereotypes may contain a ‘grain of truth’ many do not, and may lead to sexist assumptions being formed, such as the idea that a woman will not have the capacity to cope with a position of high responsibility in the workplace, as she may become ‘over-emotional’.
